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The Burden against Tyre
Isaiah 23 is a prophecy about Tyre, a city described here by its shipping, merchants, and international trade. The passage mourns its collapse, says Yahweh planned this humbling, and ends by showing a future use for Tyre’s gain.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Within this passage, Tyre is linked with Tarshish, Sidon, Egypt, Kittim, Canaan, and the land of the Chaldeans. It is presented as a long-established trading power whose downfall troubles many places. The prophecy explains that Yahweh of Armies has planned this, and it later speaks of Tyre being forgotten, remembered, and finally redirected toward holiness to Yahweh.
Isaiah 23:1–18Main takeaway
Isaiah 23 teaches that Yahweh brings down proud human glory and can redirect wealth toward his own holy purpose.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Tyre’s fall shakes trading partnersThe prophecy begins with lament: the ships of Tarshish are told to howl because Tyre is laid waste.
Explanation
The prophecy begins with lament: the ships of Tarshish are told to howl because Tyre is laid waste. Coastland people and Sidon’s merchants are addressed too. Tyre’s revenue came over great waters, linked with the Nile harvest, and the city is called the market of nations, showing wide influence.
02The news brings shame and anguishSidon is told to be ashamed, and the sea is pictured speaking as if it had borne no children.
Explanation
Sidon is told to be ashamed, and the sea is pictured speaking as if it had borne no children. Egypt will be in anguish at the report of Tyre. The coastlands are called to wail, and the prophecy asks whether this ruined place is the same ancient, once-joyful city.
03Yahweh planned to humble the honouredTyre is described as a city whose merchants were like princes and whose traders were honoured in the earth.
Explanation
Tyre is described as a city whose merchants were like princes and whose traders were honoured in the earth. Then the passage answers clearly: Yahweh of Armies planned this, to stain pride and bring contempt on what people count glorious. Daughter of Tarshish is told that restraint is gone, and Yahweh shakes kingdoms.
04No easy refuge and a warning exampleSidon is told it will rejoice no more and will find no rest even in Kittim. Then the land of the Chaldeans is pointed out as a place made into ruin, with towers set up and palaces overthrown.
Explanation
Sidon is told it will rejoice no more and will find no rest even in Kittim. Then the land of the Chaldeans is pointed out as a place made into ruin, with towers set up and palaces overthrown. This keeps the warning moving forward before the ships of Tarshish are told again to howl.
05Forgotten, remembered, and finally set apartTyre will be forgotten for seventy years, then compared to a prostitute’s song as she seeks to be remembered again.
Explanation
Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, then compared to a prostitute’s song as she seeks to be remembered again. After that, Yahweh will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages among the kingdoms. Yet the final word is surprising: her merchandise will be holiness to Yahweh, supplying food and durable clothing.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details show that Tyre’s importance reached beyond one city?
Notice the ships, coastlands, merchants, great waters, Nile harvest, and the phrase 'market of nations'.
02How does the passage explain who is behind Tyre’s downfall?
Read the question about who planned this and then the direct answer that follows.
03How does the ending change the way Tyre’s wealth is described?
Compare Tyre’s wages and merchandise in the last two verses and note who benefits from them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 23:1–18
1The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.
2Be still, you inhabitants of the coast, you whom the merchants of Sidon that pass over the sea have replenished.
3On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.
4Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, “I have not travailed, nor given birth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.”
5When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report of Tyre.
6Pass over to Tarshish! Wail, you inhabitants of the coast!
7Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her far away to travel?
8Who has planned this against Tyre, the giver of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?
9Yahweh of Armies has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
10Pass through your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish. There is no restraint any more.
11He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. Yahweh has ordered the destruction of Canaan’s strongholds.
12He said, “You shall rejoice no more, you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim. Even there you will have no rest.”
13Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin.
14Howl, you ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste!
15It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.
16Take a harp; go about the city, you prostitute that has been forgotten. Make sweet melody. Sing many songs, that you may be remembered.
17It will happen after the end of seventy years that Yahweh will visit Tyre. She will return to her wages, and will play the prostitute with all the kingdoms of the world on the surface of the earth.
18Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before Yahweh, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.