Isaiah Chapter 23
Isaiah 23, The Burden Against Tyre
Isaiah 23 gives the burden against Tyre, the great Phoenician maritime city known for trade, wealth, shipping, commerce, and international influence. Tyre was not primarily known as a vast land empire, but as a commercial power whose ships and merchants connected nations together through trade. The chapter exposes the pride of commercial glory, shows that the Lord rules over markets and sea powers as surely as He rules over armies and kings, and then gives a limited promise of restoration in which Tyre’s gain is ultimately set apart for the Lord. The notes you provided cover Isaiah 23:1-18, including the sailors’ agony, the humbling of Tyre, the destruction brought through world powers, the seventy years of desolation, and the later restoration of Tyre’s commerce under God’s sovereign purpose.
Isaiah 23:1-5
Isaiah 23:1-5, KJV, “The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations. Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.”
Isaiah begins with “The burden of Tyre.” Tyre was the leading city of Phoenicia, located north of Israel along the Mediterranean coast. It was one of the great maritime powers of the ancient world. Tyre’s strength did not rest primarily in vast armies or large territory, but in ships, harbors, merchants, trade networks, and economic influence. In that sense, Tyre was a picture of commercial greatness, material success, and worldly prosperity.
Tyre may be described as the Babylon of the sea. Babylon often represents political, spiritual, and imperial pride, while Tyre represents commercial pride, maritime wealth, and the glory of trade. Tyre’s ships carried goods across the Mediterranean world. Her merchants were powerful. Her economy touched many nations. She had a reputation larger than her size because commerce allowed her to project influence far beyond her borders.
Isaiah cries, “Howl, ye ships of Tarshish.” Tarshish was associated with distant western trade routes, possibly connected with Spain or other far off maritime regions. The ships of Tarshish represent long distance commerce. The command to howl means the commercial world is devastated by Tyre’s fall. When Tyre is laid waste, her sailors, traders, and partners suffer.
The reason for their grief is clear, “for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in.” Tyre’s harbor and city would be ruined. The phrase pictures the collapse of a great commercial center. Ships arrive or hear reports, only to discover that the home port, the place of trade, wealth, and security, has been devastated.
The report comes “from the land of Chittim,” commonly associated with Cyprus. Sailors traveling in the Mediterranean would hear the news there. The destruction of Tyre would not remain local information. It would spread across trade routes. When a major commercial hub falls, the shock travels far.
Isaiah says, “Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle.” Tyre was associated with both a mainland city and an island city. The island aspect became especially significant later when Alexander the Great conquered it. The command to be still is a call to stunned silence. The noisy, busy, wealthy, active commercial city is silenced by judgment.
Tyre had been replenished by “the merchants of Zidon.” Sidon, another Phoenician city, was closely connected with Tyre. These coastal cities were linked by trade, language, culture, and seafaring skill. Tyre’s prosperity did not exist in isolation. It was part of a broader commercial network.
Verse 3 says, “by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.” Sihor likely refers to the Nile region, and the harvest of the river points to Egyptian grain and agricultural wealth. Tyre profited from the goods of other lands. She was a marketplace for nations. This is a picture of international trade, import, export, shipping, and commercial dependence.
The phrase “mart of nations” is important. Tyre was not simply a city that sold goods. She was a marketplace for the world around her. Her fall therefore affected many peoples. Isaiah shows that economic systems can appear strong, but if God touches the center, the network trembles.
The sea itself is personified in verse 4, “for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea.” The sea, which had been Tyre’s highway, strength, and source of wealth, now speaks in shame. It says, “I travail not, nor bring forth children.” The meaning is that Tyre’s maritime power will no longer produce sons, daughters, young men, virgins, population, prosperity, or future strength. The sea that once seemed to give Tyre life now testifies to barrenness.
Verse 5 compares the pain over Tyre’s fall with the report concerning Egypt. Egypt was another great power whose judgment caused regional fear. When nations hear of Tyre’s destruction, they will be sorely pained. The fall of a great trading city shakes everyone connected to it.
This section teaches that commerce is not sovereign. The marketplace is not God. Trade routes, ports, shipping networks, grain revenue, and international finance can collapse when the Lord purposes judgment. Men may build economies, but God rules over them.
Proverbs 11:4, KJV, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”
Tyre’s riches could not save her in the day of the Lord’s judgment. Wealth may provide comfort in ordinary times, but it cannot deliver a proud city from God.
Isaiah 23:6-9
Isaiah 23:6-9, KJV, “Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth? The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.”
The command continues, “Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.” Tyre’s people and merchants are pictured as displaced and grieving. Those who once traveled for profit now travel in distress. The commercial routes that once brought wealth now become paths of exile, confusion, and lamentation.
Isaiah asks, “Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days?” Tyre was old, established, and proud of its long history. Ancient cities often drew confidence from their age. They believed that because they had endured for generations, they would continue to endure. But age does not protect a city from God. Antiquity is not righteousness. A long history does not cancel accountability.
Tyre was a “joyous city.” Its joy likely came from wealth, success, trade, luxury, and influence. But joy rooted in material prosperity is fragile. When the source of wealth is touched, the joy disappears. Tyre’s laughter becomes howling.
The phrase “her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn” pictures displacement. Tyre’s people, once secure in their own city, will be forced away. The city that sent merchants across the sea now sends refugees and exiles away from home.
Isaiah then asks the central theological question, “Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre?” Who planned this? Who purposed the fall of such a wealthy city? Tyre is called “the crowning city.” Her merchants are princes. Her traffickers are the honorable of the earth. In Tyre, business success gave status. Wealth functioned like royalty. The men honored by the world were not necessarily righteous, wise, or godly. They were merchants and traffickers who succeeded in trade.
That is a direct rebuke of societies where money becomes the measure of honor. Scripture does not condemn honest labor or legitimate business. But when wealth becomes the highest mark of greatness, the society has lost moral judgment. Tyre honored successful merchants as princes, regardless of spiritual condition.
The answer comes in verse 9, “The LORD of hosts hath purposed it.” Tyre’s fall was not ultimately caused by chance, market instability, or merely human conquest. The Lord of hosts purposed it. He is the commander of heavenly armies and the sovereign ruler over earthly powers. He governs the rise and fall of trading cities as much as He governs empires.
The purpose is stated plainly, “to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.” God judged Tyre because of pride. Tyre’s glory had become self glory. Its wealth had become arrogance. Its honorable men were honorable in the eyes of the earth, but God would bring them into contempt.
James 4:6, KJV, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
God resists the proud. This is not limited to individuals. He resists proud cities, proud nations, proud economies, proud institutions, and proud rulers. Tyre’s sin was not merely that it traded. Its sin was pride in its glory.
1 Timothy 6:17, KJV, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust uncertain riches, but in living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
Tyre trusted uncertain riches. The Lord stained that pride so that all would see that material glory is temporary when separated from humility before God.
Isaiah 23:10-14
Isaiah 23:10-14, KJV, “Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof. And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest. Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.”
Isaiah now describes the destruction more directly. “Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.” The image suggests movement without restraint, like a river spreading through the land. The structures that once held things together are broken. Tyre’s strength is gone.
Verse 11 says, “He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms.” This is the Lord’s action. Tyre’s world was the sea. The Lord stretches His hand over it. The sea was Tyre’s highway and commercial domain, but God rules over the sea. When He stretches out His hand, kingdoms shake.
This is consistent with the broader biblical witness.
Psalm 89:9, KJV, “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.”
The Lord rules the literal sea and the restless sea of nations. Tyre had mastered ships, but it had not mastered God.
Isaiah says, “the LORD hath given commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.” The phrase “merchant city” identifies Tyre’s character. Its identity was commerce. Its strongholds were not merely military fortifications, but also the structures of wealth and trade that made it powerful. The Lord commanded their destruction.
The Lord then says, “Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon.” Tyre’s joy is ended. She is called oppressed because judgment has come upon her. She may try to escape to Chittim, or Cyprus, but “there also shalt thou have no rest.” There is no refuge from the Lord’s decree. Tyre’s merchants can cross the sea, but they cannot outrun God.
Verse 13 mentions “the land of the Chaldeans.” The Chaldeans are connected with Babylonian power. The verse is difficult, but in the larger context it points to the kind of imperial force God would use to bring ruin. Tyre’s mainland city was attacked by major powers, including Assyria and Babylon. Later, the island city would be conquered by Alexander the Great. Isaiah’s point is not to give a full military history in one sentence, but to show that the Lord can raise up and use nations to bring a proud city down.
The result is repeated, “Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.” The ships are told to howl because the source of their strength, trade, harbor, and commercial life has been ruined. The world that profited from Tyre’s wealth must mourn Tyre’s judgment.
This anticipates the pattern seen later in Revelation concerning Babylon the Great, where merchants mourn because the system that enriched them falls.
Revelation 18:11-13, KJV, “And merchants of earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth merchandise any more: merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.”
The world mourns when profitable wickedness collapses. Tyre becomes an Old Testament picture of commercial pride under divine judgment. Honest business is not condemned, but a civilization built on wealth, pride, luxury, exploitation, and self glory will be judged.
Isaiah 23:15-16
Isaiah 23:15-16, KJV, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.”
The Lord now gives a measured period, “Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king.” God’s judgments are not vague. He appoints times and seasons. Tyre’s commercial influence would be interrupted for seventy years. The city that had been remembered by merchants and nations would be forgotten.
The phrase “according to the days of one king” may mean a complete and fixed period, perhaps corresponding to the span of a royal dynasty or era of power. The important point is that God sets the boundary. Tyre will not decide when judgment begins or ends. The Lord does.
After seventy years, Isaiah says Tyre will “sing as an harlot.” The comparison is intentionally degrading. Tyre is pictured as a forgotten prostitute who takes up a harp, walks through the city, sings songs, and tries to be remembered again. The imagery shows Tyre returning to commerce and worldly enticement. She seeks customers again. She wants attention, profit, and influence.
This does not present Tyre’s restoration as immediate spiritual purity. It presents a return to trade, hire, and commercial activity. Tyre comes back, but still in the language of prostitution. This means her commercial life remains morally compromised if detached from the Lord. She is restored to activity, but not automatically transformed in heart.
The harlot imagery is common in Scripture for unfaithful or corrupt systems that entice others for gain. Tyre’s trade made her attractive to nations, but her beauty and influence were used for profit and self exaltation. The Lord allows her to be remembered again, but He remains sovereign over her gain.
Proverbs 23:4-5, KJV, “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”
Tyre’s seventy years prove this. Riches can fly away. A city famous for wealth can be forgotten. A trade empire can lose its influence. Men should never build their identity on what God can remove.
Isaiah 23:17-18
Isaiah 23:17-18, KJV, “And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.”
After the seventy years, “the LORD will visit Tyre.” This means the Lord will deal with Tyre again according to His sovereign purpose. Tyre returns to her hire and commits fornication with the kingdoms of the world. This language shows that Tyre’s commercial dealings still have the character of worldly seduction. The nations are drawn into her economic system. Her trade resumes. Her influence returns.
Yet verse 18 gives an unexpected turn, “her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD.” This is the grace and sovereignty of God. The riches Tyre pursued for herself will ultimately be set apart for the Lord. What men gather in pride, God can redirect for His purpose. Tyre may chase gain, but the Lord can claim the gain.
The text says, “it shall not be treasured nor laid up.” Tyre’s wealth will not merely be hoarded for selfish accumulation. Instead, “her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.” The gain will serve the people of God. The wealth of the nations will be brought under the Lord’s purposes.
This theme appears elsewhere in prophecy.
Isaiah 60:5, KJV, “Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and enlarged; because abundance of sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of Gentiles shall come unto thee.”
Isaiah 60:11, KJV, “Therefore thy gates shall open continually; they shall not shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee forces of Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.”
Isaiah 60 looks ahead to the kingdom glory of Zion, when the wealth of the nations is brought into proper service under the Lord’s reign. Isaiah 23:18 gives a smaller picture of the same theological truth, the Lord can take Gentile wealth and set it apart for holy use.
Historically, Tyre did recover after periods of destruction. It continued to exist, regain trade, and later had Christian presence in the early church era. The New Testament records believers in Tyre.
Acts 21:3-6, KJV, “Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till out of city: and kneeled down on shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.”
This is significant. Tyre, once a symbol of proud commerce, later had disciples of Jesus Christ. Paul found believers there. Families came with him to the shore, and they kneeled and prayed. That is a powerful picture of God’s grace. A city once known for materialism and pride had people who belonged to Christ.
The chapter therefore ends not merely with commerce restored, but with God’s ability to claim what belongs to Him. Tyre’s gain may be pursued selfishly by men, but God can set it apart. Tyre’s people may have been proud, but God can save souls there. Tyre’s merchants may have honored wealth, but the Lord can make even former centers of commerce serve His kingdom purpose.
The final lesson is plain. God rules the marketplace. God humbles commercial pride. God destroys strongholds. God appoints the years of obscurity. God restores according to His will. God can even take wealth once used for selfish glory and set it apart for His service.
Matthew 6:19-21, KJV, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Tyre laid up treasure on earth and was judged. The Lord calls His people to a better treasure, one that cannot be laid waste by armies, markets, ships, or time.
