1
An oracle concerning Tyre.
Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
for Tyre is laid waste;
there is no house or harbor for you anymore!
When they were still in the land of Kittim,
this was made known to them.
2
Be still, O inhabitants of the coastland,
O merchants of Sidon,
your messengers crossed the sea,
and sailed over the great waters;
3
the grain of Shihor was the revenue of Sidon,
and the harvest of the Nile,
so that she became a market for the nations.
4
Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea,
the stronghold of the sea, says:
“I have not been in labor, nor have I given birth;
I have not reared young men,
nor brought up young women.”
5
When the report about Tyre reaches Egypt,
they will tremble at the news.
6
Flee to Tarshish,
wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!
7
Is this your exultant city,
whose origin is from days of old,
whose feet carried her
far away to settle there?
8
Who has planned this
against Tyre, the crowning city,
whose merchants were princes,
whose traders were the honored of the earth?
9
The LORD of hosts has planned it,
to bring low the pride of all glory,
to humble all the honored of the earth.
10
Cultivate your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish;
there is no longer a harbor.
11
The LORD has stretched out his hand over the sea
and made kingdoms tremble;
he has given command concerning Canaan
to destroy its strongholds.
12
And he said:
“You will exult no more,
O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon!
Arise, flee to Kittim!
Even there you will have no rest.”
13
Look at the land of the Chaldeans!
This is the people that did it, not Assyria.
They have assigned Tyre to the beasts of the desert;
they have raised siege towers,
they have overthrown its palaces,
and made it a ruin.
14
Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
for your stronghold is laid waste!
15
In that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years,
like the days of one king.
After the end of seventy years,
it will happen to Tyre as in the song about the prostitute:
16
“Take up the harp,
go about the city,
O forgotten prostitute!
Play skillfully,
sing many songs,
so that you may be remembered.”
17
And after the end of seventy years, the LORD will attend to Tyre, so that she returns to her wages as a prostitute, and she will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.
18
Her gain and her harlot’s fee shall be holy to the LORD;
it shall not be stored up or laid away,
but her gain shall be for those who dwell before the LORD,
for sufficient food
and fine clothing.
⛵💰🏚️ Summary of Isaiah 23 – The Fall of Tyre, the Proud World Trade City
Isaiah 23 is an oracle against Tyre, the center of international trade in ancient times. This port city was known for its wealth, economic influence, and trading network throughout the world. Yet, the Lord condemns Tyre’s pride, bringing it down through foreign nations, and reminding us that all wealth built apart from God is vain. In the end, the Lord promises that Tyre will be restored and glorify Him with its riches.
📌 1. Lament over Fallen Tyre (verses 1–7)
“Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your refuge has been laid waste!”
- Merchant ships from all over the world grieve because their trade center has been destroyed
- The city of Tyre, once magnificent and renowned, is now a place of ruins and silence
- The city boasted of its past, but now nothing remains
🎯 The world may exalt economic success, but God can bring it to a halt at once.
📌 2. The Lord Humbles the Pride of the Nations (verses 8–14)
“Who has planned this against Tyre…? The LORD of hosts!”
- Tyre did not fall by war alone, but because of the Lord’s own decree
- He brings down the proud and destroys human splendor
- The great ships, symbols of global wealth, are commanded to be silent
🎯 No human achievement is too strong to be untouched by the judgment of God.
📌 3. Restoration for God’s Purpose (verses 15–18)
“At that time the LORD will attend to Tyre…”
- After 70 years, Tyre will be restored, but its wealth will no longer be for itself
- Its goods and profits will be set apart for the Lord, becoming enough food for His servants
🎯 Even economic wealth that was once misused can be used for the glory of the Lord — if it is surrendered to Him.
📖 Main Teaching
- Economic pride and worldly glory can collapse in an instant, if the Lord allows it
- No trading center or world system is immune to the judgment of God
- The Lord opposes collective pride, not only personal pride
- God’s restoration is not for a return to pride, but to serve and glorify the Lord
- Wealth that is not used for the Lord will be wasted — but if it is set apart, it can become an instrument of service
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Do not store up treasures on earth… but store up treasures in heaven.”
“Do not hope in uncertain riches… use them to do good and to share.”
“Use worldly wealth to make friends, so that you may be received into the eternal dwelling.”
“In one hour, such great wealth was destroyed!”
➡️ The picture of Tyre in Isaiah 23 is very similar to Babylon in Revelation.
🎯 The Lord is not against wealth, but He rejects wealth that makes itself proud and ignores Him.
🕊️ “Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your refuge has been laid waste!” – Isaiah 23:1
🕊️ “The LORD of hosts has purposed to defile the pride of all beauty.” – Isaiah 23:9
🕊️ “Her gain will be set apart for the LORD…” – Isaiah 23:18
