Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Isaiah 23
Isaiah 23:9The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.
This verse reveals the 'why' behind the judgment. God's action is a direct response to the city's arrogant pride, reminding us that He is the one who ultimately bestows honor.Isaiah 23:15At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of one king. After the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute:
This prophecy specifies a 70-year period of desolation for Tyre, showing that God's judgments are not random but measured and purposeful in their timeline.Isaiah 23:18And her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the Lord. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the Lord.
In a stunning turn, the prophecy concludes not with permanent ruin but with redemption. Tyre's future economic success will be consecrated to God, providing for His people.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Global Powerhouse Receives Shocking News
This chapter is an 'oracle,' a divine message, concerning Tyre, a major Phoenician port city on the Mediterranean coast. Tyre was the ancient equivalent of a global economic hub, famous for its shipping, wealth, and colonies. Its influence was felt from Egypt to Tarshish (likely in modern-day Spain). The prophecy opens with a dramatic scene of sailors at sea receiving the shocking news that their home port, their source of wealth and security, has been utterly destroyed.
The Divine Reason for the Fall and a Glimpse of Redemption
The scene shifts from the mourning of merchants to the divine courtroom, asking a rhetorical question: Who is responsible for this? The answer is clear: The Lord of hosts Himself. The reason given is Tyre's 'pompous pride.' The prophecy then looks to the future, predicting a specific 70-year period of obscurity, followed by a strange restoration where the city's commercial profits will ultimately be dedicated to the Lord's people.
An Oracle Against the Merchant City of Tyre
Isaiah 23 unfolds as a poetic lament and a divine declaration. The chapter begins by painting a picture of international mourning over the fall of a commercial giant, whose influence stretched across the known world. It then moves to explain the divine reason for this catastrophe before concluding with an unexpected prophecy of future restoration and a new, holy purpose for the city's wealth.
The World Mourns a Fallen Giant (Isaiah 23:1-7)
1 The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor! From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.
2 Be still, O inhabitants of the coast; the merchants of Sidon, who cross the sea, have filled you.
3 And on many waters your revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile was her revenue, and she became the marketplace of the nations.
4 Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying: “I have neither labored nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.”
5 When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report about Tyre.
6 Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coast!
7 Is this your exultant city whose origin is from days of old, whose feet carried her to settle far away?
Commentary:
The world's trading partners are thrown into chaos and mourning upon hearing that the economic superpower, Tyre, has been destroyed.
God's Purpose Against Pride (Isaiah 23:8-12)
8 Who has purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth?
9 The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.
10 Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore.
11 The Lord has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has shaken the kingdoms.
12 And he said: “You will no more exult, O oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon; arise, cross over to Cyprus, even there you will have no rest.”
Commentary:
God Himself claims responsibility for Tyre's fall, stating it is a direct judgment against the city's arrogance and pride.
The Instrument of Judgment (Isaiah 23:13-14)
13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans! This is the people that was not; Assyria destined it for wild beasts. They erected their siege towers, they stripped her palaces bare, they made her a ruin.
14 Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your stronghold is laid waste.
Commentary:
The prophecy identifies the Chaldeans (Babylonians) as the nation God will use to carry out Tyre's destruction.
Forgotten, Restored, and Redeemed (Isaiah 23:15-18)
15 At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of one king. After the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute:
16 “Take a harp; go about the city, O forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, that you may be remembered.”
17 At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.
18 And her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the Lord. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the Lord.
Commentary:
After a 70-year period of being forgotten, Tyre will be restored, and its future wealth will be consecrated to God to provide for His people.
Divine Sovereignty, Human Pride, and Ultimate Redemption
God's Sovereignty Over All Nations
This chapter makes it clear that God's authority is not limited to Israel. He is the Lord of the whole earth, who raises and lowers empires according to His will. Tyre, a pagan city, is equally accountable to Him as Jerusalem.
The Sin of Pride
Tyre's downfall is explicitly linked to its pride. The city gloried in its wealth, influence, and self-sufficiency, forgetting the ultimate source of its blessings. Isaiah shows that God actively opposes this kind of arrogance and will act to humble those who exalt themselves.
Restoration and Redemption
Even in a chapter filled with judgment, God's redemptive nature shines through. The prophecy doesn't end with Tyre's destruction but with its restoration and a new, holy purpose. This demonstrates God's purpose: to redeem and incorporate all things into His plan, not merely to punish.
Lessons from a Fallen City
Isaiah 23 serves as a powerful reminder that economic power, career success, and financial security are all temporary. Tyre had it all, but its pride led to its downfall (v. 9). This challenges you to check where your ultimate trust lies - in your own achievements and assets, or in God who is the only true and lasting stronghold.
The final verse (v. 18) shows Tyre's future profits becoming 'holy to the Lord.' For you, this means viewing your job and income as a resource God has given you for His purposes, rather than solely for personal gain. It's about adopting a mindset of stewardship, seeking to honor God and provide for others through the work you do and the money you earn.
The panic of Tyre's trading partners (v. 1, 5) mirrors the anxiety we feel when economic systems seem unstable. This chapter teaches that all human systems are fragile. However, it also shows that God is in control, and His plans extend beyond any single crisis, ultimately leading to restoration and a new purpose.
God Humbles Pride, Offers Redemption
Isaiah's prophecy against Tyre declares that God is the ultimate authority over every human empire and economy. He directly confronts the self-sufficient pride that wealth and power can create, demonstrating that no earthly stronghold is truly secure. Yet, the message does not end in judgment, but points toward a God whose grand plan includes restoration, capable of redeeming even worldly success for His holy purposes.
What This Means for Us Today
The story of Tyre is a timeless warning against placing our ultimate hope in the systems of this world. It invites us to examine our own hearts for pride and to intentionally dedicate our work, our wealth, and our influence to God's purposes. True and lasting security is found not in what we can build, but in the One who builds for eternity.
- In what areas of my life am I relying on my own strength and success instead of on God?
- How can I practically view my 'merchandise' - my skills, income, and resources - as 'holy to the Lord' this week?
- Who in my life needs to see that God's grace can restore and bring new purpose, even after failure?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter contains an oracle against Jerusalem, showing that God holds His own people accountable for their pride and faithlessness, just as He does with foreign nations like Tyre.
Following the specific oracles against nations, this chapter broadens the scope to a prophecy of judgment upon the entire earth, placing the fall of Tyre within a larger divine plan.
Connections Across Scripture
These chapters offer a much more detailed and vivid prophecy against Tyre, focusing on the arrogance of its king who claimed to be a god.
The fall of 'Babylon the Great' in Revelation echoes Isaiah 23, using similar imagery of mourning merchants and the sudden collapse of a global economic system built on pride and luxury.
Discussion Questions
- Tyre was the 'marketplace of the nations.' In what ways does our modern global economy reflect the same kind of pride and self-sufficiency that led to Tyre's downfall?
- Isaiah 23:9 says God's purpose was 'to defile the pompous pride of all glory.' Why do you think God takes such a strong stance against human pride?
- The end of the chapter shows Tyre's wealth becoming 'holy to the Lord' (v. 18). What are some practical ways we can consecrate our work, skills, and financial resources to God today?
Glossary
places
Tyre
A major Phoenician port city on the coast of modern-day Lebanon, renowned for its wealth, trade, and naval power in the ancient world.
Tarshish
A distant port city, likely in modern-day Spain, that was a major trading partner with Tyre and symbolized the far reaches of its commercial empire.
Sidon
Another important Phoenician city near Tyre, often mentioned together as centers of Phoenician culture and trade.
Cyprus
A large island in the Mediterranean Sea that was a key stop on the trade routes from Tyre.
Shihor
A term for the Nile River in Egypt, from which grain was imported, highlighting Tyre's role in global food trade.