New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Isaiah 23
1
Here is a message the Lord gave me about Tyre. Men in the ships of Tarshish, cry out! The city of Tyre is destroyed. Its houses and harbor are gone. That's the message you have received from the island of Cyprus.
Reference
📍 Cyprus
2
People on the island of Tyre, be silent. Traders from the city of Sidon, be quiet. Those who sail on the Mediterranean Sea have made you rich.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 47:5
3
Grain from Egypt came across the mighty waters. The harvest of the Nile River brought wealth to Tyre. It became the market place of the nations.
Reference
4
Sidon, be ashamed. Mighty Tyre out in the sea, be ashamed. The sea has spoken. It has said, "It's as if I had never felt labor pains or had children. It's as if I had never brought up sons or daughters. It's as if the city of Tyre had never existed."
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 18:23
5
The Egyptians will hear about what has happened to Tyre. They'll be very sad and troubled.
6
People of the island of Tyre, cry out! Go across the sea to Tarshish.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 23:12
7
Just look at Tyre. It's no longer the old, old city that was known for its wild parties. It no longer sends its people out to settle in lands far away.
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Parallel theme
Isaiah 22:2
8
Tyre was a city that produced kings. Its traders were princes. They were honored all over the earth. So who planned to destroy such a city?
9
The Lord who rules over all planned to do it. He wanted to bring down all of its pride and glory. He wanted to put to shame those who were honored all over the earth.
Reference
10
People of Tarshish, spread out over your land like the waters of the Nile. There isn't anything to hold you back anymore.
Reference
11
The Lord has reached his powerful hand out over the sea. He has made its kingdoms tremble with fear. He has given a command concerning Phoenicia. He has ordered that its forts be destroyed.
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References Lord
Exodus 14:21
12
He said, "No more wild parties for you! People of Sidon, you are now destroyed! "Leave your city. Go across the sea to Cyprus. Even there you will not find any rest."
Reference
📍 Cyprus
13
Look at the land of the Babylonians. No one lives there anymore. The Assyrians have turned it into a place for desert creatures. They built their towers in order to attack it. They took everything out of its forts. They knocked all of its buildings down.
14
Men in the ships of Tarshish, cry out! Mighty Tyre is destroyed!
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 23:1
15
A time is coming when people will forget about Tyre for 70 years. That's the length of a king's life. But at the end of those 70 years, Tyre will be like the prostitute that people sing about. They say,
Reference
Kingdom
Jeremiah 25:22
16
"Forgotten prostitute, pick up a harp. Walk through the city. Play the harp well. Sing many songs. Then you will be remembered."
Reference
Sin
Jeremiah 30:14
17
At the end of the 70 years, the Lord will punish Tyre. He will let it return to its way of life as a prostitute. It will earn its living with all of the kingdoms on the face of the earth.
Reference
Summary of Isaiah 23
Isaiah 23 focuses on the great Phoenician trading city of Tyre, one of the most influential commercial centers of the ancient Mediterranean.
The chapter begins with ships, merchants, sailors, and trading partners mourning because Tyre's commercial system has collapsed.
Tyre's importance was not limited to its own population.
Its wealth depended upon extensive international networks connecting the Mediterranean world with places such as Egypt, Sidon, and distant trading regions represented by Tarshish.
Because of this, the fall of Tyre would affect merchants and economies far beyond the city itself.
Isaiah emphasizes that Tyre's greatest weakness is not simply its wealth but its pride.
Its merchants have become like princes, and its traders have gained extraordinary influence.
Yet the Lord determines to humble the city and demonstrate that economic power cannot provide permanent security.
The chapter also places Tyre's fate within the larger history of imperial expansion, mentioning Assyria and Babylon as examples of powerful civilizations whose fortunes also changed.
The prophecy therefore presents a recurring biblical principle: wealth and influence may create the appearance of permanence, but no commercial empire is beyond God's authority.
Interestingly, however, Isaiah's prophecy does not end with permanent destruction.
After a period described as seventy years, Tyre will return to its commercial activity.
The final verse provides the most positive development: Tyre's future profits will be dedicated to the Lord and used to support those who worship and serve Him.
This creates an important contrast with the earlier description of proud commercial wealth.
The problem is not simply possessing wealth; the deeper issue is what wealth is worshiped for and how it is ultimately used.
The central message is that commercial success, international influence, and accumulated wealth can disappear when pride takes control, but God can also restore what has been humbled and redirect its resources toward purposes that honor Him rather than merely serving human ambition and self-glorification.
The chapter begins with ships, merchants, sailors, and trading partners mourning because Tyre's commercial system has collapsed.
Tyre's importance was not limited to its own population.
Its wealth depended upon extensive international networks connecting the Mediterranean world with places such as Egypt, Sidon, and distant trading regions represented by Tarshish.
Because of this, the fall of Tyre would affect merchants and economies far beyond the city itself.
Isaiah emphasizes that Tyre's greatest weakness is not simply its wealth but its pride.
Its merchants have become like princes, and its traders have gained extraordinary influence.
Yet the Lord determines to humble the city and demonstrate that economic power cannot provide permanent security.
The chapter also places Tyre's fate within the larger history of imperial expansion, mentioning Assyria and Babylon as examples of powerful civilizations whose fortunes also changed.
The prophecy therefore presents a recurring biblical principle: wealth and influence may create the appearance of permanence, but no commercial empire is beyond God's authority.
Interestingly, however, Isaiah's prophecy does not end with permanent destruction.
After a period described as seventy years, Tyre will return to its commercial activity.
The final verse provides the most positive development: Tyre's future profits will be dedicated to the Lord and used to support those who worship and serve Him.
This creates an important contrast with the earlier description of proud commercial wealth.
The problem is not simply possessing wealth; the deeper issue is what wealth is worshiped for and how it is ultimately used.
The central message is that commercial success, international influence, and accumulated wealth can disappear when pride takes control, but God can also restore what has been humbled and redirect its resources toward purposes that honor Him rather than merely serving human ambition and self-glorification.