IsaiahStudy Guide

Chapter 23

Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.

Just read this chapter →

Scripture

KJV

1The 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.

2Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

3And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

4Be 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.

5As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

6Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.

7Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

8Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

9The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

10Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.

11He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

12And 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.

13Behold 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.

14Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

15And 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.

16Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

17And 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 the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.

18And 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.

Key VerseIsaiah 23:9

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.

Overview

Isaiah pronounces judgment on Tyre, the great Phoenician trading city whose merchants were princes and whose traffickers were the honored of the earth. Ships returning from Tarshish receive the news that Tyre is destroyed. The city will be forgotten for seventy years, after which it will return to its trade — but ultimately its merchandise will be set apart for those who dwell before the Lord.

Key Themes

1

The Fall of Commercial Pride

Tyre's wealth, sophistication, and global commerce cannot protect it from God's judgment — the mightiest trading empire is still subject to the Lord of hosts.

2

God's Purpose Behind the Fall of Nations

It is 'the LORD of hosts' who has purposed the destruction of Tyre, 'to stain the pride of all glory' — God actively opposes human arrogance.

3

Wealth Consecrated to the Lord

After restoration, Tyre's merchandise will be holy to the Lord, used for those who dwell before Him — even commercial wealth can be redirected for God's purposes.

Study Questions

1.

What does Tyre's fall teach about the security of wealth and commercial success?

2.

Why does God specifically target 'the pride of all glory' and the 'honourable of the earth' (v. 9)?

3.

What is significant about the seventy-year period of Tyre's desolation (v. 15)?

4.

How does the vision of Tyre's wealth being consecrated to the Lord (v. 18) redeem the concept of commerce?

5.

How does this oracle challenge our culture's tendency to honor the wealthy and commercially powerful?

Connection to Christ

The consecration of Tyre's wealth to the Lord anticipates the day when the wealth of the nations flows into God's kingdom. In Christ's kingdom, all resources are redirected to serve God's people and purposes — the Magi's gold offered to the infant Jesus is a firstfruit of this reality.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Isaiah 23. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

Isaiah

23 of 66