Isaiah 23:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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 the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After seventy years, the Lord will restore Tyre's trade with all nations.
The Context of Isaiah 23:17
Divine visitation restores Tyre's trade networks and international commerce.
What Does Isaiah 23:17 Mean?
After the seventy-year exile, the Lord 'visits' Tyre—a term that can mean judgment but here means restoration and re-engagement. She returns to her 'hire,' or payment for trade, resuming commerce with all the kingdoms of the earth. Her mercantile network is restored.
The language of 'fornication with all the kingdoms' presents this commercial restoration in morally negative terms. Tyre's trade becomes indiscriminate and morally compromised, driven purely by profit without ethical restraint. The Lord permits her recovery, but her post-judgment activity lacks the integrity it might have possessed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 23:17
What does Isaiah 23:17 mean?
After seventy years, the Lord will restore Tyre's trade with all nations.
What is the context of Isaiah 23:17?
Divine visitation restores Tyre's trade networks and international commerce.