Isaiah 23:10
Isaiah 23:10 in Multiple Translations
Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor.
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint any more.
Let your land be worked with the plough, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer any harbour.
Work your land, people of Tarshish, as they do beside the Nile, for you don't have a harbor anymore.
Passe through thy lande like a flood to the daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Pass through thy land as a brook, Daughter of Tarshish, there is no more a girdle.
Pass through your land like the Nile, daughter of Tarshish. There is no restraint any more.
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Pass thy land as a river, O daughter of the sea, thou hast a girdle no more.
You people of Tarshish, you must grow crops in your land instead of trading; spread out over your land like [SIM] the Nile River spreads over the land of Egypt when it floods, because there is no harbor in Tyre for your ships now.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 23:10
BAB
Word Study
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Isaiah 23:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עִבְרִ֥י
אַרְצֵ֖/ךְ
כַּ/יְאֹ֑ר
בַּת
תַּרְשִׁ֕ישׁ
אֵ֖ין
מֵ֥זַח
עֽוֹד
עִבְרִ֥י
ʻâbar
H5674
to pass
V-Qal-Impv-2fs
אַרְצֵ֖/ךְ
ʼerets
H776
land
N-cs | Suff
כַּ/יְאֹ֑ר
yᵉʼôr
H2975
stream
Prep | N-proper
בַּת
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fs
תַּרְשִׁ֕ישׁ
Tarshîysh
H8659
Tarshish
N-proper
אֵ֖ין
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Part
מֵ֥זַח
mâzîyach
H4206
belt
N-ms
עֽוֹד
ʻôwd
H5750
still
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 23:10
עִבְרִ֥י
ʻâbar
H5674
"to pass"
V-Qal-Impv-2fs
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Definition: 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish 1a6c) to perish, cease to exist 1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree) 1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands 1b) (Niphal) to be crossed 1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote 1d2) to cause to pass through 1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by 1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away 1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Usage: Occurs in 493 OT verses. KJV: alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. See also: Genesis 8:1; Deuteronomy 27:2; 1 Samuel 25:19.
אַרְצֵ֖/ךְ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
N-cs | Suff
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
כַּ/יְאֹ֑ר
yᵉʼôr
H2975
"stream"
Prep | N-proper
A stream or river, like the Nile, is what this word refers to. It can also mean a canal, watercourse, or even a mining shaft, emphasizing the flow of water.
Definition: 1) river, stream, canal, Nile, Nile-canal 1a) stream, river (Nile) 1b) Nile-arms, Nile-canals 1c) watercourses 1d) shafts (mining) 1e) river (in general)
Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream. See also: Genesis 41:1; Psalms 78:44; Isaiah 7:18.
בַּת
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
תַּרְשִׁ֕ישׁ
Tarshîysh
H8659
"Tarshish"
N-proper
Tarshish was a place on the Mediterranean, also the name of a Persian and an Israelite, and a term for a merchant vessel, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:10.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.10; son of: Bilhan (H1092H); brother of: Jeush (H3266H), Benjamin (H1144H), Ehud (H0164H), Chenaanah (H3668H), Zethan (H2133) and Ahishahar (H0300) § Tarshish or Tharshish = "yellow jasper" 1) son of Javan 2) a Benjamite, son of Bilhan 3) one of the wise men close to king Ahasuerus of Persia 4) a city of the Phoenicians in a distant part of the Mediterranean Sea to which the prophet Jonah was trying to flee 1a) perhaps in Cyprus or Spain 5) a city somewhere near and accessible to the Red Sea to which ships constructed at Ezion-geber on the Elanitic Gulf on the Red Sea were to sail
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: Tarshish, Tharshish. See also: Genesis 10:4; Isaiah 23:1; Psalms 48:8.
אֵ֖ין
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
מֵ֥זַח
mâzîyach
H4206
"belt"
N-ms
In biblical times, a belt or girdle was a symbol of strength, as seen in the story of Elijah. This word is used to describe a belt that holds up one's pants, but also represents spiritual strength and courage.
Definition: girdle Also means: ma.zi.ach (מְזִיחַ "belt" H4206B)
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: girdle, strength. See also: Job 12:21; Psalms 109:19; Isaiah 23:10.
עֽוֹד
ʻôwd
H5750
"still"
Adv
The word 'still' means something continues or happens again, like in Genesis 29:26 and Isaiah 2:11. It can also mean 'more' or 'additionally'.
Definition: subst 1) a going round, continuance adv 2) still, yet, again, besides 2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence) 2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition) 2c) again 2d) still, moreover, besides Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)
Usage: Occurs in 459 OT verses. KJV: again, [idiom] all life long, at all, besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer, (any) more(-over), [idiom] once, since, (be) still, when, (good, the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet (within). See also: Genesis 4:25; Judges 9:37; 2 Chronicles 32:16.
Study Notes — Isaiah 23:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 23:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 23:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 23:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 23:10
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 23:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
- Sermons on Isaiah 23:10
Context — The Burden against Tyre
8Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth?
9The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
10Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor.
11The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed. 12He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus— even there you will find no rest.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 12:21 | He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. |
| 2 | Isaiah 23:14 | Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed! |
| 3 | Psalms 18:32 | It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 28:20 | Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night. |
| 5 | Romans 5:6 | For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. |
| 6 | Haggai 2:22 | I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. |
| 7 | Lamentations 1:6 | All the splendor has departed from the Daughter of Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; they lack the strength to flee in the face of the hunter. |
Isaiah 23:10 Summary
[Isaiah 23:10 is a call to the Daughter of Tarshish to focus on what really matters, cultivating the land and trusting in God's provision, rather than relying on earthly wealth and power. This verse reminds us that our true security and comfort come from God, not from our circumstances or possessions, as seen in Psalm 37:3-4. By trusting in God's sovereignty and provision, we can find peace and hope, even in the midst of uncertainty and change. As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves how we can apply this principle to our own lives, trusting God to provide for us and guide us, just as He did for the Israelites in the wilderness, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:2-3.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'cultivate your land like the Nile' in Isaiah 23:10?
This phrase is a call to the Daughter of Tarshish to focus on farming and agriculture, just like the Nile River made the land of Egypt fertile, as seen in Exodus 1:7, where the Israelites flourished in Egypt. This is a contrast to the previous focus on maritime trade and commerce.
Why is there 'no longer a harbor' in Isaiah 23:10?
The harbor, which was a symbol of the city's wealth and power, is now gone, indicating that the city's maritime trade and commerce have come to an end, much like the downfall of Tyre described in Ezekiel 27:32-36.
Who is the 'Daughter of Tarshish' in Isaiah 23:10?
The 'Daughter of Tarshish' refers to a city or nation that was known for its maritime trade and commerce, possibly the city of Tartessus in Spain, which was a major trading center in the ancient world, similar to Tyre in Ezekiel 27:12-13.
What is the significance of this verse in the context of Isaiah 23?
This verse is part of a larger prophecy against Tyre and the nations that traded with it, emphasizing God's judgment on their pride and wealth, as seen in Isaiah 23:8-9, where the Lord of Hosts planned to defile all its glorious beauty.
Reflection Questions
- How can I apply the principle of 'cultivating my land' to my own life, focusing on what God has given me to steward?
- What are the things in my life that I have been relying on for security and comfort, and how can I trust God to provide for me even when they are taken away?
- In what ways have I been prioritizing earthly wealth and power over spiritual pursuits, and how can I realign my priorities with God's kingdom?
- How can I find comfort and hope in God's sovereignty, even in the midst of uncertainty and change, as seen in Psalm 46:1-3?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 23:10
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish,.... Or, "of the sea", as the Vulgate Latin; meaning Tyre, which was situated in the sea, and did, as it were, spring from it, and was
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 23:10
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
Pass through the land; tarry no longer in thy own territories, but flee through them, and beyond them, into other countries, for safety and relief. As a river; swiftly, lest you be prevented; and continually, till you be all gone; and in shoals and multitudes. O daughter of Tarshish; O Tyrus; for of her he speaks both in the foregoing and following words. And Tyrus might well be called the daughter of Tarshish, i.e. of the sea, as that word is used, , and elsewhere, because it then was an island, and therefore as it were born of the sea, and nourished and brought up by it. No more strength, Heb. no more girdle: the girdle, which strengthens the loins of a man, is put for strength, as 38:3. It behoveth you, O people of Tyrus, to flee away, as I advise you; for your city is unable to defend you; your wealth, the sinews of war, is lost; your walls broken down; the sea, which, like a girdle, surrounded and defended you, is now in part filled up by your enemies, who have joined you to the main land; your former friends and allies forsake you.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
Isaiah 23:10 Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: [there is] no more strength.Ver. 10. Pass through the land as a river,] i.e., Hastily: Abi praeceps, pack up and begone with all speed, be there never so many of you here at Tyre. There is no more strength.] Heb., Girdle - that is, soldiery, or shipping, or sea to encompass it. Oecolampadius sets this sense upon the words, Non est ei cingulum reliquum, There is not so much as a girdle or such like lowly commodity left in Tyre, she had been so plundered. Indefinenter et cito. - Jun.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
(10) Pass through thy land as a river . . .—The word for “river” is that used in Isaiah 23:3 with special reference to the Nile. Here the inundation of the Nile gives special force to the comparison. The daughter of Tarshish (i.e., Tarshish itself) is to spread and overflow in independent action. The colonies of Tyre are no longer subject to her, paying tribute or custom duties as she might ordain. There is no “strength,” no “girdle” now to restrain them, no limit such as Tyre had imposed on their commerce or colonisation. It is significant that Cyprus revolted about this time, and that the Phœnician colonies took part in attacking the mother city under Sennacherib (Jos. Ant. ix. 14. 2).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
Verse 10. O daughter of Tarshish] Tyre is called the daughter of Tarshish; perhaps because, Tyre being ruined, Tarshish was become the superior city, and might be considered as the metropolis of the Tyrian people; or rather because of the close connexion and perpetual intercourse between them, according to that latitude of signification in which the Hebrews use the words son and daughter to express any sort of conjunction and dependence whatever. מזח mezach, a girdle, which collects, binds, and keeps together the loose raiment, when applied to a river, may mean a mound, mole, or artificial dam, which contains the waters and prevents them from spreading abroad. A city taken by siege and destroyed, whose walls are demolished, whose policy is dissolved, whose wealth is dissipated, whose people is scattered over the wide country, is compared to a river whose banks are broken down, and whose waters, let loose and overflowing all the neighbouring plains, are wasted and lost. This may possibly be the meaning of this very obscure verse, of which I can find no other interpretation that is at all satisfactory. - L.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 23:10
10–14. The third strophe, as usually explained, deals mainly with the emancipation of the Phœnician colonies from the somewhat stringent control of Tyre. But the passage presents many difficulties; and from the utter uncertainty as to the meaning of Isa 23:13 the general sense is doubtful.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 23:10
Pass through thy land as a river - This verse has been very variously understood.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 23:10
10. Pass through… as a river — As freely as a river flows, overflows, and rushes, so let the population go hence. Daughter of Tarshish — Dependent, henceforth, on the colonies for existence and a home.
Sermons on Isaiah 23:10
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Peace From Wearying Labor by Mary Wilder Tileston | Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of maintaining unbroken communion with God to experience peace, rest, and joy in our lives. She highlights the need to focus on givin |
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A Final Warning to the Indulgent Church by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the importance of not just agreeing with the truth of God, but embracing it fully, pouring out our lives for His glory and the benefit of others. Drawing fro |
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God Is My Strength and Power - Part 1 by Joshua Daniel | This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of fearing and serving the Lord with all our heart and soul, highlighting the requirements God has for us. It delves into the |
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The Necessity of Weakness by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the necessity of weakness in the Christian walk, drawing from the life of the apostle Paul and the story of David and Goliath. It highlights how God's streng |
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How Clean Are Your Hands? by Warren Wiersbe | Warren Wiersbe emphasizes the importance of maintaining clean hands and righteousness before God, highlighting how God rewards those who walk in integrity and keep His ways. Throug |
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His Bow Abode in Strength by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that the true strength given by God to His faithful, like Joseph, is not mere bravado but a genuine, divine empowerment. This strength enables believers to |
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Surefootedness by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the strength and surefootedness that God provides to His people, as illustrated in Habakkuk 3:19. He explains that faith in God's promises allows believers |