Isaiah 23:15
Isaiah 23:15 in Multiple Translations
At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:
And 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.
And 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 it shall be unto Tyre as in the song of the harlot.
And it will be in that day that Tyre will go out of mind for seventy years, that is, the days of one king: after the end of seventy years it will be for Tyre as in the song of the loose woman.
At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, a king's lifetime, as it were. But at the end of these seventy years, Tyre will be like the song about a prostitute,
And in that day shall Tyrus bee forgotten seuentie yeeres, (according to the yeeres of one King) at the ende of seuentie yeeres shall Tyrus sing as an harlot.
And it hath come to pass, in that day, That forgotten is Tyre seventy years, According to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years there is to Tyre as the song of the harlot.
It will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.
And 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 a harlot.
And it shall come to pass in that day that thou, O Tyre, shalt be forgotten, seventy years, according to the days of one king: but after seventy years, there shall be unto Tyre as the song of a harlot.
For seventy years, which is as long as kings usually live, people will forget about Tyre. But then it will be rebuilt. What will happen there will be like what happened to a prostitute in this song:
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 23:15
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 23:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיָה֙
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
הַ/ה֔וּא
וְ/נִשְׁכַּ֤חַת
צֹר֙
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
שָׁנָ֔ה
כִּ/ימֵ֖י
מֶ֣לֶךְ
אֶחָ֑ד
מִ/קֵּ֞ץ
שִׁבְעִ֤ים
שָׁנָה֙
יִהְיֶ֣ה
לְ/צֹ֔ר
כְּ/שִׁירַ֖ת
הַ/זּוֹנָֽה
וְ/הָיָה֙
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-ms
הַ/ה֔וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Art | Pron
וְ/נִשְׁכַּ֤חַת
shâkach
H7911
to forget
Conj | V-Niphal-3fs
צֹר֙
Tsôr
H6865
Tyre
N-proper
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
shibʻîym
H7657
seventy
Adj
שָׁנָ֔ה
shâneh
H8141
year
N-fs
כִּ/ימֵ֖י
yôwm
H3117
day
Prep | N-mp
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
King's
N-ms
אֶחָ֑ד
ʼechâd
H259
one
Adj
מִ/קֵּ֞ץ
qêts
H7093
end
Prep | N-ms
שִׁבְעִ֤ים
shibʻîym
H7657
seventy
Adj
שָׁנָה֙
shâneh
H8141
year
N-fs
יִהְיֶ֣ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
לְ/צֹ֔ר
Tsôr
H6865
Tyre
Prep | N-proper
כְּ/שִׁירַ֖ת
shîyr
H7892
song
Prep | N-cs
הַ/זּוֹנָֽה
zânâh
H2181
to fornicate
Art | V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 23:15
וְ/הָיָה֙
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בַּ/יּ֣וֹם
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
הַ/ה֔וּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Art | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
וְ/נִשְׁכַּ֤חַת
shâkach
H7911
"to forget"
Conj | V-Niphal-3fs
To forget something means to mislay it or be oblivious to it. This Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe when people forget things, like God's commands. The KJV translates it as 'to forget' or 'at all'.
Definition: 1) to forget, ignore, wither 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to forget 1a2) to cease to care 1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten 1c) (Piel) to cause to forget 1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget 1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
Usage: Occurs in 95 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. See also: Genesis 27:45; Psalms 106:13; Psalms 9:13.
צֹר֙
Tsôr
H6865
"Tyre"
N-proper
Tyre refers to a city on the Mediterranean coast, mentioned in the Bible as a major Phoenician city, translated as Tyre or Tyrus, meaning a rock. It appears in books like Matthew and Acts. The city was an important trade center.
Definition: § Tyre or Tyrus = "a rock" the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: Tyre, Tyrus. See also: Joshua 19:29; Jeremiah 27:3; Psalms 45:13.
שִׁבְעִ֣ים
shibʻîym
H7657
"seventy"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the number seventy, like the seventy disciples Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. It appears in phrases like threescore and ten. The KJV Bible uses it to describe groups of seventy people.
Definition: seventy
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). See also: Genesis 4:24; Judges 9:2; Psalms 90:10.
שָׁנָ֔ה
shâneh
H8141
"year"
N-fs
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Definition: 1) year 1a) as division of time 1b) as measure of time 1c) as indication of age 1d) a lifetime (of years of life) Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Usage: Occurs in 647 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). See also: Genesis 1:14; Genesis 47:28; Numbers 7:35.
כִּ/ימֵ֖י
yôwm
H3117
"day"
Prep | N-mp
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow
Usage: Occurs in 1930 OT verses. KJV: age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. See also: Genesis 1:5; Genesis 33:13; Exodus 23:15.
מֶ֣לֶךְ
melek
H4428
"King's"
N-ms
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
אֶחָ֑ד
ʼechâd
H259
"one"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means one or united, and is used to describe something that is single or unique. It is often translated as one, first, or alone. For example, in Genesis 1:5, God calls the light day and the darkness night, and separates them into one thing from another.
Definition: 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)
Usage: Occurs in 739 OT verses. KJV: a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, See also: Genesis 1:5; Exodus 36:26; Numbers 7:70.
מִ/קֵּ֞ץ
qêts
H7093
"end"
Prep | N-ms
The end refers to the extremity or conclusion of something, whether in time or space. It can also mean after or at the border of something, as in the utmost end of a process.
Definition: 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space)
Usage: Occurs in 62 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after, (utmost) border, end, (in-) finite, [idiom] process. See also: Genesis 4:3; Isaiah 23:15; Psalms 39:5.
שִׁבְעִ֤ים
shibʻîym
H7657
"seventy"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means the number seventy, like the seventy disciples Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1. It appears in phrases like threescore and ten. The KJV Bible uses it to describe groups of seventy people.
Definition: seventy
Usage: Occurs in 90 OT verses. KJV: seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). See also: Genesis 4:24; Judges 9:2; Psalms 90:10.
שָׁנָה֙
shâneh
H8141
"year"
N-fs
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Definition: 1) year 1a) as division of time 1b) as measure of time 1c) as indication of age 1d) a lifetime (of years of life) Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Usage: Occurs in 647 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). See also: Genesis 1:14; Genesis 47:28; Numbers 7:35.
יִהְיֶ֣ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/צֹ֔ר
Tsôr
H6865
"Tyre"
Prep | N-proper
Tyre refers to a city on the Mediterranean coast, mentioned in the Bible as a major Phoenician city, translated as Tyre or Tyrus, meaning a rock. It appears in books like Matthew and Acts. The city was an important trade center.
Definition: § Tyre or Tyrus = "a rock" the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: Tyre, Tyrus. See also: Joshua 19:29; Jeremiah 27:3; Psalms 45:13.
כְּ/שִׁירַ֖ת
shîyr
H7892
"song"
Prep | N-cs
This word refers to a song or singing, and it is used in the Bible to describe musical expressions of praise and worship, like the songs of David in the book of Psalms. It can also be used to describe a specific song or ode.
Definition: 1) song 1a) lyric song 1b) religious song 1c) song of Levitical choirs Also means: shi.rah (שִׁירָה "song" H7892B)
Usage: Occurs in 87 OT verses. KJV: musical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song. See also: Genesis 31:27; Psalms 76:1; Psalms 18:1.
הַ/זּוֹנָֽה
zânâh
H2181
"to fornicate"
Art | V-Qal
To fornicate means to commit adultery or be unfaithful, often used to describe idolatry in the Bible. It can also refer to a person being a cult prostitute or causing others to be unfaithful.
Definition: 1) to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication 1a2) to commit adultery 1a3) to be a cult prostitute 1a4) to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.) 1b) (Pual) to play the harlot 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to commit adultery 1c2) to force into prostitution 1c3) to commit fornication
Usage: Occurs in 81 OT verses. KJV: (cause to) commit fornication, [idiom] continually, [idiom] great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish. See also: Genesis 34:31; Isaiah 57:3; Psalms 73:27.
Study Notes — Isaiah 23:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 23:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 23:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 23:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 23:15
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 23:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
- Sermons on Isaiah 23:15
Context — The Burden against Tyre
13Look at the land of the Chaldeans — a people now of no account. The Assyrians destined it for the desert creatures; they set up their siege towers and stripped its palaces. They brought it to ruin.
14Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!
15At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:
16“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.” 17And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 25:22 | all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea; |
| 2 | Jeremiah 25:9–11 | behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. |
| 3 | Daniel 7:14 | And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. |
| 4 | Daniel 8:21 | The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 29:11 | No foot of man or beast will pass through, and it will be uninhabited for forty years. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 27:3–7 | Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. Give them a message from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, to relay to their masters: By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please. So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 29:10 | For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place. |
| 8 | Revelation 17:10 | There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. |
| 9 | Ezekiel 27:25 | The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea. |
| 10 | Hosea 2:15 | There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. |
Isaiah 23:15 Summary
Isaiah 23:15 tells us that the city of Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, which is a long time, but then it will be restored. This is like what happens to us when we sin and turn away from God - we may face judgment and consequences, but God is always willing to restore us if we turn back to Him (as seen in Jeremiah 29:11-14). The prophecy in Isaiah 23:15 is a reminder that God is in control of all things, including the rise and fall of cities and nations, and that He is always working to bring about His plan of redemption and restoration (as seen in Romans 8:28). Just like Tyre, we can be restored and made new if we seek God and remember His faithfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the seventy years mentioned in Isaiah 23:15?
The seventy years refer to the period of time that Tyre will be forgotten, which is equivalent to the span of a king's life, as mentioned in Isaiah 23:15. This time of judgment is also seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Jeremiah 25:11-12, where the prophet speaks of a seventy-year period of desolation for the land of Babylon.
What is the song of the harlot that is mentioned in Isaiah 23:15?
The song of the harlot is a metaphor for the seductive and alluring nature of Tyre, which is compared to a prostitute in Isaiah 23:16-17. This song is a call to remember the city's former glory and to seek to regain it, as seen in the instructions to take up the harp and stroll through the city, making sweet melody and singing many songs.
Is the prophecy in Isaiah 23:15 about Tyre's destruction or restoration?
The prophecy in Isaiah 23:15 is about both the destruction and restoration of Tyre. The city will be forgotten for seventy years, but at the end of that time, it will be restored, as mentioned in Isaiah 23:17, and will return to its former ways, as seen in the comparison to a prostitute.
How does the prophecy in Isaiah 23:15 relate to the larger theme of God's judgment and restoration?
The prophecy in Isaiah 23:15 is part of the larger theme of God's judgment and restoration, as seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Ezekiel 26:3-5, where the prophet speaks of God's judgment on Tyre, and Isaiah 25:1-5, where the prophet speaks of God's restoration of His people.
Reflection Questions
- What can we learn from the example of Tyre about the dangers of pride and self-reliance, and how can we apply this to our own lives?
- How does the concept of a 'span of a king's life' help us understand the significance of the seventy years mentioned in Isaiah 23:15?
- What role does music and remembrance play in the prophecy of Isaiah 23:15-17, and how can we use music and remembrance in our own lives to seek God and remember His faithfulness?
- How does the comparison of Tyre to a prostitute in Isaiah 23:16-17 relate to the theme of spiritual adultery and idolatry, and what warnings can we take from this for our own lives?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 23:15
And it shall come to pass in that day,.... When Tyre is destroyed, from that time forward: that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years; shall so long lie in its ruin, and not be rebuilt; it shall be
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 23:15
And 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. Tyre shall be forgotten.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
Forgotten; neglected and forsaken by those who used to resort thither. Seventy years; during the whole time of the Jewish captivity in Babylon. For Tyrus was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, ,8 Ezekiel 26:7, a little after the taking of Jerusalem, and was restored by the favour of the Persian monarchs after the return of the Jews from the captivity of Babylon. Of one king; either, 1. Of the kingdom of Babylon, which lasted so long after this time; the word king being put for kingdom, as it Isaiah 8:21; or 2. Of one royal race, of Nebuchadnezzar, including his son, and his son’ s son, in whom his family and kingdom were to expire. After the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot; she shall by degrees return to her former state of prosperity and traffic, whereby she shall easily entice the merchants of the world to converse and trade with her, as harlots use to entice their customers by lascivious songs.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
Isaiah 23:15 And 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.Ver. 15. Tyre shall be forgotten,] i.e., Laid aside by God, as if not at all minded in her misery: slighted also and unfrequented by men, as a withered harlot. Seventy years.] So long as the Jews, whom they jeered, were held captives in Babylon. According to the days of one king,] i.e., The duration of the Babylonish monarchy, under Nebuchadnezzar, his son, and his son’ s son. Shall Tyre sing as an harlot.] Ut meretrix, i.e., Mercatrix. Harlots fallen into some foul disease are abandoned; but recovering thereof, they seek, by singing and other allurements, to regain their paramours; so should Tyre deal by her old customers, being, as was once said of Helena after her return from Troy, ηηπαλαιγυνη, no changeling, but as good as ever.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
(15) Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years.—If we take the number literally, the seventy years may coincide with those of the captivity of Judah, during which, under the Chaldæan supremacy, Tyre was reduced to a state of comparative insignificance. It seems better, however, with Cheyne, to take it as a symbolic number for a long period of indefinite duration, and so, bringing it into closer connection with the context, to reckon the period from its conquest by the Assyrians. According to the days of one king.—We look in vain for any ruler of Assyria or Babylon whose reign was of this length, and the words probably mean, as the days fixed by a king—i.e., by a despotic and absolute decree. Possibly, however, the “one king” may stand for one dynasty. Shall Tyre sing as an harlot.—Literally, there shall be to Tyre as the song of the harlot, possibly referring to some well-known lyric of this type. The commercial city, welcoming foreigners of all nations as her lovers for the sake of gain, is compared to the prostitute who sells herself for money. (Comp. Revelation 17:2.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
Verse 15. According to the days of one king] what is, of one kingdom; see Daniel 7:17; Daniel 8:20. Nebuchadnezzar began his conquests in the first year of his reign; from thence to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus are seventy years, at which time the nations subdued by Nebuchadnezzar were to be restored to liberty. These seventy years limit the duration of the Babylonish monarchy. Tyre was taken by him towards the middle of that period; so did not serve the king of Babylon during the whole period, but only for the remaining part of it. This seems to be the meaning of Isaiah; the days allotted to the one king or kingdom, are seventy years; Tyre, with the rest of the conquered nations, shall continue in a state of subjection and desolation to the end of that period. Not from the beginning and through the whole of the period; for, by being one of the latest conquests, the duration of that state of subjection in regard to her, was not much more than half of it. "All these nations," saith Jeremiah, Jeremiah 25:11, "shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Some of them were conquered sooner, some later; but the end of this period was the common term for the deliverance of them all. There is another way of computing the seventy years, from the year in which Tyre was actually taken to the nineteenth of Darius Hystaspis; whom the Phoenicians, or Tyrians, assisted against the Ionians, and probably on that account might then be restored to their former liberties and privileges. But I think the former the more probable interpretation. - L.
Sing as a harlot] Fidicinam esse meretricum est, says Donatus in Terent. Eunuch. iii. 2, 4. Nec meretrix tibicina, cujus Ad strepitum salias. HOR. I. Epist. xiv. 25. "Nor harlot minstrel sings, when the rude sound Tempts you with heavy heels to thump the ground." FRANCIS. Sir John Chardin, in his MS. note on this place, says: - C'est que les vielles prostituees, - ne font que chanter quand les jeunes dancent, et les animer par l'instrument et par la voix. "The old prostitutes do nothing but sing, while the young ones dance; and animate them both by vocal and instrumental music."
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 23:15
15–18. The appendix. Tyre shall be forgotten for seventy years; afterwards she shall resume her commercial activity, but its profits shall be dedicated to Jehovah’s people.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 23:15
Tyre shall be forgotten - Shall cease to be a place of importance in commerce; shall be unheard of in those distant places to which ships formerly sailed.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 23:15
14, 15. Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years — Shall be of comparatively no account as an object for re-conquest.
Sermons on Isaiah 23:15
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 23:1 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | The video begins by discussing the importance of family and the breakdown of the family unit in society. It introduces Pastor Chuck Smith's Marriage and Family Bible Study as a res |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 23:15 - Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the events described in the book of Revelation. He mentions the sun darkening, the moon turning to blood, and other signs that will occur. He |
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The Ancient of Days on the Judgment Throne by W.F. Kumuyi | This sermon emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the second coming of Christ, highlighting the need for repentance, righteousness, and readiness for judgment. It delves |
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4) Ministry From Spring Harvest - Chapter 6 by George Verwer | In this video, the speaker reviews the main themes of the previous chapters in the book of Daniel, focusing on sovereignty, discipline, holiness, perseverance, pressure, courage, d |
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The Priority of Christ\t- Part 2 by Tom Wells | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the authority of Jesus Christ and the program he has set in motion to spread the gospel, bring in his elect, benefit the church, and judge the |
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Model for Praying - Part 3 by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the speaker describes his experience of staying in an old Hindu temple and witnessing people worshiping idols. He expresses his horror at seeing people worshiping n |
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Sounding an Alarm by George Warnock | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a personal relationship with God and walking in His ways. He references the story of Jacob's encounter with God at B |