King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He has stretched out his hand against the sea, he has shaken kingdoms; ADONAI has ordered that Kena'an's fortresses be destroyed.
Berean Standard Bible:
The 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.
American Standard Version:
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He stretched out{H5186} his hand{H3027} over the sea{H3220}, he shook{H7264} the kingdoms{H4467}: the LORD{H3068} hath given a commandment{H6680} against the merchant{H3667} city, to destroy{H8045} the strong{H4581} holds{H4581} thereof.
Cross-References (KJV):
Zechariah 9:3
- And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
Zechariah 9:4
- Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
Exodus 14:21
- ¶ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry [land], and the waters were divided.
Isaiah 23:3
- And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, [is] her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.
Isaiah 2:19
- And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isaiah 14:16
- They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
Isaiah 14:17
- [That] made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; [that] opened not the house of his prisoners?
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Commentary for Isaiah 23:11
Isaiah 23:11 is part of a prophetic oracle concerning the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre, which is found in the Book of Isaiah within the Old Testament of the Bible. Tyre was a prominent maritime trading center, known for its wealth and commercial power, situated on the coast of what is now Lebanon. The verse reflects the themes of divine judgment and the sovereignty of God over the nations.
In this verse, the Lord is depicted as a powerful figure who "stretched out his hand over the sea," symbolizing His control over the natural world and, by extension, the human empires that rely on it. The shaking of the "kingdoms" indicates the upheaval and instability that God can bring upon human establishments. The "merchant city," Tyre, is specifically targeted by God's command, highlighting its economic dominance and the pride that comes with such power. The verse speaks to the ultimate vulnerability of human fortifications and strongholds, which can be destroyed at God's command. This reflects the broader biblical theme that human achievements, especially when tainted with pride or injustice, are subject to divine judgment.
The historical context of this prophecy is significant. Tyre faced a series of sieges and its eventual decline was marked by the conquests of various empires, including the Neo-Assyrians, Neo-Babylonians, and Alexander the Great. Isaiah's prophecy can be seen as a warning to Tyre and other nations that their security and prosperity are not guaranteed by their own strength but are subject to God's will. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly power and the enduring sovereignty of God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5186
There are 207 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָטָה
Transliteration: nâṭâh
Pronunciation: naw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application; [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H3220
There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָם
Transliteration: yâm
Pronunciation: yawm
Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). - Strong's Number: H7264
There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָגַז
Transliteration: râgaz
Pronunciation: raw-gaz'
Description: a primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear); be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth. - Strong's Number: H4467
There are 113 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַמְלָכָה
Transliteration: mamlâkâh
Pronunciation: mam-law-kaw'
Description: from מָלַךְ; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm); kingdom, king's, reign, royal. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6680
There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָוָה
Transliteration: tsâvâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. - Strong's Number: H3667
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַן
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick. - Strong's Number: H8045
There are 86 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַד
Transliteration: shâmad
Pronunciation: shaw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to desolate; destory(-uction), bring to nought, overthrow, perish, pluck down, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H4581
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָעוֹז
Transliteration: mâʻôwz
Pronunciation: maw-oze'
Description: (also מָעוּז ); or מָעֹז (also מָעֻז; from עָזַז; a fortified place; figuratively, a defence; force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), ([idiom] most) strong (hold).