King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Take a lyre, walk the city, you poor, forgotten whore! Play sweetly, sing all your songs, so that they will remember you!"
Berean Standard Bible:
“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”
American Standard Version:
Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Take{H3947} an harp{H3658}, go about{H5437} the city{H5892}, thou harlot{H2181} that hast been forgotten{H7911}; make sweet{H3190} melody{H5059}, sing many{H7235} songs{H7892}, that thou mayest be remembered{H2142}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 30:14
- All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; [because] thy sins were increased.
Proverbs 7:10
- And, behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Proverbs 7:12
- Now [is she] without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 23:16
Isaiah 23:16 is a part of the prophetic book of Isaiah, which addresses the judgments and promises of God concerning various nations. The verse is situated within a prophecy concerning Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city renowned for its maritime trade and wealth. Tyre is personified as a harlot, a metaphor used to depict the city's unfaithfulness to God and its pursuit of wealth and power through alliances with other nations, rather than trusting in the Lord.
In the historical context, Tyre had established itself as a major economic force in the Mediterranean, with extensive trade networks. However, the city's pride and self-sufficiency led to its spiritual downfall. The verse commands this "harlot," representing Tyre, to take up a harp and sing songs to be remembered, suggesting a poignant reversal of fortune. Once a city that was the center of attention and commerce, Tyre is now urged to make sweet melody in a desperate attempt to regain its former glory and remembrance among the nations.
The themes present in this verse include the judgment of pride and idolatry, the transient nature of worldly power and fame, and the call to repentance. It serves as a warning that human achievements, when not aligned with God's will, are fleeting. The verse also reflects the broader biblical motif of God's sovereignty over nations and His use of prophets to call people back to Himself. Isaiah's message to Tyre is a sobering reminder of the impermanence of human enterprises and the importance of seeking a relationship with the eternal 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: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H3658
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כִּנּוֹר
Transliteration: kinnôwr
Pronunciation: kin-nore'
Description: from a unused root meaning to twang; a harp; harp. - Strong's Number: H5437
There are 147 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבַב
Transliteration: çâbab
Pronunciation: saw-bab'
Description: a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively; bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back). - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H2181
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָנָה
Transliteration: zânâh
Pronunciation: zaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah); (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. - Strong's Number: H7911
There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַח
Transliteration: shâkach
Pronunciation: shaw-kakh'
Description: or שָׁכֵחַ; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention; [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. - Strong's Number: H3190
There are 102 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָטַב
Transliteration: yâṭab
Pronunciation: yaw-tab'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right); be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, [phrase] be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ([phrase] well), shew more (kindness), skilfully, [idiom] very small, surely, make sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be (can, deal, entreat, go, have) well (said, seen). - Strong's Number: H5059
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַן
Transliteration: nâgan
Pronunciation: naw-gan'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to thrum, i.e. beat atune with the fingers; expectation. to play on astringed instrument; hence (generally), to make music; player on instruments, sing to the stringed instruments, melody, ministrel, play(-er, -ing). - Strong's Number: H7235
There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָבָה
Transliteration: râbâh
Pronunciation: raw-baw'
Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very. - Strong's Number: H7892
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁיר
Transliteration: shîyr
Pronunciation: sheer
Description: or feminine שִׁירָה; from שִׁיר; a song; abstractly, singing; musical(-ick), [idiom] sing(-er, -ing), song. - Strong's Number: H2142
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָכַר
Transliteration: zâkar
Pronunciation: zaw-kar'
Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well.