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.

And it shall come to pass in that day {H3117}, that Tyre {H6865} shall be forgotten {H7911} seventy {H7657} years {H8141}, according to the days {H3117} of one {H259} king {H4428}: after the end {H7093} of seventy {H7657} years {H8141} shall Tyre {H6865} sing {H7892} as an harlot {H2181}.

When that day comes, Tzor will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of a king. After seventy years, its fate will be the same as that of the prostitute in this song:

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 it shall be unto Tyre as in the song of the harlot.

Context

Isaiah 23 is a prophetic oracle concerning the city of Tyre, a dominant maritime trading power of ancient Phoenicia. Known for its wealth, influence, and extensive commercial network, Tyre was a symbol of worldly prosperity. This chapter details its impending destruction and desolation, serving as a powerful demonstration of God's sovereignty over all nations, even those seemingly untouchable due to their might and riches. Verse 15 specifically addresses a period of time Tyre would be "forgotten" or fall into obscurity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The prophecy highlights God's absolute control over the rise and fall of nations and empires. Even a city as powerful as Tyre could not escape divine decree. This reinforces the theme that God's plan unfolds regardless of human strength or ambition.
  • Temporal Punishment and Restoration: The "seventy years" signifies a period of judgment and desolation, often associated with the duration of the Babylonian captivity (compare with Jeremiah 25:11). After this period, Tyre is prophesied to regain some measure of its former activity, though perhaps not its former glory or moral standing.
  • The Metaphor of the Harlot: The phrase "Tyre shall sing as an harlot" is a vivid metaphor. It doesn't necessarily imply sexual immorality, but rather a city that has lost its former esteemed position and now seeks to regain its influence and wealth through alluring, perhaps morally questionable, commercial practices. It suggests a return to its old ways of enticing trade and engaging in worldly pursuits, much like a harlot seeks to attract customers.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "forgotten seventy years" uses the Hebrew verb shakhach (שָׁכַח), meaning to forget, neglect, or be disregarded. This implies a period of obscurity and loss of prominence for Tyre on the world stage. The duration of "seventy years" is a significant prophetic period in the Old Testament, often linked to the Babylonian empire's dominance and its impact on surrounding nations.

The expression "sing as an harlot" is a poetic and metaphorical way to describe Tyre's re-emergence. It speaks to a city that, after its judgment, will once again try to attract and entice traders, resuming its bustling commercial life, perhaps with the same materialistic and morally indifferent spirit that characterized it before its fall. It's a return to its old "profession" of enticing global trade, even if its reputation is tarnished.

Related Scriptures

  • The judgment against Tyre is also detailed in other prophetic books, such as Ezekiel chapters 26-28, which provide further insights into its pride and eventual downfall.
  • The concept of nations being used as instruments of divine judgment, and then themselves facing judgment, is a recurring theme in Isaiah, as seen in prophecies against Babylon in Isaiah 13.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that no earthly power, wealth, or influence is permanent apart from God's will. It serves as a caution against excessive materialism and pride, suggesting that even after periods of judgment, there can be a tendency to revert to old patterns of behavior and priorities. For believers, it reinforces trust in God's ultimate sovereignty over history and economies, providing a perspective that transcends the fleeting nature of worldly success. It encourages us to consider where our own security and identity truly lie, not in temporary prosperity but in an eternal relationship with God, as emphasized in Matthew 6:33.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 25:22

    And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which [are] beyond the sea,

  • Daniel 7:14

    And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

  • Daniel 8:21

    And the rough goat [is] the king of Grecia: and the great horn that [is] between his eyes [is] the first king.

  • Jeremiah 25:9

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • Jeremiah 25:11

    And this whole land shall be a desolation, [and] an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

  • Jeremiah 29:10

    For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

  • Jeremiah 27:3

    And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

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