Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, [even] the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, [nor] bring up virgins.
Be thou ashamed {H954}, O Zidon {H6721}: for the sea {H3220} hath spoken {H559}, even the strength {H4581} of the sea {H3220}, saying {H559}, I travail {H2342} not, nor bring forth children {H3205}, neither do I nourish up {H1431} young men {H970}, nor bring up {H7311} virgins {H1330}.
Shame, Tzidon, for the sea speaks; the fortress of the sea says, "I no longer have labor pains or bear children, yet I have raised neither boys nor girls.
Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women.”
Be thou ashamed, O Sidon; for the sea hath spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.
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Revelation 18:23
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. -
Jeremiah 47:3
At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong [horses], at the rushing of his chariots, [and at] the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to [their] children for feebleness of hands; -
Jeremiah 47:4
Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, [and] to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. -
Genesis 10:19
And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. -
Hosea 9:11
¶ [As for] Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. -
Hosea 9:14
Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. -
Genesis 10:15
¶ And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
Isaiah 23:4 is part of a prophetic "burden" against Tyre and Zidon, two powerful Phoenician city-states renowned for their maritime commerce. This verse specifically addresses Zidon, foretelling a period of profound shame and desolation.
Context
The prophecy in Isaiah 23 primarily focuses on the judgment of Tyre, a major maritime trading hub, with Zidon as its close associate and sister city. Both were integral to ancient Phoenician trade networks, their prosperity derived from controlling vast sea routes and shipping goods across the Mediterranean. This chapter is one of several "burdens" or oracles against foreign nations in Isaiah (e.g., Babylon, Assyria, Egypt), emphasizing God's universal sovereignty and His righteous judgment over all earthly powers, not just Israel. The economic and strategic importance of Zidon made its prophesied downfall a significant event in the ancient Near East.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "the sea hath spoken" uses personification (Hebrew: hayyam) to attribute a voice to the very source of Zidon's power. It's as if the economic engine itself declares its own failure. The imagery of the sea "travailing not, nor bringing forth children" (Hebrew: ḥūl for travail, referring to birth pangs) is a powerful metaphor for barrenness. It implies that the sea, which once "gave birth" to ships, goods, and wealth, now produces nothing. This barrenness extends to the inability to "nourish up young men, [nor] bring up virgins," directly linking the economic collapse to a demographic and generational void.
Practical Application
Isaiah 23:4 serves as a timeless reminder that reliance on earthly sources of security, wealth, or power is ultimately fleeting. Just as Zidon's strength, derived from the sea, could be rendered barren, so too can any human-made foundation collapse. The verse encourages a perspective that recognizes God's ultimate authority over all things, including national economies and global trade. It challenges us to consider where our true security lies and to avoid the pride that often accompanies material success. This prophecy highlights the consequences of turning away from divine principles, showing that even the most prosperous societies are subject to God's righteous judgment. It calls believers to place their trust in God's unchanging character and promises rather than in the shifting tides of the world.