Isaiah 23:7

[Is] this your joyous [city], whose antiquity [is] of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

Is this your joyous {H5947} city, whose antiquity {H6927} is of ancient {H6924} days {H3117}? her own feet {H7272} shall carry {H2986} her afar off {H7350} to sojourn {H1481}.

Is this your boisterous city, whose feet long ago in antiquity carried her off to found distant colonies?

Is this your jubilant city, whose origin is from antiquity, whose feet have taken her to settle far away?

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 23:7 (KJV)

Isaiah 23:7 is part of a prophetic oracle concerning Tyre, a powerful and ancient Phoenician city renowned for its maritime trade, wealth, and influence in the ancient world. The prophet Isaiah poses a rhetorical question, highlighting the stark contrast between Tyre's former glory and its impending desolation.

Context

Chapter 23 of Isaiah is a "burden" or prophecy specifically against Tyre. This bustling port city, situated on the Mediterranean coast, was a hub of international commerce, attracting merchants and goods from across the known world. Its "antiquity is of ancient days" speaks to its long history as a prominent city-state, a center of culture and prosperity. The phrase "joyous city" reflects its vibrant, confident, and perhaps even arrogant spirit, stemming from its immense wealth and seemingly unshakeable position. However, this verse anticipates a dramatic reversal of fortune, a divine judgment that would humble its pride.

Key Themes

  • The Fall of a Great City: The verse vividly portrays the dramatic downfall of a once-proud and "joyous" metropolis. Tyre, accustomed to luxury and dominance, is depicted as being forced into exile, with its own inhabitants "carried afar off to sojourn." This illustrates the vulnerability of even the most formidable earthly powers before God's sovereignty.
  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: This prophecy underscores God's ultimate control over the nations and their destinies. The judgment on Tyre serves as a powerful reminder that no city, kingdom, or individual can escape accountability before the Almighty. This theme echoes throughout prophetic literature, demonstrating God's righteous judgment on all nations.
  • Transience of Earthly Glory: The question "Is this your joyous city...?" highlights the impermanence of worldly achievements and material prosperity. What once brought joy and pride is now subject to ruin and displacement, underscoring the biblical principle that all earthly glory is fleeting and ultimately vain.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "joyous" (ืขึทืœึผึดื™ื–ึธื”, โ€˜allizah) implies a sense of exultation, revelry, and even arrogance. Tyre's joy was rooted in its material success and self-sufficiency. The phrase "her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn" uses the Hebrew verb ืœึธื’ื•ึผืจ (lagur), which means "to sojourn," "to dwell as a stranger," or "to reside temporarily." This paints a picture of forced migration and a loss of permanent home, emphasizing the loss of their former settled, prosperous existence.

Practical Application

Isaiah 23:7 serves as a timeless warning against placing ultimate trust in worldly power, wealth, or human achievements. It reminds us that:

  • Humility is Essential: Pride, whether of individuals or nations, often precedes a fall. True security and lasting joy are found not in material possessions or self-reliance, but in humble dependence on God.
  • God's Plan Prevails: Despite the rise and fall of empires, God's purposes remain steadfast. His justice will ultimately prevail, and His kingdom is eternal.
  • Focus on Eternal Values: The transient nature of Tyre's glory encourages believers to invest in spiritual, eternal values rather than fleeting earthly ones. Our true citizenship and hope are not in any earthly city, but in God's eternal kingdom.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 22:2

    Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain [men are] not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:7

    I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

  • Isaiah 47:1

    ยถ Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: [there is] no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

  • Isaiah 47:2

    Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

  • Joshua 19:29

    And [then] the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:

  • Isaiah 32:13

    Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns [and] briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy [in] the joyous city:
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