Isaiah 23 · Verse 15

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.
Isaiah 23:15, King James Version

Isaiah 23:15 in other translations

BSBAt 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:
WEBIt will come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. After the end of seventy years it will be to Tyre like in the song of the prostitute.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd it hath come to pass, in that day, That forgotten is Tyre seventy years, According to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years there is to Tyre as the song of the harlot.
DARBYAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it shall be for Tyre as the harlot's song.
BBEAnd it will be in that day that Tyre will go out of mind for seventy years, that is, the days of one king: after the end of seventy years it will be for Tyre as in the song of the loose woman.
WebsterAnd 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 a harlot.

What does Isaiah 23:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. forgotten--Having lost its former renown, Tyre shall be in obscurity. seventy years--(so Jr 25:11, 12; 29:10). days of one king--that is, a dynasty. The Babylonian monarchy lasted properly but seventy years. From the first year of Nebuchadnezzar to the taking of Babylon, by Cyrus, was seventy years; then the subjected nations would be restored to liberty. Tyre was taken in the middle of that period, but it is classed in common with the rest, some conquered sooner and others later, all, however, alike to be delivered at the end of the period. So "king" is used for dynasty (Da 7:17; 8:20): Nebuchadnezzar, his son Evil-merodach, and his grandson, Belshazzar, formed the whole dynasty (Jr 25:11, 12; 27:7; 29:10). shall Tyre sing as ... harlot--It shall be to Tyre as the song of the harlot, namely, a harlot that has been forgotten, but who attracts notice again by her song. Large marts of commerce are often compared to harlots seeking many lovers, that is, they court merchants of all nations, and admit any one for the sake of gain (Na 3:4; Re 18:3). Covetousness is closely akin to idolatry and licentiousness, as the connection (Ep 5:5; Col 3:5) proves (compare Is 2:6-8, 16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 According to the days of one king - What is, of one kingdom; see Dan 7:17, Dan 8:20. Nebuchadnezzar began his conquests in the first year of his reign; from thence to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus are seventy years, at which time the nations subdued by Nebuchadnezzar were to be restored to liberty. These seventy years limit the duration of the Babylonish monarchy. Tyre was taken by him towards the middle of that period; so did not serve the king of Babylon during the whole period, but only for the remaining part of it. This seems to be the meaning of Isaiah; the days allotted to the one king or kingdom, are seventy years; Tyre, with the rest of the conquered nations, shall continue in a state of subjection and desolation to the end of that period. Not from the beginning and through the whole of the period; for, by being one of the latest conquests, the duration of that state of subjection in regard to her, was not much more than half of it. "All these nations," saith Jeremiah, Jer 25:11, "shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years." Some of them were conquered sooner, some later; but the end of this period was the common term for the deliverance of them all. There is another way of computing the seventy years, from the year in which Tyre was actually taken to the nineteenth of Darius Hystaspis; whom the Phoenicians, or Tyrians, assisted against the Ionians, and probably on that account might then be restored to their former liberties and privileges. But I think the former the more probable interpretation. - L. Sing as a harlot - Fidicinam esse meretricum est. says Donatus in Terent. Eunuch. 3:2, 4. Nec meretrix tibicina, cujus Ad strepitum salias. Hor. 1:Epist. 14:25. "Nor harlot minstrel sings, when the rude sound Tempts you with heavy heels to thump the ground." Francis. Sir John Chardin, in his MS. note on this place, says: - C'est que les vielles prostituees, - ne font que chanter quand les jeunes dancent, et les animer par l'instrument et par la voix. "The old prostitutes do nothing but sing, while the young ones dance; and animate them both by vocal and instrumental music."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 23:15-18
The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God. When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and hire are holiness to the Lord, if we look to his glory. Christians should carry on business as God's servants, and use riches as his stewards.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 23:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהָיָה֙ve.ha.Yahand it will beH1961
בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomin the dayH3117
הַה֔וּאha.Hu'<the> thatH1931
וְנִשְׁכַּ֤חַתve.nish.Ka.chatand [will be] forgottenH7911
צֹר֙tzorTyreH6865
שִׁבְעִ֣יםshiv.'ImseventyH7657
שָׁנָ֔הsha.Nahyear[s]H8141
כִּימֵ֖יki.Meilike [the] days ofH3117
מֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekha kingH4428
אֶחָ֑ד'e.ChadoneH259
מִקֵּ֞ץmi.Ketzfrom [the] end ofH7093
שִׁבְעִ֤יםshiv.'ImseventyH7657
שָׁנָה֙sha.Nahyear[s]H8141
יִהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehit will happenH1961
לְצֹ֔רle.Tzorto TyreH6865
כְּשִׁירַ֖תke.shi.Ratlike [the] song ofH7892
הַזּוֹנָֽה\׃ha.zo.Nahthe prostituteH2181

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 23:15

  • 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,

  • Hosea 2:15

    And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Jeremiah 27:3-7

    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; And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. …

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 25:9-11

    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. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

  • Ezekiel 27:25

    The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.

  • Revelation 17:10

    And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

  • Ezekiel 29:11

    No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tyre shall.
Jer 25:9-11,22; 27:3-7; 29:10; Eze 29:11
one king.
Da 7:14; 8:21; Re 17:10
shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Heb. it shall be unto Tyre asthe song of an harlot.
Eze 27:25; Ho 2:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 23:14

    Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 23:16

    Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

Read all of Isaiah 23

Isaiah 23:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y acontecerá en aquel día, que Tiro será puesta en olvido por setenta años, como días de un rey. Después de los setenta años, cantará Tiro canción como de ramera.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arrivera, en ce jour-là, que Tyr sera oubliée 70 ans, selon les jours d’un roi. Au bout de 70 ans, ce sera pour Tyr comme la chanson d’une prostituée.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es wird geschehen an jenem Tage, da wird Tyrus siebzig Jahre vergessen werden, gleich den Tagen eines Königs. Am Ende von siebzig Jahren wird es Tyrus ergehen nach dem Liede von der Hure:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et erit in die illa: in oblivione eris, o Tyre! septuaginta annis, sicut dies regis unius; post septuaginta autem annos erit Tyro quasi canticum meretricis: