Isaiah 23:6
Isaiah 23:6 in Multiple Translations
Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
Pass ye over to Tarshish; wail, ye inhabitants of the coast.
Go over to Tarshish; give cries of sorrow, O men of the sea-land.
Sail across to Tarshish! Howl, people of the coastlands!
Goe you ouer to Tarshish: howle, yee that dwell in the yles.
Pass over to Tarshish, howl, ye inhabitants of the isle,
Pass over to Tarshish! Wail, you inhabitants of the coast!
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island.
Sail to Tarshish and tell them what happened; weep, you people who live along the coast.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 23:6
BAB
Word Study
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Isaiah 23:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
עִבְר֖וּ
תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה
הֵילִ֖ילוּ
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי
אִֽי
עִבְר֖וּ
ʻâbar
H5674
to pass
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה
Tarshîysh
H8659
Tarshish
N-proper | Suff
הֵילִ֖ילוּ
yâlal
H3213
to wail
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי
yâshab
H3427
to dwell
V-Qal
אִֽי
ʼîy
H339
coastland
Part
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 23:6
עִבְר֖וּ
ʻâbar
H5674
"to pass"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Definition: 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish 1a6c) to perish, cease to exist 1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree) 1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands 1b) (Niphal) to be crossed 1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote 1d2) to cause to pass through 1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by 1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away 1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Usage: Occurs in 493 OT verses. KJV: alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. See also: Genesis 8:1; Deuteronomy 27:2; 1 Samuel 25:19.
תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁ/ה
Tarshîysh
H8659
"Tarshish"
N-proper | Suff
Tarshish was a place on the Mediterranean, also the name of a Persian and an Israelite, and a term for a merchant vessel, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:10.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.7.10; son of: Bilhan (H1092H); brother of: Jeush (H3266H), Benjamin (H1144H), Ehud (H0164H), Chenaanah (H3668H), Zethan (H2133) and Ahishahar (H0300) § Tarshish or Tharshish = "yellow jasper" 1) son of Javan 2) a Benjamite, son of Bilhan 3) one of the wise men close to king Ahasuerus of Persia 4) a city of the Phoenicians in a distant part of the Mediterranean Sea to which the prophet Jonah was trying to flee 1a) perhaps in Cyprus or Spain 5) a city somewhere near and accessible to the Red Sea to which ships constructed at Ezion-geber on the Elanitic Gulf on the Red Sea were to sail
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: Tarshish, Tharshish. See also: Genesis 10:4; Isaiah 23:1; Psalms 48:8.
הֵילִ֖ילוּ
yâlal
H3213
"to wail"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
This word means to wail or howl, expressing strong emotions like sadness or pain, used to describe a loud, mournful cry.
Definition: (Hiphil) to howl, wail, make a howling
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: (make to) howl, be howling. See also: Isaiah 13:6; Jeremiah 48:31; Isaiah 14:31.
יֹ֥שְׁבֵי
yâshab
H3427
"to dwell"
V-Qal
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
אִֽי
ʼîy
H339
"coastland"
Part
This word refers to a habitable spot, such as a coast, island, or dry land. It is used to describe desirable places in the Bible, like a country or region.
Definition: coast, island, shore, region
Usage: Occurs in 35 OT verses. KJV: country, isle, island. See also: Genesis 10:5; Isaiah 51:5; Psalms 72:10.
Study Notes — Isaiah 23:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 23:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 23:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 23:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 23:6
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 23:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
- Sermons on Isaiah 23:6
Context — The Burden against Tyre
4Be 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.”
5When the report reaches Egypt, they will writhe in agony over the news of Tyre.
6Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!
7Is this your jubilant city, whose origin is from antiquity, whose feet have taken her to settle far away? 8Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 23:12 | He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus— even there you will find no rest.” |
| 2 | Isaiah 21:15 | For they flee from the sword— the sword that is drawn— from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle. |
| 3 | Isaiah 23:10 | Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor. |
| 4 | Isaiah 16:7 | Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken. |
| 5 | Isaiah 23:1–2 | This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus. Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. |
Isaiah 23:6 Summary
[This verse is a call to mourn and lament the destruction of the city of Tyre, which was an important trading center. The people of the coastland are being told to 'wail' because their lives and livelihoods will be affected by Tyre's downfall, as seen in Isaiah 23:6 and also referenced in Jeremiah 25:22. Just like the people in this verse, we can learn to trust in God's sovereignty, even in difficult times, as encouraged in Psalms 46:1-3 and Romans 8:28. By looking to God and His Word, we can find comfort and hope, even in the midst of hardship, as promised in Isaiah 40:1 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Tarshish in Isaiah 23:6?
Tarshish was a major port city, possibly in modern-day Spain, and its mention here signifies the far-reaching impact of the judgment on Tyre, as seen in Isaiah 23:6, and is also referenced in other Bible verses such as Psalms 48:7 and Ezekiel 27:12-25.
Who are the inhabitants of the coastland being addressed in this verse?
The inhabitants of the coastland are the people living in the coastal regions, likely including the Phoenicians and other maritime traders, who are being called to mourn the downfall of Tyre, as prophesied in Isaiah 23:1-6 and also mentioned in Isaiah 23:2.
What is the tone of this verse, and what does it convey?
The tone of Isaiah 23:6 is one of lamentation and mourning, conveying the devastating news of Tyre's destruction, which is also seen in other prophetic passages like Ezekiel 26:1-5 and Amos 1:9-10.
How does this verse relate to the broader context of Isaiah 23?
Isaiah 23:6 is part of a larger oracle against Tyre, emphasizing the city's downfall and the impact on its trade partners, as seen in verses like Isaiah 23:1 and Isaiah 23:8, which highlight Tyre's former glory and its impending judgment.
Reflection Questions
- What does the call to 'wail' in this verse reveal about God's heart for those affected by judgment?
- How can we, like the inhabitants of the coastland, respond to news of judgment or hardship in our own lives?
- What does the reference to Tarshish suggest about the scope of God's sovereignty and judgment?
- In what ways can we apply the lesson of Tyre's downfall to our own lives and communities, as warned in passages like Proverbs 16:18 and 1 Peter 5:6-7?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 23:6
Pass ye over to Tarshish,.... Either to Tartessus in Spain, or to Tarsus in Cilicia, which lay over against them, and to which they might transport themselves, families, and substance, with greater
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 23:6
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle. Pass ye over to Tarshish. Escape from Tyre to your colonies, as Tarshish (cf. Isaiah 23:12).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
Pass ye over to Tarshish; flee from your own country to Tarsus of Cilicia, and there bewail your calamities. Or rather, as others render the place, Pass over the sea, which is oft called Tarshish; of which See Poole "". Of the isle; of Tyrus, as before, .
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
Isaiah 23:6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.Ver. 6. Pass ye over to Tarshish.] Tyrii migrate coloni, be packing any whither, and make any shift to save your lives, Ultra Sauromatas fugite hinc, &c. To Carthage many of them went, say some; and the Septuagint; for ships of Tarshish have ships of Carthage.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
(6) Pass ye over to Tarshish . . .—The words have the ring of a keen irony. The Tyrians are told to go to Tarshish, the extreme point of their commerce; not, as before, to bring back their wealth, but to seek safety there as exiles. No nearer asylum would give them safety. So, in the siege of Tyre by Alexander the Great, the Tyrians sent their old men, women, and children to Carthage (Diod. Sic. xvii. 41). So Layard (Nineveh, plate 71) represents enemies of the Assyrians taking refuge in ships (Cheyne). The “isle” or “coast” is, as before, Tyre, and. its neighbourhoods.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 23:6
6. The second strophe commences here with a summons to the Phœnicians to betake themselves to their Spanish colony for refuge, their own country being at the mercy of the invader. So the Tyrians, when attacked by Alexander the Great, sent all those unfit for war to Carthage, another western colony. Gesenius instances also the projected emigration of the Dutch merchants to Batavia in 1672 if the independence of Holland should be overthrown.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 23:6
Pass ye over - That is, ye inhabitants of tyre. This is an address to Tyre, in view of her approaching destruction; and is designed to signify that when the city was destroyed, its inhabitants would
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 23:6
6. Tarshish — Tyre’s remote colonies, especially Tartessus, near the Straits of Gibraltar. In the stress upon Tyre her people are advised to seek refuge there.
Sermons on Isaiah 23:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 23:1 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | The video begins by discussing the importance of family and the breakdown of the family unit in society. It introduces Pastor Chuck Smith's Marriage and Family Bible Study as a res |
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Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding Isaiah's prophecies in the context of the surrounding nations that influenced Israel's history. He explains how Judah and |
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Isaiah Chapter 5 Isaiah and the Nations by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson emphasizes the significance of understanding the geopolitical context of Isaiah's prophecies, particularly the neighboring nations that influenced Israel and Judah. He |