Isaiah 23 16

Isaiah 23:16 kjv

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

Isaiah 23:16 nkjv

"Take a harp, go about the city, You forgotten harlot; Make sweet melody, sing many songs, That you may be remembered."

Isaiah 23:16 niv

"Take up a harp, walk through the city, you forgotten prostitute; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered."

Isaiah 23:16 esv

"Take a harp; go about the city, O forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, that you may be remembered."

Isaiah 23:16 nlt

Take a harp and walk the streets,
you forgotten harlot.
Make sweet melody and sing your songs
so you will be remembered again.

Isaiah 23 verses

Isaiah 23 16 Meaning

The verse speaks of Zion receiving compensation and engaging in acts of remembrance, essentially recalling the time when it was like a harlot. This compensation signifies a restoration and a recognition of its past vulnerability and subsequent deliverance.

Isaiah 23 16 Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy against Tyre in Isaiah chapter 23. Tyre, a prosperous Phoenician port city, was known for its trade, wealth, and maritime power. Throughout this chapter, Isaiah describes the judgment that will fall upon Tyre, foretelling its destruction and desolation due to its pride, oppression of nations, and commercial exploitation. The prophecy outlines the coming of enemies, the lament of other cities, and the ultimate demise of Tyre's might.

This particular verse appears to shift focus, or at least recontextualize, the nature of Tyre's remembrance. It follows verses describing Tyre's eventual downfall and serves as a concluding thought on its memory and the fate of its wealth. The mention of seventy years likely refers to a specific period of judgment or foreign domination before a subsequent reinterpretation of its history.

Isaiah 23 16 Word Analysis

• וְהָיָה (vehāyāh): "and it shall come to pass" or "and it will be". A common introductory phrase in prophetic and narrative literature, marking a future event.

• בְּקֵצ (bəqēṣ): "at the end". Signifies the conclusion or termination of a period.

• שִׁבְעִים (šəḇuʿîm): "seventy". A specific number often associated with periods of judgment or captivity (e.g., Jeremiah 25:11-12).

• שָׁנָה (šānāh): "year". Standard unit of time.

• וּפָקַד (ūfāqad): "and the LORD will visit". Implies divine intervention, often in the form of judgment or inquisition, but here also possibly implying a future positive action or remembrance.

• צוֹר (ṣōr): "Tyre". The city facing judgment.

• וְשָׁבָה (wəšāḇāh): "and she will turn" or "and she will return". Can denote repentance or a change of state.

• לִמְזוֹנָהּ (limzōnāh): "to her wages" or "to her hire". Refers to her earnings, often from trade or, in this context, possibly from her previous corrupt practices, drawing a parallel to prostitution.

• וְתִזְנֶה (wətiẕneh): "and play the harlot". Directly links her future actions to the metaphorical description of her former way of life, suggesting a return to past, exploitative dealings, but perhaps in a different context of engagement with the world.

• עִם (ʿim): "with".

• כֹּל (kol): "all".

• מַמְלְכוֹת (mamləḵôṯ): "kingdoms".

• הָאָרֶץ (hā’āreṣ): "the earth" or "the land". Refers to the various nations and peoples.

• וְהָיָה (vehāyāh): "and it shall come to pass". Again, marking a future event.

• מִזְמוֹר (mizmor): "song" or "tune". A musical term.

• בַּחָלִיל (baḥālîl): "with a pipe" or "with a flute". A musical instrument.

• תִּקַּח (tiqqaḥ): "she will take" or "she will be taken". This phrasing can be passive, indicating she will be employed in musical activity or that music will be taken up by her. Given the context of remembering.

• וְסָבְבִי (wəsovvi): "and go about" or "and wander around". Suggests movement or activity within the city or wider world.

• עִיר (ʿîr): "city". Refers to Tyre itself.

• הַנִּשְׁכָּחָה (hanniškəḥāh): "the forgotten" or "the forgotten one". Highlights a state of obscurity after judgment.

• וְנִזְכָּרֵת (wəniẕkāreṯ): "and she will be remembered". A pivotal phrase. Despite the judgment and former corruption, a form of remembrance will occur.

• וּזְמַרְתֵּן (wəzimrəṯen): "and sing". A vocal act of music.

• זֶמֶר (zemer): "singing" or "melody".

• Words group analysis:

  • "at the end of seventy years": Connects to prophetic timelines of judgment and restoration, paralleling Jeremiah's prophecy regarding Babylon.
  • "Tyre will sing as a harlot": This is a paradoxical statement. After judgment, she is to engage in a form of musical expression reminiscent of her past immorality. This could symbolize a superficial or shallow remembering, or perhaps a forced continuation of her former economic vibrancy without the original exploitative heart. Scholars debate whether this signifies a renewed period of worldly engagement or a transformation where her economic activities are repurposed for divine purposes, becoming a "remembrance" in a more benign, possibly even converted, manner.
  • "Take a harp, go about the city, the forgotten harlot; play skillfully, sing many songs, that you may be remembered.": This sequence emphasizes a conscious effort to bring back notoriety. The "forgotten" harlot now actively seeks remembrance. The nature of this remembrance is crucial – it could be a superficial revival of past glories, or it could be a reminder of God's dealings with her, thus glorifying God through her testimony of past sin and present deliverance. The idea of "hire" (linked to wages from her corrupt commerce) being "holiness to the LORD" is key.

Isaiah 23 16 Bonus Section

The idea of "her hire shall be holiness to the LORD" (mentioned in preceding verses to verse 16 but influencing its interpretation) is critical. It suggests that the wealth and commerce that Tyre was known for will ultimately be consecrated and used for holy purposes, supporting those who serve God. This repurposing of resources, previously used for self-aggrandizement and exploitation, points to a future where all aspects of human endeavor, even those that begin in sin, can be brought under Christ's lordship and serve His kingdom. This is a profound theological concept about the transformation of all things in the new heavens and new earth.

Isaiah 23 16 Commentary

This verse is complex and open to interpretation. It portrays Tyre, after a period of divine judgment (seventy years), re-engaging with the world through trade and activity. However, the language "play the harlot" remains. This suggests a continuation of her mercantile nature but potentially transformed. The core idea is that Tyre will once again be active and known, but the significance of this activity and its "hire" are re-purposed. The latter part of the chapter hints at this re-purposing, where her gains become "holiness to the LORD," providing sustenance for His people. The act of singing and playing the harp might symbolize a restored economic and social vitality, where her memory, both of past sin and present redemption, serves to glorify God and benefit His worshippers. It highlights that even entities known for corruption can be brought into God's service, albeit with a remembrance of their past, serving as a testament to His power to transform and utilize all things for His ultimate purposes.