Isaiah 23 18

Isaiah 23:18 kjv

And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

Isaiah 23:18 nkjv

Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the LORD; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.

Isaiah 23:18 niv

Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothes.

Isaiah 23:18 esv

Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the LORD. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the LORD.

Isaiah 23:18 nlt

But in the end her profits will be given to the LORD. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the LORD's priests.

Isaiah 23 verses

Isaiah 23 18 meaning

After a prophesied period of desolation, the wealth and earnings generated by Tyre will no longer serve its own purposes of idolatry, pride, or selfish accumulation. Instead, these resources will be set apart as sacred, dedicated to the service of the Lord. They will not be hoarded but will be distributed to support those devoted to God, providing them with ample sustenance and appropriate clothing, ensuring their well-being and dignified existence.

Isaiah 23 18 Context

Isaiah 23 is an "oracle concerning Tyre," a major Phoenician port city renowned for its vast wealth and influence through maritime trade. The chapter begins with a lament over Tyre's impending destruction, likely by Assyria (or later Babylon, fulfilling similar prophecies) and the subsequent distress of other trading nations. This destruction is described as a humiliation of the proud and wealthy city, highlighting God's sovereignty over all nations and their economies. Verse 15 outlines a period of seventy years where Tyre will be forgotten, "like the song of a prostitute." Following this period of judgment and purification, verse 17 describes Tyre's restoration, though with an implication of returning to its old ways, "like a prostitute again." Verse 18 then introduces a profound transformation: even in its renewed state, Tyre's economic activity, though continuing its trade, will now be dedicated to a divine purpose rather than solely worldly gain, setting its merchandise and earnings apart as "holy to the LORD" for the sustenance and dignified living of those devoted to God. This passage shifts from a typical judgment prophecy to one of ultimate divine re-direction and redemption, showcasing God's power to sanctify even seemingly secular activities.

Isaiah 23 18 Word analysis

• And her merchandise (וּסְחֹרָתָהּ, ūśəḥōrātāh): The root סחר (sahar) means "to trade, travel for trade." Səḥōrātāh refers to the gain or profit from commerce, the outcome of its trading ventures. This term specifically highlights Tyre’s core identity as a mercantile powerhouse.
• and her wages (וְאֶתְנַנָּהּ, wə’etnannāh): This is a strong word, ’etnan, which literally means "harlot’s pay" or "hire of a prostitute" (e.g., Deut 23:18). Here, it metaphorically refers to the general earnings or proceeds from Tyre's restored commerce, which is compared to a harlot (Isa 23:15, 17). The striking use of this word implies that even wealth generated through potentially illicit or impure means (from a worldly, perhaps idolatrous city) can be cleansed and sanctified by God.
• will be holy (קֹדֶשׁ, qōdesh): "Holy" implies set apart, consecrated, dedicated to God, no longer for common or profane use. For Tyre's profit to become qōdesh signifies a complete transformation of its purpose and ownership, reflecting a radical shift from pagan materialism to divine service.
• to the LORD (לַֽיהוָה, laYHWH): This explicitly states the object of dedication. The tetragrammaton YHWH emphasizes the one true God of Israel, not any of Tyre’s pagan deities. This underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over all economic activity and national wealth.
• it will not be stored up (לֹא יֵאָצֵר, lō yē’ātsēr): From the root אצר (’atsar), "to store, lay up, treasure." This refers to keeping goods in a storehouse or treasury for accumulation. The negation emphasizes a deliberate rejection of personal or national wealth hoarding.
• or hoarded (וְלֹא יֵחָסֵן, wəlo yēḥāsēn): From the root חסן (ḥāsan), "to keep in possession, withhold, hoard, secure." This implies retaining wealth tightly, often selfishly, preventing its use or distribution. This further reinforces the anti-hoarding message, pointing to generosity and proper stewardship.
• but her merchandise will be for those who dwell (כִּי לַיֹּשְׁבִים, kī layyōshvīm): The particle kī introduces a contrasting purpose. "Those who dwell" specifies the recipients.
• before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, lifnē YHWH): Literally "before the face of the LORD." This phrase refers to those who are devoted to God, consecrated to His service, or live in His presence (e.g., priests, Levites, devout worshippers). It highlights that the consecrated wealth is for the sustenance of those engaged in divine service or living in alignment with God’s will, potentially within Judah or in Jerusalem.
• to eat sufficiently (לְאָכְלָה לְשָׂבְעָה, lə’ākhlāh ləśāvəʿāh): "To eat for satisfaction/fullness." This indicates abundant and generous provision, not mere subsistence, ensuring physical nourishment and well-being.
• and for fine clothing (וְלִמְכַסֶּה עָתִיק, wəlimkasseh ‘āthīq): Məkhāśseh means "covering, clothing." ‘Athīq can mean "old, ancient" (in quality, perhaps implying enduring or traditional good quality) or "choicest, valuable" (derived from the sense of pre-eminence). Here, it denotes appropriate, quality clothing, suggesting not luxury for indulgence, but dignified and proper attire befitting those who serve the Lord.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the LORD": This powerful declaration indicates a radical change in the character and destiny of Tyre’s commercial gains. The profane and self-serving economic activities will be consecrated and sanctified, shifting ownership and purpose from earthly ambition to divine service. It anticipates a time when even formerly worldly wealth becomes an instrument for God's purposes, symbolizing complete transformation.
• "it will not be stored up or hoarded": This explicitly condemns the selfish accumulation of wealth that was typical of wealthy trading cities. It dictates a principle of distribution and stewardship, where resources are to be used actively for specific purposes rather than kept in idle reserve or for personal enrichment, aligning with divine values of generosity over greed.
• "but her merchandise will be for those who dwell before the LORD": This redefines the beneficiaries of Tyre's wealth. Instead of enriching its own merchants or patrons of its gods, the profit is now designated for the support of God’s devoted servants. This could include the priestly class, the poor within the Israelite community, or generally faithful people, reinforcing the idea of a redirected economy serving God’s community.
• "to eat sufficiently and for fine clothing": This details the practical application of the sanctified wealth. It guarantees adequate sustenance and dignified clothing for God's people. This speaks to foundational needs—food and cover—but also implies a quality of life that is honorable and secure, reflecting divine care and provision rather than a luxurious excess, ensuring comfort and respect suitable for those dedicated to the Lord.

Isaiah 23 18 Bonus section

• Polemics Against Pagan Wealth and Idolatry: This verse stands in stark contrast to the common practice of pagan nations like Tyre using their wealth for temple offerings to idols or for extravagant personal displays. By declaring Tyre's merchandise "holy to the LORD," it explicitly de-legitimizes these existing uses and reclaims the economic power for the One True God. It challenges the prevailing worldview that wealth signifies national power and self-sufficiency, redirecting it to show dependence on and service to YHWH.
• Seventy Years as a Type of Exile: The "seventy years" mentioned in Isa 23:15, after which Tyre will be forgotten "like a harlot" but then revived, mirrors the seventy-year Babylonian exile for Judah (Jer 25:11-12; Dan 9:2). This temporal connection suggests that divine judgment often involves a set period of desolation, after which a new phase of interaction with God's redemptive plan can emerge. This indicates God's sovereign hand orchestrating historical timelines for both Israel and surrounding nations.
• Anticipation of Messianic/Kingdom Age: This prophecy foreshadows a broader theme found elsewhere in Isaiah and the New Testament, where Gentile nations and their resources ultimately contribute to the glory of God's kingdom (Isa 60:5-7, Zech 14:16, Rev 21:24). The sanctification of Tyre's wealth is a microcosm of a larger redemptive purpose where the wealth of the nations will be brought into Jerusalem, not for the aggrandizement of an earthly kingdom, but for the flourishing of God's people and the expansion of His worship.
• Stewardship Principle: The prohibition against storing up or hoarding emphasizes a divine principle of active stewardship and generous distribution rather than accumulation for self-gain. This aligns with broader biblical teachings against greed and for using wealth responsibly to support the community of faith, particularly those dedicated to sacred service or those in need.

Isaiah 23 18 Commentary

Isaiah 23:18 unveils a profound eschatological vision where even the resources of a historically pagan, commercially driven city like Tyre undergo a divine transformation. Following a period of judgment and humbling, Tyre's economic engine is not simply destroyed but rather redeems. Its once-worldly wealth, possibly even metaphorically likened to the earnings of a harlot, is sanctified and dedicated entirely to the LORD. This sanctification entails a shift from self-serving accumulation to communal provision; the profits are not to be hoarded by the wealthy but rather channeled to support those who "dwell before the LORD"—meaning God's faithful people or ministers. This provision is described as "eating sufficiently and for fine clothing," denoting not excessive luxury, but a dignified, abundant supply of basic necessities, ensuring well-being and honor for those committed to God. The verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereignty not just over nations but over their economic activities, showing His capacity to redirect worldly systems to serve His divine plan and to provide for His own. It represents a promise of a future where all resources ultimately align with divine purposes and reflect God's just and generous nature.