Isaiah 23 5

Isaiah 23:5 kjv

As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

Isaiah 23:5 nkjv

When the report reaches Egypt, They also will be in agony at the report of Tyre.

Isaiah 23:5 niv

When word comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish at the report from Tyre.

Isaiah 23:5 esv

When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre.

Isaiah 23:5 nlt

When Egypt hears the news about Tyre,
there will be great sorrow.

Isaiah 23 verses

Isaiah 23 5 meaning

Isaiah 23:5 prophesies that when news of Tyre's downfall reaches Egypt, the Egyptians will be seized with deep anguish. This verse underscores the profound interconnectedness of the ancient world's political and economic powers, illustrating how the judgment upon one major nation would send shockwaves and elicit severe distress in another, even without direct military confrontation. The report itself is sufficient to cause widespread grief and apprehension, revealing the instability of earthly power and alliances when confronted with divine judgment.

Isaiah 23 5 Context

Isaiah chapter 23 contains a prophetic "burden" or oracle specifically concerning Tyre, the ancient Phoenician maritime city-state. Tyre was renowned for its vast wealth, extensive international trade networks, and formidable sea power, which made it appear virtually invincible. The chapter details its impending destruction and the subsequent lament from its trading partners and the seafaring world. Verse 5 fits within this narrative, illustrating the far-reaching impact of Tyre's fall. Its wealth and strategic position meant that its collapse would disrupt major trade routes and geopolitical alliances across the region. Egypt, as a significant regional power and a crucial trade partner for Tyre, would naturally feel immense shock and economic reverberations from such an event. The prophecy highlights not only Tyre's judgment but also the interdependence of ancient economies and the widespread nature of divine sovereignty, affecting even nations seemingly removed from direct conflict.

Isaiah 23 5 Word analysis

• When the report comes (כְּשֵׁמַע - kᵉshema', from שׁמע shāma', to hear; specifically here shᵉmu'ah, שְׁמוּעָה, a report, rumor, news): The phrase emphasizes the certainty and inevitability of the news reaching Egypt. It is not an "if," but a "when," highlighting the global spread of Tyre's downfall. The news itself carries power to disrupt.
• to Egypt (לְמִצְרָיִם - lᵉmitsrayim): Designates a primary destination of the news, signifying Egypt's status as a major regional power and a critical trading partner or political entity connected to Tyre. Its inclusion indicates the significant geopolitical and economic fallout.
• they will be in anguish (וְיָחִילוּ - vᵉyachilu, from חוּל chūl or חָלל chālal, meaning to writhe, tremble, be in labor, dance): This verb describes a profound, physical, and inescapable distress, akin to the pains of childbirth. It implies not just sadness but an intense, almost convulsive reaction of dread and horror at the news, suggesting a deep-seated fear for their own stability or future.
• over the report (מִשְּׁמוּעַת - mishmūʿat, from שְׁמוּעָה shᵉmu'ah): The repetition of "report" underlines that the tidings themselves are the source of the anguish. It is the understanding of Tyre's collapse, rather than experiencing the destruction firsthand, that causes Egypt's profound distress.
• of Tyre (צֹר - tsor, Tyre, meaning 'rock'): Identifies the source of the calamitous news. Tyre, a name meaning "rock" or "fortress," connoted invincibility. Its fall would be an astonishing and terrifying event, a stark symbol of how no power, however mighty, can withstand God's judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "When the report comes to Egypt": This phrase depicts the swift and inevitable spread of the news of Tyre's demise throughout the key centers of the ancient world. The emphasis is on the certainty that this critical information will reach a pivotal nation, setting off a chain reaction. The news travels not as a rumor, but as an established, devastating fact.
• "they will be in anguish over the report of Tyre": This powerful pairing connects the shocking news directly to a profound, visceral reaction from Egypt. The anguish isn't mere regret or sorrow, but a deep, trembling pain, mirroring the loss of a vital commercial hub, an economic partner, or a buffer state. The repetition of "report" emphasizes that the information itself acts as a trigger for widespread fear and re-evaluation of regional power dynamics and alliances, recognizing God's hand in historical events.

Isaiah 23 5 Bonus section

• The "anguish" expressed by Egypt signifies a recognition of divine judgment extending beyond the direct target, impacting even those who benefited from Tyre's power. It highlights God's reach across international borders and His control over the rise and fall of nations.
• The prophecy challenges the commonly held belief that wealth and strategic position made Tyre impenetrable, underscoring that all earthly power is ultimately subject to the will of the Most High.
• The prophetic imagery of "anguish like a woman in labor" is frequently used in scripture to describe intense, inescapable pain, implying a birth-like reordering or new (though painful) reality following the judgment.

Isaiah 23 5 Commentary

Isaiah 23:5 captures the regional reverberations of Tyre's prophesied destruction, particularly highlighting the shock it would send through Egypt. Tyre's wealth and maritime dominance were pillars of the ancient world's economy, and its fall, divinely ordained, was a cataclysmic event. Egypt's anguish stems not only from economic disruption and the loss of a significant trading partner but also from the terrifying realization of the fragility of human power and alliances in the face of the Lord's absolute sovereignty. This verse implicitly contrasts the temporary stability provided by international commerce and military might with the ultimate authority of God, warning nations against putting their trust in worldly might rather than the divine. For example, a modern parallel might be the collapse of a global financial institution or a major world power, sending ripples of economic and political fear across interconnected nations, forcing a re-evaluation of stability and security.