Isaiah 23:11
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
Original Language Analysis
יָדוֹ֙
his hand
H3027
יָדוֹ֙
his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
1 of 12
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
נָטָ֣ה
He stretched out
H5186
נָטָ֣ה
He stretched out
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
2 of 12
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַיָּ֔ם
over the sea
H3220
הַיָּ֔ם
over the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
4 of 12
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
הִרְגִּ֖יז
he shook
H7264
הִרְגִּ֖יז
he shook
Strong's:
H7264
Word #:
5 of 12
to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)
מַמְלָכ֑וֹת
the kingdoms
H4467
מַמְלָכ֑וֹת
the kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
6 of 12
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
יְהוָה֙
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צִוָּ֣ה
hath given a commandment
H6680
צִוָּ֣ה
hath given a commandment
Strong's:
H6680
Word #:
8 of 12
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
כְּנַ֔עַן
against the merchant
H3667
כְּנַ֔עַן
against the merchant
Strong's:
H3667
Word #:
10 of 12
kenaan, a son a ham; also the country inhabited by him
Historical Context
Tyre's island fortress, with double walls 150 feet high and naval supremacy, seemed impregnable. Nebuchadnezzar's 13-year siege (585-572 BC) destroyed mainland Tyre but couldn't take the island. Alexander's conquest (332 BC) required building a half-mile causeway from mainland debris, turning the island into a peninsula—literally reshaping geography to execute divine judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing God's sovereignty over historical events change our understanding of current geopolitical crises?
- What is the relationship between human agency (armies, leaders) and divine purpose in historical events?
- How should believers respond to economic or political collapse if we believe God orchestrates even judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms—The pronoun 'He' refers to Yahweh, whose hand (yad) extended over the sea (yam) that gave Phoenicia her power. The verb hirgiz (shook/made tremble) appears in earthquake contexts—God's touch destabilizes entire political orders. The LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof (צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶל־כְּנַעַן לַשְׁמִד מָעֻזֶּיהָ)—The term Kena'an (Canaan/merchant) puns on Phoenicia's identity as archetypal traders. The ma'uzzim (strongholds/fortresses) includes both military defenses and commercial infrastructure.
This verse emphasizes divine agency in geopolitical events. Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander were God's instruments, executing His tsivvah (command/decree). The prophet refuses to view Tyre's fall as merely political or military happenstance. Behind Babylonian siege engines and Macedonian tactics stood the sovereign Lord orchestrating judgment. This theological interpretation of history challenges naturalistic views that explain events purely through human causes. Biblical faith confesses: wars, economic collapses, and political upheavals occur within God's providential government, often as His judgment on pride and injustice.