Isaiah 23:17
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֞ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֞ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִקֵּ֣ץ׀
And it shall come to pass after the end
H7093
מִקֵּ֣ץ׀
And it shall come to pass after the end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
2 of 18
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
יִפְקֹ֤ד
will visit
H6485
יִפְקֹ֤ד
will visit
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
5 of 18
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
יְהוָה֙
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְשָׁבָ֖ה
and she shall turn
H7725
וְשָׁבָ֖ה
and she shall turn
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
9 of 18
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
לְאֶתְנַנָּ֑ה
to her hire
H868
לְאֶתְנַנָּ֑ה
to her hire
Strong's:
H868
Word #:
10 of 18
a gift (as the price of harlotry or idolatry)
וְזָֽנְתָ֛ה
and shall commit fornication
H2181
וְזָֽנְתָ֛ה
and shall commit fornication
Strong's:
H2181
Word #:
11 of 18
to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
12 of 18
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַמְלְכ֥וֹת
with all the kingdoms
H4467
מַמְלְכ֥וֹת
with all the kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
14 of 18
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
Nahum 3:4Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.Revelation 19:2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Historical Context
After Babylonian and early Persian-period weakness, Tyre regained commercial importance by the 4th century BC. She traded impartially with Greeks, Persians, Egyptians—whoever paid. This 'fornication with all kingdoms' continued until Alexander's final destruction (332 BC) ended Phoenician Tyre forever. Modern Tyre (Sur, Lebanon) is an entirely different entity.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does removal of external judgment not automatically produce internal repentance and transformation?
- How do people and institutions repeat the same sins after experiencing consequences, and what does this reveal about human nature?
- What is the difference between external reform and the heart transformation the gospel produces?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire—The verb paqad (visit) carries double meaning: divine intervention that can be either blessing or judgment. Here it's both: God ends the seventy-year desolation, but Tyre returns to etan (hire/prostitute's wages). And shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth (וְזָנְתָה עִם־כָּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה)—The verb zanatah (commit fornication/prostitution) with 'all kingdoms' emphasizes indiscriminate trade relations. Tyre's restoration brings no moral improvement—she resumes morally neutral commerce with anyone for profit.
This verse's cynicism about partial restoration is sobering: divine judgment lifted doesn't automatically mean spiritual transformation occurred. Tyre, given a second chance, returns to idolatrous commercial practices. The pattern repeats throughout Scripture: Israel freed from Egypt grumbles; exiles return from Babylon half-heartedly; churches warned in Revelation relapse. External circumstances change, but hearts remain hard unless regenerated by God's Spirit. The prophetic warning: outward reformation without heart transformation is temporary and superficial. Only the New Covenant's promise—'I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts' (Jeremiah 31:33)—breaks this cycle.