Isaiah 23:5
As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
Original Language Analysis
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר
H834
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 6
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
כְּשֵׁ֥מַע
As at the report
H8088
כְּשֵׁ֥מַע
As at the report
Strong's:
H8088
Word #:
2 of 6
something heard, i.e., a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
יָחִ֖ילוּ
so shall they be sorely pained
H2342
יָחִ֖ילוּ
so shall they be sorely pained
Strong's:
H2342
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e., (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; fi
Historical Context
Tyre's destruction came in stages: Assyrian pressure (701 BC), Nebuchadnezzar's 13-year siege (585-572 BC) that destroyed mainland Tyre, and Alexander's seven-month siege (332 BC) that demolished island Tyre using rubble from the mainland. Each blow sent economic shockwaves throughout the Mediterranean, disrupting trade for generations.
Questions for Reflection
- What economic institutions seem invincible in our time but remain vulnerable to sudden collapse?
- How should Christians balance engagement with economic systems while avoiding ultimate dependence on them?
- What does it mean to build your security on God rather than on seemingly stable financial systems?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre—The Hebrew yachilu (be in anguish/writhe in pain) describes physical agony, often used for childbirth pangs. Egypt's judgment (Isaiah 19-20) sent shockwaves through the ancient Near East; Tyre's fall would be equally traumatic. The parallelism emphasizes that the seemingly invincible economic and military powers both fall under the same sovereign judgment.
The 'report' (shema') refers not to rumor but to verified news of catastrophe. When word spread that Tyre—the 700-year-old trading empire that had survived Assyrian sieges—was destroyed, the international economic order collapsed. Dependent trading partners, colonies, and client states faced sudden ruin. This illustrates economic interdependence's danger: when the hub fails, the entire network crashes. The passage warns against building life on systems that appear stable but rest on human power rather than divine foundation.