Isaiah 23:6
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
Original Language Analysis
עִבְר֖וּ
Pass ye over
H5674
עִבְר֖וּ
Pass ye over
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
1 of 5
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה
to Tarshish
H8659
תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה
to Tarshish
Strong's:
H8659
Word #:
2 of 5
tarshish, a place on the mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a persian and of an i
הֵילִ֖ילוּ
howl
H3213
הֵילִ֖ילוּ
howl
Strong's:
H3213
Word #:
3 of 5
to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)
Historical Context
Tarshish was likely Tartessos in Spain, where Phoenicians mined silver and established western trading posts. It represented the extreme edge of the known world. The image of Tyrians fleeing to their most distant colony captures the totality of their catastrophe—even the empire's edges could not escape judgment's reach.
Questions for Reflection
- Where do people flee for refuge when their secure world collapses—and why are these refuges ultimately inadequate?
- How does this verse expose the futility of geographic escape from spiritual or moral consequences?
- What is the difference between seeking refuge in distant places versus seeking refuge in God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle—Tarshish (תַּרְשִׁישׁ), probably located in southern Spain, represented the western extent of Phoenician colonization. The command to 'pass over' (ivru) means flee, evacuate, seek refuge. Howl (yeililu) is the sustained wailing of mourning, the opposite of the stunned silence commanded in verse 2. As reality sets in, silent shock gives way to vocal grief.
The refugees flee from the great trading capital to its farthest colony—a reversal of fortune that strips away pride. Those who ruled Mediterranean commerce now run as displaced persons seeking shelter in distant outposts. This prophetic image finds echo in Revelation 18:15-19, where merchants weep over fallen Babylon's smoke from a safe distance. The passage warns that earthly kingdoms, however geographically extensive, offer no ultimate refuge. When God's judgment falls on the center, the periphery cannot provide security. Only the kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28) offers true refuge.