Isaiah 23:8
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?
Original Language Analysis
מִ֚י
H4310
מִ֚י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 12
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יָעַ֣ץ
Who hath taken this counsel
H3289
יָעַ֣ץ
Who hath taken this counsel
Strong's:
H3289
Word #:
2 of 12
to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַמַּֽעֲטִירָ֑ה
the crowning
H5849
הַמַּֽעֲטִירָ֑ה
the crowning
Strong's:
H5849
Word #:
6 of 12
to encircle (for attack or protection); especially to crown (literally or figuratively)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
סֹחֲרֶ֙יהָ֙
city whose merchants
H5503
סֹחֲרֶ֙יהָ֙
city whose merchants
Strong's:
H5503
Word #:
8 of 12
to travel round (specifically as a pedlar); intensively, to palpitate
כִּנְעָנֶ֖יהָ
H3669
כִּנְעָנֶ֖יהָ
Strong's:
H3669
Word #:
10 of 12
a kenaanite or inhabitant of kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the canaanites standing for their neighbors the ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile c
Historical Context
Phoenician merchants enjoyed extraordinary social status in the ancient world. Unlike most cultures that viewed commerce as lower-class, Phoenicia elevated traders to nobility. Kings participated directly in trade ventures. This made Tyre's judgment especially shocking—it targeted not just a city but an entire value system that equated commercial success with honor.
Questions for Reflection
- How does modern culture crown merchants and business leaders as princes, making wealth the measure of honor?
- What does it mean that God purposes to 'stain' or profane worldly glory and honor?
- In what ways do Christians wrongly assume that financial success indicates God's blessing and approval?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city? (מִי יָעַץ זֹאת עַל־צֹר הַמַּעֲטִירָה)—The question demands identification of the planner behind Tyre's judgment. The epithet ha-ma'atirah (the crowning/crown-giving) signifies Tyre's role as kingmaker: she established colonies, appointed governors, and crowned merchant princes. Whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth—Phoenician traders held aristocratic status. The Hebrew sarim (princes) and nikbadim (honored ones/nobles) indicate they ranked with political royalty.
Yet verse 9 answers the rhetorical question: The LORD of hosts hath purposed it (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת יְעָצָהּ). The same verb ya'ats (counsel/purpose) appears in both verses. Human counsel, however noble and powerful, submits to divine decree. God's purpose: to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth. The verb lehachel (to profane/defile/stain) and lehakel (to make light/contemptible) target human glory and honor. This passage demolishes prosperity gospel theology: economic success does not indicate divine favor. God judges proud wealth as harshly as any other pride.