Isaiah 23:9
The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֥ה
The LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
The LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
1 of 11
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
2 of 11
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
יְעָצָ֑הּ
hath purposed
H3289
יְעָצָ֑הּ
hath purposed
Strong's:
H3289
Word #:
3 of 11
to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
לְחַלֵּל֙
it to stain
H2490
לְחַלֵּל֙
it to stain
Strong's:
H2490
Word #:
4 of 11
properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לְהָקֵ֖ל
and to bring into contempt
H7043
לְהָקֵ֖ל
and to bring into contempt
Strong's:
H7043
Word #:
8 of 11
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Isaiah 13:11And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.James 4:6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.Isaiah 2:11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.Daniel 4:37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Historical Context
The ancient Near East operated on honor-shame culture where social status determined worth. Phoenician merchants had achieved the ultimate goal: wealth bringing honor. God's judgment directly attacked this value system, demonstrating that earthly honor systems are meaningless before divine holiness. The cross ultimately accomplished this: the King of Glory crucified as a criminal.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of 'glory' and 'honor' does contemporary culture most prize—and how might God view them?
- How does the gospel deliberately 'stain' worldly glory by exalting a crucified carpenter as Lord of all?
- What does it mean practically to reject earthly honor systems in favor of God's upside-down kingdom values?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory—This verse crystallizes the theological center of Isaiah 23. The phrase ga'on kol-tsevi (pride of all beauty/glory) encompasses not only Tyre but all human glory. God's stated purpose (ya'atsah, purposed/counseled) involves lechallel (to profane, pollute, defile)—the same verb used for desecrating holy things. Human glory, however magnificent, is profaned in comparison to divine holiness.
To bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth (לְהָקֵל כָּל־נִכְבַּדֵּי־אָרֶץ)—The verb lehakel means to make light, trivial, or contemptible. The nobles of earth (nikbadey-arets), those 'heavy' with honor, are made 'light'—worthless. This divine reversal inverts human value systems: what earth honors, heaven condemns; what humans esteem, God despises. Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: God chooses foolish things to shame the wise, weak things to shame the strong, 'so that no flesh should glory in His presence.' Tyre's judgment illustrates God's cosmic program to humble all pride before His throne.