Isaiah 23:5
in Isaiah 23When the report reaches Egypt, they will writhe in agony over the news of Tyre.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
KJV
As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
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This verse in Isaiah 23
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
As at the report concerning Egypt - According to our translation, this verse would seem to mean that the Sidonians and other nations had been pained or grieved at the report of the calamities that had come upon Egypt, and that they would be similarly affected at the report concerning Tyre. In accordance with this, some (as Jarchi) have understood it of the plagues of Egypt, and suppose that the prophet means to say, that as the nations were astonished at that, so they would be at the report of the calamities that would come upon Tyre.
This site's exposition
the burden against Tyre
on Isaiah 23:1-5
The last burden falls on Tyre, and the "ships of Tarshish" wail, for Tyre is "without house or harbor". Barnes and Delitzsch map the trade: "the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre". The sea itself speaks as a bereaved mother: "I have not been in labor".
This site's exposition
When the report reaches Egypt
Egypt sold its harvest through Tyre, so the news hurts its trade first. Henry and Jerome both add a second fear: a strong neighbor taken by siege warns Egypt that its own turn is near. Chapters 19 and 20 had already spoken that turn.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verse 5) When it is heard in Egypt, they will grieve when they hear about Tyre. This is clear, that after the Egyptians hear about the most powerful and neighboring nation being destroyed by a long siege, they will also know that their own destruction is approaching.
(Verse 4-5) Blush, Sidon, said the sea; but the strength of the sea says, I have not given birth, nor have I brought forth, nor have I nourished young men, nor have I exalted virgins. But when it is heard in Egypt, sorrow will seize them over Tyre.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, of the Egyptians: when it shall be heard in Egypt: behold I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle (1 Sam 3:11).
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Waters - By the sea, which is very fitly called the great waters, understand, cometh, or is brought to her. The seed - The corn of Egypt, wherewith Egypt abounded. Sihor is the same as the Nile.
As at the report concerning Egypt,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Or, as some read it, When the report shall reach to the Egyptians they shall be sorely pained to hear it of Tyre, both because of the loss of their trade with that city and because it was a threatening step towards their own ruin; when their neighbour's house was on fire their own was in danger.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
As, &c.--rather, "When the report (shall reach) the people of Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report concerning Tyre" (namely, its overthrow). So JEROME, "When the Egyptians shall hear that so powerful a neighboring nation has been destroyed, they must know their own end is near" [LOWTH, &c.].
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ | kaasher- | <just> when | H834 → | 5497 times |
| שֵׁ֖מַע | shema' | a report | H8088 → | 18 times |
| לְמִצְרָ֑יִם | lemitzrayim | [is] to Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
| יָחִ֖ילוּ | yachilu | people will be in anguish | H2342 → | 58 times |
| כְּשֵׁ֥מַע | keshema' | like [the] report of | H8088 → | 18 times |
| צֹֽר׃ | tzor | Tyre | H6865 → | 42 times |
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־<just> when
kaasher-H834 →5497 times
שֵׁ֖מַעa report
shema'H8088 →18 times
לְמִצְרָ֑יִם[is] to Egypt
lemitzrayimH4714 →641 times
יָחִ֖ילוּpeople will be in anguish
yachiluH2342 →58 times
כְּשֵׁ֥מַעlike [the] report of
keshema'H8088 →18 times
צֹֽר׃Tyre
tzorH6865 →42 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezekiel 28:19All the nations who know you are appalled over you. You have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’”
it leads to
- Ezekiel 26:21
I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
- Revelation 18:15–19
The merchants who sold these things and grew their wealth from her will stand at a distance, in fear of her torment. They will weep and mourn,
- Revelation 18:21
Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never…
- Isaiah 14:16–19
Those who see you will stare; they will ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made the kingdoms tremble,
- Ezekiel 26:14
I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread the fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.’
- Ezekiel 26:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
About Isaiah
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.