Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 25th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Isaiah 23:11

The Lord held out his hand over the sea and shook the kingdoms of the earth. He has spoken out against Phoenicia, ordering that her fortresses be destroyed.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Cities;   Hand;   Tarshish;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Cities;   Commerce;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Phoenicia, Phenicia, or Phenice;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Preaching;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Tarshish, Tharshish;   Zidon, Sidon ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nile;   Tyre;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Canaan;   Trade;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Commerce;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He stretched out his hand over the sea;he made kingdoms tremble.The Lord has commandedthat the Canaanite fortresses be destroyed.
Hebrew Names Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms: the LORD has given mitzvah concerning Kana`an, to destroy the strongholds of it.
King James Version
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
English Standard Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has shaken the kingdoms; the Lord has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds.
New American Standard Bible
He has stretched His hand out over the sea, He has made the kingdoms tremble; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds.
New Century Version
The Lord has stretched his hand over the sea and made its kingdoms tremble. He commands that Canaan's strong, walled cities be destroyed.
Amplified Bible
He has stretched out His hand over the sea, He has shaken the kingdoms; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to destroy her strongholds and her fortresses [like Tyre and Sidon].
World English Bible
He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms: Yahweh has given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds of it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He stretched out his hand vpon the sea: he shooke the kingdomes: the Lorde hath giuen a commaundement concerning the place of marchandise, to destroy the power thereof.
Legacy Standard Bible
He has stretched His hand out over the sea;He has made the kingdoms tremble;Yahweh has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strong defenses.
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord 's hand has reached across the sea, upsetting the nations. He has given a command to destroy fortresses in the land of Canaan.
Complete Jewish Bible
He has stretched out his hand against the sea, he has shaken kingdoms; Adonai has ordered that Kena‘an's fortresses be destroyed.
Darby Translation
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he shaketh the kingdoms. Jehovah hath given a commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof,
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord raised his arm over the sea to make the kingdoms angry enough to fight against Tyre. He commanded Canaan to destroy her place of safety.
George Lamsa Translation
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms; the LORD has given a commandment against Canaan to destroy its mighty men.
Good News Translation
The Lord has stretched out his hand over the sea and overthrown kingdoms. He has commanded that the Phoenician centers of commerce be destroyed.
Lexham English Bible
He has stretched his hand out over the sea; he has made kingdoms shake. Yahweh has commanded concerning Canaan to destroy her fortresses.
Literal Translation
He stretched His hand over the sea; He shook kingdoms. Jehovah has made a decree against the merchant city , to destroy its forts.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus the LORDE that remoueth the kingdomes, and hath taken in hande agaynst that mightie Canaan to rote it out:) hath stretched out his honde ouer the see,
American Standard Version
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof.
Bible in Basic English
His hand is stretched out over the sea, the kingdoms are shaking: the Lord has given orders about Canaan, to make waste its strong places.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He hath stretched out His hand over the sea, He hath shaken the kingdoms; the LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof;
King James Version (1611)
He stretched out his hand ouer the sea, hee shooke the kingdomes: the Lord hath giuen a commandement against the merchant citie, to destroy the strong holdes thereof.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that smote the kyngdomes together, holdeth out his hande ouer the sea: euen the Lord him selfe hath geuen a commaundement agaynst the same common place of marchaundise, that they shall vtterly destroy the myght therof.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And thy hand prevails no more by sea, which troubled kings: the Lord of hosts has given a command concerning Chanaan, to destroy the strength thereof.
English Revised Version
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: the LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It stretchide forth his hond aboue the see, and disturblide rewmes. The Lord sente ayenes Canaan, for to al to-breke the stronge men therof;
Update Bible Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms: Yahweh has given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof.
Webster's Bible Translation
He stretched his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant [city], to destroy its strong holds.
New English Translation
The Lord stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook kingdoms; he gave the order to destroy Canaan's fortresses.
New King James Version
He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The LORD has given a commandment against Canaan To destroy its strongholds.
New Life Bible
He has put out His hand over the sea. He has made the nations shake with fear. The Lord has said that the strong-places of Canaan must be destroyed.
New Revised Standard
He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms; the Lord has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its fortresses.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
His hand, hath he stretched out over the sea, He hath shaken kingdoms, - Yahweh, hath given command against she Phoenician coast, To destroy her fortresses.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he troubled kingdoms: the Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan, to destroy the strong ones thereof.
Revised Standard Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms; the LORD has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds.
Young's Literal Translation
His hand He hath stretched out over the sea, He hath caused kingdoms to tremble, Jehovah hath charged concerning the merchant one, To destroy her strong places.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He has stretched His hand out over the sea, He has made the kingdoms tremble; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds.

Contextual Overview

1 This message came to me concerning Tyre: Wail, you trading ships of Tarshish, for the harbor and houses of Tyre are gone! The rumors you heard in Cyprus are all true. 2 Mourn in silence, you people of the coast and you merchants of Sidon. Your traders crossed the sea, 3 sailing over deep waters. They brought you grain from Egypt and harvests from along the Nile. You were the marketplace of the world. 4 But now you are put to shame, city of Sidon, for Tyre, the fortress of the sea, says, "Now I am childless; I have no sons or daughters." 5 When Egypt hears the news about Tyre, there will be great sorrow. 6 Send word now to Tarshish! Wail, you people who live in distant lands! 7 Is this silent ruin all that is left of your once joyous city? What a long history was yours! Think of all the colonists you sent to distant places. 8 Who has brought this disaster on Tyre, that great creator of kingdoms? Her traders were all princes, her merchants were nobles. 9 The Lord of Heaven's Armies has done it to destroy your pride and bring low all earth's nobility. 10 Come, people of Tarshish, sweep over the land like the flooding Nile, for Tyre is defenseless.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

stretched: Isaiah 2:19, Isaiah 14:16, Isaiah 14:17, Exodus 15:8-10, Psalms 46:6, Ezekiel 26:10, Ezekiel 26:15-19, Ezekiel 27:34, Ezekiel 27:35, Ezekiel 31:16, Haggai 2:7

the Lord: Isaiah 10:6, Psalms 71:3, Jeremiah 47:7, Nahum 1:14

against the merchant city: or, concerning a merchantman, Isaiah 23:3, Hosea 12:7, Hosea 12:8

the merchant city: Heb. Canaan, Genesis 9:25, Genesis 10:15-19, Zechariah 14:21, Mark 11:17, John 2:16

strong holds: or, strengths, Zechariah 9:3, Zechariah 9:4

Reciprocal: Isaiah 13:3 - commanded Ezekiel 26:4 - destroy Ezekiel 26:12 - thy merchandise

Cross-References

Genesis 23:6
"Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way."
Genesis 23:7
Then Abraham bowed low before the Hittites
Genesis 23:12
Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land,
Genesis 23:18
It was transferred to Abraham as his permanent possession in the presence of the Hittite elders at the city gate.
Genesis 23:20
So the field and the cave were transferred from the Hittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place.
Numbers 35:30
"All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6
But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
Deuteronomy 19:15
"You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Ruth 4:1
Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, "Come over here and sit down, friend. I want to talk to you." So they sat down together.
Ruth 4:4
I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don't want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you." The man replied, "All right, I'll redeem it."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He stretched out his hand over the sea,.... That is, the Lord of hosts, who had purposed to destroy Tyre, stretched out his hand of power over it, called the sea, as in Isaiah 23:4 because situated in it, supported by it, and had the sovereignty of it; in like manner as he stretched out his hand on the Red Sea, and destroyed Pharaoh and the Egyptians in it; to which the allusion may be:

he shook the kingdoms; of Tyre and Zidon, which were both kingdoms, and distinct ones; and also made other neighbouring kingdoms shake and tremble when these fell, fearing it would be their case next. Some understand this of the moving of Nebuchadnezzar, and of the kings of the provinces under him, to come against Tyre:

the Lord hath given a commandment against the merchant [city]; the city of Tyre, so famous for merchandise, that it was the mart of nations, as in Isaiah 23:3 or "against Canaan", in which country Tyre and Zidon were, being originally built and inhabited by the posterity of Canaan, Genesis 10:15:

to destroy the strong holds thereof; either of the merchant city Tyre, whose fortifications were strong, both by nature and art; or "of Canaan", whose strong holds, or fortified cities, the principal of them were Tyre and Zidon; so Jarchi: and if the Lord of hosts gives a commandment to destroy it and its strong holds, as he did to Nebuchadnezzar and his army, and afterwards to Alexander and his, who could save them? that is, God said it, who gave commandment to destroy it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He stretched out his hand - That is, Yahweh (see Isaiah 23:9). To stretch out the hand is indicative of punishment (see the notes at Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 9:12), and means that God has resolved to inflict exemplary punishment on Tyre and its dependent colonies.

Over the sea - That is, over the sea coast of Phenicia; or over the cities that were built on the coast. This alludes to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar would lay siege to these cities, and would ravage the maritime coast of Phenicia. It is not improbable also that, having taken Tyre, he would extend his conquests to Citium, on the island of Cyprus, and destroy as many of the dependent cities of Tyre as possible.

The Lord hath given a commandment - The control here asserted over Nebuchadnezzar is similar to that which he asserted over the Assyrian Sennacherib (see the note at Isaiah 10:5).

Against the merchant city - Hebrew, ‘Against Canaan’ (על־כנען 'el-kena‛an). The word ‘Canaan’ may here be used as in Isaiah 23:8, to denote a place given to merchandise or traffic, since this was the principal employment of the inhabitants of this region; but it is rather to be taken in its obvious and usual sense in the Scriptures, as denoting the land of Canaan, and as denoting that Nebuchadnezzar would be sent against that, and especially the maritime parts of it, to lay it waste.

To destroy the strongholds thereof - That is, the strongholds of Canaan; as Tyre, Sidon, Accho, etc. Tyre, especially, was strongly fortified, and was able long to resist the arms of the Chaldeans.


 
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