Isaiah 23:16

Isaiah 23:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
• New International Version (NIV)“Take up a harp, walk through the city, you forgotten prostitute; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Take a harp; go about the city, O forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, that you may be remembered."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Take a harp, go about the city, You forgotten harlot; Make sweet melody, sing many songs, That you may be remembered.”

Context of Isaiah 23:16

14Wail, ships of Tarshish, because your fortress is destroyed! 15On that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years — the life span of one king. At the end of seventy years, what the song says about the prostitute will happen to Tyre: Pick up your lyre, stroll through the city, you forgotten prostitute. Play skillfully, sing many a song so that you will be remembered. 17And at the end of the seventy years, the Lord will restore Tyre and she will go back into business, prostituting herself with all the kingdoms of the world throughout the earth. 18But her profits and wages will be dedicated to the Lord. They will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live in the Lord’s presence, to provide them with ample food and sacred clothing.

Isaiah 23:16 word by word

קְחִ֥י כִנּ֛וֹר סֹ֥בִּי עִ֖יר זוֹנָ֣ה נִשְׁכָּחָ֑ה הֵיטִ֤יבִי נַגֵּן֙ הַרְבִּי־שִׁ֔יר לְמַ֖עַן תִּזָּכֵֽרִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• an harpכִּנּוֹרkinnôr · lyreH3658
• go aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• thou harlotזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
• that hast been forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
• make sweetיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• melodyנָגַןnâgan · to playH5059
• sing manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• songsשִׁירshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
• that thou mayest be rememberedזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142

Cross-references for Isaiah 23:16

• Proverbs 7:10A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
• Jeremiah 30:14All your lovers have forgotten you; they no longer look for you, for I have struck you as an enemy would, with the discipline of someone cruel, because of your enormous guilt and your innumerable sins.

Commentaries on Isaiah 23:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Take an harp - This is a continuation of the figure commenced in the previous verse, a direct command to Tyre as an harlot, to go about the city with the usual expressions of rejoicing. Thus Donatus, in Terent. Eunuch., iii. 2,4, says: Fidicinam esse meretricum est;‘ And thus Horace: Nec meretrix tibicina, cujus Ad strepitum salias.‘ 1Epis. xiv. 25. Thou harlot that hast been forgotten - For seventy years thou hast lain unknown, desolate, ruined. Make…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 The desolations of Tyre were not to be for ever. The Lord will visit Tyre in mercy. But when set at liberty, she will use her old arts of temptation. The love of worldly wealth is spiritual idolatry; and covetousness is spiritual idolatry. This directs those that have wealth, to use it in the service of God. When we abide with God in our worldly callings, when we do all in our power to further the gospel, then our merchandise and hire are…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-18There was hope for the city of Tyre.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Same figure [Is 23:15] to express that Tyre would again prosper and attract commercial intercourse of nations to her, and be the same joyous, self-indulging city as before.Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 23:16

• Harlot (Prostitute)
• Harp
• Music

In the dictionaries

• Commerce
• Crime; Crimes
• Evil
• Harlot
• Isaiah
• Melody
• Singers; Singing
• Trade
• Minstrel

Commentaries on Isaiah 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings