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

14Cry loudly, you ships of Tarshish, because your fortress will be destroyed. 15When that day comes, Tyre will be forgotten for 70 years, the lifetime of one king. At the end of the 70 years, Tyre will be like the prostitute in this song: “Take your lyre. Go around in the city, you forgotten prostitute. Make sweet music. Sing many songs so that you’ll be remembered.” 17At the end of 70 years the Lord will come to help Tyre. Then she will go back to earning money as a prostitute. She will become a prostitute for all the world’s kingdoms. 18Her profits and her earnings will be turned over to the Lord for his holy purpose. It won’t be stored or hoarded. Her merchandise will belong to those who live in the presence of the Lord so that they will have plenty of food and expensive 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 with an ulterior motive meets him. She is dressed as a prostitute.
• Jeremiah 30:14All your lovers have forgotten you, and they don’t want you anymore. I’ve punished you as an enemy would. I’ve corrected you as a cruel person would. You are very wicked, and you have many 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