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, O ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold is destroyed. 15Now in that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: Take your harp, walk about the city, O forgotten harlot; Pluck the strings skillfully, sing many songs, That you may be remembered. 17It will come about at the end of seventy years that the Lord will visit Tyre. Then she will go back to her harlot’s wages and will play the harlot with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. 18Her gain and her harlot’s wages will be set apart to the Lord; it will not be stored up or hoarded, but her gain will become sufficient food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord.

Isaiah 23:16 word by word

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

• Takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• harpכִּנּוֹרkinnôr · lyreH3658
• walkסָבַבsâbab · to turn: turnH5437
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• O forgottenשָׁכַחshâkach shâkêach · to forgetH7911
• harlotזָנָהzânâh · to fornicateH2181
• Pluckנָגַןnâgan · to playH5059
• skillfullyיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• sing manyרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• songsשִׁירshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
• That you may be rememberedזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142

Cross-references for Isaiah 23:16

• Proverbs 7:10And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
• Jeremiah 30:14All your lovers have forgotten you, They do not seek you; For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the punishment of a cruel one, Because your iniquity is great And your sins are numerous.

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