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 Living Translation (NLT)Take a harp and walk the streets, you forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody and sing your songs so you will be remembered again.

Context of Isaiah 23:16

14Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste. 15Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: “Take a harp, go about the city, You forgotten harlot; Make sweet melody, sing many songs, That you may be remembered.” 17And it shall be, at the end of seventy years, that the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. 18Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the Lord; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the Lord, to eat sufficiently, and for fine 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 7:10And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty 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 chastisement of a cruel one, For the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased.

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