Isaiah 23:3 On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations.

◄ Isaiah 23:3 ►

New International Version
On the great waters came the grain of the Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre, and she became the marketplace of the nations.

New Living Translation
sailing over deep waters. They brought you grain from Egypt and harvests from along the Nile. You were the marketplace of the world.

English Standard Version
And on many waters your revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; you were the merchant of the nations.

Berean Standard Bible
On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations.

King James Bible
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

New King James Version
And on great waters the grain of Shihor, The harvest of the River, is her revenue; And she is a marketplace for the nations.

New American Standard Bible
And were on many waters. The grain of the Nile, the harvest of the River was her revenue; And she was the market of nations.

NASB 1995
And were on many waters. The grain of the Nile, the harvest of the River was her revenue; And she was the market of nations.

NASB 1977
And were on many waters. The grain of the Nile, the harvest of the River was her revenue; And she was the market of nations.

Legacy Standard Bible
And were on many waters. The grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile was her revenue; And she was the nations’ gain.

Amplified Bible
And they were on great waters. The grain of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile River, was Tyre’s revenue; And she was the market of nations.

Christian Standard Bible
over deep water. Tyre’s revenue was the grain from Shihor — the harvest of the Nile. She was the merchant among the nations.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
on many waters. Tyre’s revenue was the grain from Shihor— the harvest of the Nile. She was the merchant among the nations.

American Standard Version
And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.

Contemporary English Version
Your merchants sailed the seas, making you wealthy by trading with nation after nation. They brought back grain that grew along the Nile.

English Revised Version
And on great waters the seed of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The grain of Shihor is on the Mediterranean. The harvest of the Nile River is brought to Tyre. Tyre became the marketplace for the nations.

Good News Translation
across the sea to buy and sell the grain that grew in Egypt and to do business with all the nations.

International Standard Version
and were on mighty waters. Her revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; and she became the marketplace of nations.

Majority Standard Bible
On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations.

NET Bible
the deep waters! Grain from the Shihor region, crops grown near the Nile she receives; she is the trade center of the nations.

New Heart English Bible
On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.

Webster's Bible Translation
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

World English Bible
On great waters, the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue. She was the market of nations.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the seed of Sihor [is] in many waters, "" Her increase [is] the harvest of the brook, "" And she is a market of nations.

Young's Literal Translation
And in many waters is the seed of Sihor, The harvest of the brook is her increase, And she is a mart of nations.

Smith's Literal Translation
On many waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river her produce; and she shall be the emporium of nations.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The seed of the Nile in many waters, the harvest of the river is her revenue: and she is become the mart of the nations.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The offspring of the Nile is in the midst of many waters. The harvest of the river is her crop. And she has become the marketplace of the nations.

New American Bible
over the deep waters, Whose revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, you who were the merchant among the nations.

New Revised Standard Version
and were on the mighty waters; your revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; you were the merchant of the nations.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Your commerce is on many waters, O offspring of merchants; the harvest of the river is her revenue, and she is a mart of nations.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your cargo is in many waters, seed of the Merchant, harvest of the river; its harvest was the merchandise for the nations

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And on great waters the seed of Shihor, The harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; And she was the mart of nations.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
in great waters, a generation of merchants? as when the harvest is gathered in, so are these traders with the nations.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Fall of Tyre
…2Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea. 3On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations. 4Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Ezekiel 27:3-4
Tell Tyre, who dwells at the gateway to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coasts, that this is what the Lord GOD says: You have said, O Tyre, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ / Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders perfected your beauty.

Ezekiel 27:12
Tarshish was your merchant because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:25
The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise. And you were filled with heavy cargo in the heart of the sea.

Jeremiah 25:22
all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea;

Jeremiah 47:4
For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every remaining ally. Indeed, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines, the remnant from the coasts of Caphtor.

Joel 3:4-8
Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. / For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples. / You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland. ...

Zechariah 9:2-4
and also against Hamath, which borders it, as well as Tyre and Sidon, though they are very shrewd. / Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. / Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

1 Kings 5:1
Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.

1 Kings 9:26-28
King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. / And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants. / They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.

Psalm 72:10
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

Psalm 45:12
The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor.

Acts 12:20
Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

Revelation 18:17-19
For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance / and cry out at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. “What city was ever like this great city?” they will exclaim. / Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”

Matthew 11:21-22
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

Treasury of Scripture

And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

Sihor

1 Chronicles 13:5
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

Jeremiah 2:18
And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

the harvest

Isaiah 32:20
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

Deuteronomy 11:10
For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:

she is

Isaiah 23:8
Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?

Ezekiel 27:33
When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.

Ezekiel 28:4
With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

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Brook Grain Great Harvest Increase Market Marketplace Mart Merchant Nations Nile Revenue River Seed Shihor Sihor Trade Tyre Waters Wealth

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Isaiah 23

1. The miserable overthrow of Tyre
15. Her restoration and unfaithfulness

Berean Study Bible

On the great waters
This phrase evokes the image of vast, expansive seas, which were the primary means of trade and transportation in the ancient world. The "great waters" symbolize the far-reaching influence and connectivity of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city known for its maritime prowess. Historically, Tyre was a hub of commerce, with its ships traversing the Mediterranean Sea, establishing trade routes that connected various cultures and economies. The "great waters" also metaphorically represent the vastness of God's creation and His sovereignty over all nations and their endeavors.

came the grain of the Shihor
"Shihor" is often identified with the Nile River, particularly its eastern branches. The grain from the Shihor signifies the agricultural bounty of Egypt, a land renowned for its fertile soil and abundant harvests. In the context of Isaiah, this grain represents the wealth and sustenance that flowed into Tyre, making it a prosperous city. Theologically, this highlights God's provision and the interconnectedness of His creation, where one nation's abundance can become another's sustenance, reflecting the divine orchestration of resources.

the harvest of the Nile
The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt, providing the necessary irrigation for crops in an otherwise arid region. The "harvest of the Nile" underscores the economic strength and agricultural productivity of Egypt, which was a key supplier of grain in the ancient world. This phrase also serves as a reminder of God's providence, as He is the ultimate source of all harvests and blessings. Theologically, it points to the idea that all earthly wealth and resources are under God's control and are to be used for His purposes.

was the revenue of Tyre
This phrase indicates that Tyre's wealth was significantly derived from its trade with Egypt, particularly in grain. Tyre's economy was heavily reliant on its ability to import and export goods, making it a central marketplace in the ancient Near East. The "revenue of Tyre" reflects the city's dependence on international trade and the flow of goods across borders. From a spiritual perspective, it serves as a caution against placing trust in material wealth and economic power, reminding believers that true security and prosperity come from God alone.

and she became the marketplace of the nations
Tyre's designation as the "marketplace of the nations" highlights its role as a major commercial center where goods from various regions were exchanged. This phrase captures the city's cosmopolitan nature and its influence on global trade. Historically, Tyre was known for its skilled merchants and its production of valuable goods, such as the famous Tyrian purple dye. Spiritually, this serves as a metaphor for the church's mission to be a light to the nations, spreading the gospel and drawing people from all corners of the earth to the truth of God's Word. It also warns against the potential for pride and self-reliance that can accompany great wealth and influence, urging believers to remain humble and dependent on God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) By great waters the seed of Sihor . . .--Sihor ("the dark river") is as in Jeremiah 2:18, a Hebrew name for the Nile. The corn-trade with Egypt (Ezekiel 27:7, adds the linen-trade) was naturally a chief branch of Tyrian commerce. Practically, indeed, as the Egyptians had no timber to build ships, and, for the most part, hated the sea, their navy consisted of Ph?nicians. Tyre practically reaped the harvest that sprang from the inundation of the Nile. For "mart," read gain. The "great waters" are those of the great sea, i.e., of the Mediterranean.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - By great waters; rather, on great waters; i.e. on the waters of the Mediterranean (cf. Psalm 107:23; Ezekiel 27:26). The Egyptian vessels conveyed the corn intended for exportation to the ports at the mouths of the Nile, where it was transhipped aboard Phoenician craft, which carried it on the open sea to the countries needing it. We never hear of the Egyptians disputing the trade of the Mediterranean with the Phoenicians and the Greeks, though they certainly had trading-vessels at times on the waters of the Red Sea. The seed of Sihor; i.e. the corn of the Nile valley. "Si-her," or rather "Shihor," is the only proper name by which the Nile is designated in the Hebrew Scriptures. It means "the dark," "the turbid," and may be compared with the modern "Bahr-el-azrak," used of the Eastern or Abyssinian Nile, and with the term" Nilus" itself, if that signifies "the dark blue stream." It occurs, as the name of the Nile, only in Joshua 13:3; 1 Chronicles 13:5; Jeremiah 2:18; and the present place. Is her revenue; i.e. "produces a portion of her annual income." And she is a man of nations (so Gesenius and Ewald). Delitzsch and Mr. Cheyne translate, "It is the gain of the nations," referring "it' to the corn which the Tyrians exported.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

On the great
רַבִּים֙ (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

waters
וּבְמַ֤יִם (ū·ḇə·ma·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

came the grain
זֶ֣רַע (ze·ra‘)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2233: Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

of Shihor;
שִׁחֹ֔ר (ši·ḥōr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7883: Nile -- a stream on the border of Egypt

the harvest
קְצִ֥יר (qə·ṣîr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7105: Severed, harvest, the crop, the time, the reaper, a limb

of the Nile
יְא֖וֹר (yə·’ō·wr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2975: Nile -- a channel, a fosse, canal, shaft, the Nile, the Tigris

was the revenue of Tyre;
תְּבֽוּאָתָ֑הּ (tə·ḇū·’ā·ṯāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8393: Product, revenue

she was
וַתְּהִ֖י (wat·tə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the merchant
סְחַ֥ר (sə·ḥar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5505: An emporium, profit

of the nations.
גּוֹיִֽם׃ (gō·w·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 23:3 On great waters the seed (Isa Isi Is)