Isaiah 23:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 23:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.
Isaiah 23:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And by great waters the seed of Sihor, &c.] Sihor is the river Nile in Egypt; it had its name from the black colour of its waters, as in (<240218>Jeremiah 2:18) hence called by the Greeks Melas, and by the Latins Melo: the “seed” of it intends what was sown and grew upon the banks of it, or was nourished by the overflow of this river throughout the land, and includes corn, flax, paper, &c. with which Egypt abounded; and when this is said to be “by great waters”, the meaning either is, that it grew by great waters, the waters of the Nile, and through the influence of them; or that it came by great waters to Tyre; that is, by the waters of the sea, the Mediterranean Sea: the harvest of the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“great waters--the wide waters of the sea. seed--"grain," or crop, as in Sa1 8:15; Job 39:12. Sihor--literally, "dark-colored"; applied to the Nile, as the Egyptian Jeor, and the Greek Melas, to express the "dark, turbid" colors given to its waters by the fertilizing soil which it deposits at its yearly overflow (Jer 2:18). harvest of the river--the growth of the Delta; the produce due to the overflow of the Nile: Egypt was the great granary of corn in the ancient world (Gen. 41:1-57; Gen. 42:1-38; Gen. 43:1-34). her revenue--Tyrian vessels carried Egyptian produce obtained in exchange for wine, oil, glass, &c., into various lands, and so made large profits. mart-- (Eze 27:3). No city was…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And by great waters - That is, by the abundant-waters, or the overflowing of the Nile. Tyre was the mart to which the superabundant productions of Egypt were borne (see Ezekiel 27:0) The seed of Sihor - There can be no doubt that by ‘Sihor’ here is meant the river Nile in Egypt (see Joshua 13:3; 1 Chronicles 13:5; Jeremiah 2:18). The word שׁחר shichor is derived from שׁחר shachar, “to be black” Job 30:30, and is given to the Nile from its color when it brings down the slime or mud by which Egypt is rendered so fertile. The Greeks gave to the river the name Μέλας Melas (“black”), and the Latins call it “Melo” - (Serv. ad Virg. “Geor.” iv. 291. It was called “Siris” by the Ethiopians; perhaps…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“23:3 Fish, agricultural produce, flax, and linen were all harvests from along the Nile (see ch 19). • Tyre was known as the marketplace of the world, comparable to modern cities like New York, Hong Kong, or London.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Sihor: Ch1 13:5; Jer 2:18 the harvest: Isa 32:20; Deu 11:10 she is: Isa 23:8; Eze 27:33, Eze 28:4; Joe 3:5; Rev 18:11-13 Isaiah 23:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification