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Isaiah 23:7

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 23:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?
Isaiah 23:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Be thou ashamed, O Sidon; for the sea hath spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.
5When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
6Pass ye over to Tarshish; wail, ye inhabitants of the coast.
7Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?
8Who hath purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth?
9Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
10Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint any more.
← Isaiah 23:6Isaiah 23:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“[Is] this your joyous [city]? &c.] Which the other day looked so gay, brisk, and cheerful, through the number of its inhabitants, largeness of trade, fullness of provisions, and pleasures of every kind; and now distressed and desolate, and no voice of joy and gladness heard in it: whose antiquity [is] of ancient days; the most ancient city in Phoenicia, excepting Zidon, as Strabof459 says; and it was in being in the days of Joshua, (<061929>Joshua 19:29) if the words there are rightly rendered; and if so, Josephus must be mistaken, unless he speaks of insular Tyre, when he saysf460, that from the building of Tyre to the building of the temple (of Song of Solomonlomon) were two hundred and…”
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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
“Is this silent ruin all that is left of your once joyous city (Isa 23:12)? antiquity--The Tyrian priests boasted in HERODOTUS' time that their city had already existed 2300 years: an exaggeration, but still implying that it was ancient even then. her own feet--walking on foot as captives to an enemy's land.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Is this your joyous city - Is this the city that was just now so full of happiness, of revelry, of business, of gaiety, of rejoicing? (see the note at Isaiah 22:2) Whose antiquity is of ancient days - Strabo (xvi. 756) says, ‘After Sidon, Tyre, a splendid and most ancient city, is to be compared in greatness, beauty, and antiquity, with Sidon.’ Curtius (Hist. Alex. iv. 4) says, ‘The city was taken, distinguished both by its antiquity, and its great variety of fortune.’ Arrian (ii. 16) says, that ‘the Temple of Hercules at Tyre was the most ancient of those which the memory of people have preserved.’ And Herodotus (ii. 44) says, that in a conversation which he had with the priest of that…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Antiquity - Being built before Joshua's time, Jos 19:29. Her feet - Whereas before, like a delicate lady, she would not set her foot to the ground, but used to be carried in stately chariots. To sojourn - To seek for new habitations. Isaiah 23:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“your: Isa 22:2 whose: Jos 19:29 her own: Isa 47:1, Isa 47:2; Ecc 10:7 afar off: Heb. from afar off Isaiah 23:8”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification