Isaiah 23:11
New International Version
The LORD has stretched out his hand over the sea and made its kingdoms tremble. He has given an order concerning Phoenicia that her fortresses be destroyed.

New Living Translation
The LORD held out his hand over the sea and shook the kingdoms of the earth. He has spoken out against Phoenicia, ordering that her fortresses be destroyed.

English Standard Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has shaken the kingdoms; the LORD has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.

King James Bible
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

New King James Version
He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The LORD has given a commandment against Canaan To destroy its strongholds.

New American Standard Bible
He has stretched His hand out over the sea, He has made the kingdoms tremble; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds.

NASB 1995
He has stretched His hand out over the sea, He has made the kingdoms tremble; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds.

NASB 1977
He has stretched His hand out over the sea, He has made the kingdoms tremble; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds.

Legacy Standard Bible
He has stretched His hand out over the sea; He has made the kingdoms tremble; Yahweh has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strong defenses.

Amplified Bible
He has stretched out His hand over the sea, He has shaken the kingdoms; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to destroy her strongholds and her fortresses [like Tyre and Sidon].

Christian Standard Bible
He stretched out his hand over the sea; he made kingdoms tremble. The LORD has commanded that the Canaanite fortresses be destroyed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He stretched out His hand over the sea; He made kingdoms tremble. The LORD has commanded that the Canaanite fortresses be destroyed.

American Standard Version
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD's hand has reached across the sea, upsetting the nations. He has given a command to destroy fortresses in the land of Canaan.

English Revised Version
He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: the LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD has stretched his hand over the sea to shake kingdoms. He has commanded that Canaan's fortifications be destroyed.

Good News Translation
The LORD has stretched out his hand over the sea and overthrown kingdoms. He has commanded that the Phoenician centers of commerce be destroyed.

International Standard Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea; he has made kingdoms tremble. The LORD has issued orders concerning Canaan to destroy its strongholds.

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed.

NET Bible
The LORD stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook kingdoms; he gave the order to destroy Canaan's fortresses.

New Heart English Bible
He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. The LORD has ordered the destruction of Canaan's strongholds.

Webster's Bible Translation
He stretched his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy its strong holds.

World English Bible
He has stretched out his hand over the sea. He has shaken the kingdoms. Yahweh has ordered the destruction of Canaan’s strongholds.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He has stretched out His hand over the sea, "" He has caused kingdoms to tremble, "" YHWH has charged concerning the merchant one, "" To destroy her strong places.

Young's Literal Translation
His hand He hath stretched out over the sea, He hath caused kingdoms to tremble, Jehovah hath charged concerning the merchant one, To destroy her strong places.

Smith's Literal Translation
He stretched forth his hand over the sea, he disquieted kingdoms: Jehovah commanded to Canaan to destroy her fortress.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he troubled kingdoms: the Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan, to destroy the strong ones thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
He has extended his hand over the sea. He has stirred up kingdoms. The Lord has given an order against Canaan, so that he may crush its strong.

New American Bible
His hand he stretches out over the sea, he shakes kingdoms; The LORD commanded the destruction of Canaan’s strongholds:

New Revised Standard Version
He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms; the LORD has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its fortresses.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms; the LORD has given a commandment against Canaan to destroy its mighty men.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He lifted his hand over the sea and he angered the kingdoms. LORD JEHOVAH commanded against Canaan to destroy its mighty ones
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
He hath stretched out His hand over the sea, He hath shaken the kingdoms; The LORD hath given commandment concerning Canaan, To destroy the strongholds thereof;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thy hand prevails no more by sea, which troubled kings: the Lord of hosts has given a command concerning Chanaan, to destroy the strength thereof.
Audio Bible



Context
The Fall of Tyre
10Cultivate your land like the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; there is no longer a harbor. 11The LORD has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has made kingdoms tremble. He has given a command that the strongholds of Canaan be destroyed. 12He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus—even there you will find no rest.”…

Cross References
Ezekiel 26:3-4
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, O Tyre, I am against you, and I will raise up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. / They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.

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.

Zechariah 9:3-4
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.

Amos 1:9-10
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood. / So I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre to consume its citadels.”

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. ...

Psalm 83:7
of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

Nahum 3:4-7
because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft. / “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show your nakedness to the nations and your shame to the kingdoms. / I will pelt you with filth and treat you with contempt; I will make a spectacle of you. ...

Ezekiel 27:26-36
Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea. / Your wealth, wares, and merchandise, your sailors, captains, and shipwrights, your merchants and all the warriors within you, with all the other people on board, will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your downfall. / The countryside will shake when your sailors cry out. ...

Isaiah 14:26-27
This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. / The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

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

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.

Luke 10:13-14
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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Acts 12:20-23
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. / On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. / And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” ...

Revelation 17:1-2
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”


Treasury of Scripture

He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD has given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.

stretched

Isaiah 2:19
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Isaiah 14:16,17
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; …

Exodus 15:8-10
And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea…

the Lord

Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

Psalm 71:3
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Jeremiah 47:7
How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

against the merchant city.

Isaiah 23:3
And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

Hosea 12:7,8
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress…

the merchant city.

Genesis 9:25
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

Genesis 10:15-19
And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, …

Zechariah 14:21
Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

strong holds.

Zechariah 9:3,4
And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets…

Jump to Previous
Canaan Caused City Command Commandment Destroy Destruction Fortresses Hand Holds Kingdoms Merchant Order Ordered Orders Phoenicia Places Sea Shaken Shaketh Shaking Shook Stretched Strong Strongholds Thereof Tremble Waste
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Canaan Caused City Command Commandment Destroy Destruction Fortresses Hand Holds Kingdoms Merchant Order Ordered Orders Phoenicia Places Sea Shaken Shaketh Shaking Shook Stretched Strong Strongholds Thereof Tremble Waste
Isaiah 23
1. The miserable overthrow of Tyre
15. Her restoration and unfaithfulness














He stretched out His hand
This phrase signifies the power and authority of God. In the Hebrew context, the hand often symbolizes strength and action. The imagery of God stretching out His hand is a demonstration of His sovereign control over the nations. Historically, this reflects God's intervention in human affairs, emphasizing His ability to influence and direct the course of history according to His divine will.

over the sea
The sea in ancient Near Eastern culture often represented chaos and unpredictability. By stretching out His hand over the sea, God is depicted as having dominion over chaos and the natural world. This echoes the creation narrative where God brings order out of chaos. It also reflects God's authority over the nations, as the sea can symbolize the Gentile nations surrounding Israel.

He shook the kingdoms
This phrase indicates a divine disruption of political powers. The Hebrew root for "shook" conveys the idea of causing instability or trembling. Historically, this can be seen in the context of God's judgment against Tyre, a powerful maritime city-state. The shaking of kingdoms signifies God's ability to humble the proud and bring down those who exalt themselves against His purposes.

The LORD has given a command
Here, the LORD (Yahweh) is portrayed as the ultimate authority who issues decrees that must be fulfilled. The Hebrew understanding of a divine command is that it is irrevocable and powerful, bringing about the intended outcome. This reflects the biblical theme of God's word being active and effective, accomplishing what He desires.

concerning Canaan
Canaan, in this context, refers to the land and its inhabitants, which includes the city of Tyre. Historically, Canaan was the land promised to the Israelites, but it was also a region known for its idolatry and opposition to God's people. The mention of Canaan highlights the judgment against those who oppose God's covenant people and His plans.

to destroy its strongholds
The destruction of strongholds signifies the dismantling of human pride and security. In the ancient world, strongholds were fortified places of refuge and defense. God's command to destroy these indicates His power to overthrow human defenses and bring judgment upon those who trust in their own strength rather than in Him. This serves as a reminder of the futility of relying on worldly power and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes.

(11) He shook the kingdoms.--The picture of the great convulsion of the time includes more than Tyre and its subject states. Egypt, Ethiopia, Babylon, Syria, Israel, Judah, were all affected, shaken as to their very foundations, by the rapid progress of the restored Assyrian empire under Tiglath-pileser and his successors.

Against the merchant city.--Literally, Canaan (the word "city" being an interpolation), taken here as equivalent to Ph?nicia. So in Joshua 5:1, the LXX. translates "Canaanites" by "Ph?nicia."

Verse 11. - He stretched out his hand over the sea, By "he" we must understand "Jehovah" (see ver. 9). God has smitten Tyro - the great maritime power - destroyed its dominion, and set its subject cities free. He shook the kingdoms; i.e. not only Tyre, but the other cities of the Phoenician coast, each of which had its own king (Herod., 7:98; Strab., 16. p. 754). Against the merchant city; rather, against Canaan. Phoenicia is called "Canaan," as England is often called "Britain." So the "SyroPhoenician woman" of Mark 7:26 is "a woman of Canaan" in Matthew 15:22.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[The LORD] has stretched out
נָטָ֣ה (nā·ṭāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

His hand
יָדוֹ֙ (yā·ḏōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the sea;
הַיָּ֔ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

He has made kingdoms
מַמְלָכ֑וֹת (mam·lā·ḵō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

tremble.
הִרְגִּ֖יז (hir·gîz)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7264: To be agitated, quiver, quake, be excited, perturbed

[He]
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has given a command
צִוָּ֣ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

that
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the strongholds
מָעֻזְנֶֽיהָ׃ (mā·‘uz·ne·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4581: A place or means of safety, protection

of Canaan
כְּנַ֔עַן (kə·na·‘an)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan

be destroyed.
לַשְׁמִ֖ד (laš·miḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 23:11 He has stretched out his hand over (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 23:10
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