Isaiah 23:7

Is this your jubilant city, whose origin is from antiquity, whose feet have taken her to settle far away?

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses the exiled inhabitants of the coastland, commanding them to cross to Tarshish and wail over the impending fall of Tyre. This rhetorical question confronts the city's former pride immediately before its announced destruction.

The words — עַלִּיזָ֑ה ('a.li.Zah) literally means "jubilant," describing the city's former state of celebration. קֶ֤דֶם (Ke.dem) translates to "antiquity," marking the deep historical roots the city claimed for its origin.

The thread — The motif of a reveling city facing sudden ruin appears in Isaiah 22:2, which addresses the "O city of commotion, O town of revelry." The prophetic pattern of judging proud trading centers connects to the warning in Ecclesiastes 10:7 about princes going on foot like slaves.

Why it lands — The text forces a reader to acknowledge that no city's age, wealth, or distant trade networks can outrun divine judgment. It demands the abandonment of any illusion that earthly prominence guarantees security.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הֲזֹ֥אתha./Zot¿/ [is] thisלָכֶ֖םla./Khemof/ youעַלִּיזָ֑ה'a.li.Zahjubilant [city]מִֽימֵי־mi./mei-[which is] from/ days of קֶ֤דֶםKe.demantiquity קַדְמָתָהּ֙kad.ma.Ta/hbeginning/ its יֹבִל֣וּהָyoi.Lu./ha[which] they have carried/ it רַגְלֶ֔יהָrag.Lei./hafeet/ its מֵֽרָח֖וֹקme./ra.Chokfrom/ a distance לָגֽוּר׃la./Gurto/ sojourn

King James Version

Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.

Cross-references

Isaiah 22:2 O city of commotion, O town of revelry? Your slain did not die by the sword, nor were they killed in battle.
Joshua 19:29 The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea in the region of Achzib,
Ecclesiastes 10:7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
Isaiah 32:13 and for the land of my people, overgrown with thorns and briers—even for every house of merriment in this city of revelry.
Isaiah 47:1 “Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate.