Isaiah 23:16 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 23:16 mean?

Isaiah 23:16 describes a forgotten harlot being told to take a harp, walk around the city, and sing many songs with sweet music so that people will remember her. The verse uses the image of a once-famous woman trying to regain attention after being neglected or overlooked.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking about the city of Tyre, which is compared to a harlot who has lost her customers and fame. The instruction to make sweet melody and sing many songs is a picture of Tyre trying to recover her former influence and trade by attracting attention again. The verse uses vivid, everyday imagery to show the city's desperate attempt to be remembered after a period of decline.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 23:16

• "Harlot" (זָנָה, zanah): This word means a prostitute or someone who sells themselves, and here it is used as a metaphor for Tyre's past as a wealthy, influential trading city that dealt with many nations.
• "Forgotten" (שָׁכַח, shakach): This word means to be neglected or no longer remembered, highlighting Tyre's loss of status and the need to do something dramatic to regain attention.
• "Melody" (נֶגֶן, negen): This word refers to playing music, especially on a stringed instrument like a harp, emphasizing the effort to create something pleasing and memorable.
• "Remembered" (זָכַר, zakar): This word means to be brought back to mind or recalled, showing that the goal of all this effort is to be noticed and valued again.

Why Isaiah 23:16 matters

• The verse clears up that the "harlot" is not a literal person but a symbol for Tyre, making the prophecy about the city's fate rather than an individual.
• Isaiah 23:16 emphasizes how desperate Tyre is to regain its former glory, using the image of music and song to show the lengths to which the city will go to be remembered.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by illustrating the downfall and attempted comeback of Tyre, setting up the message about the fleeting nature of worldly power and reputation.