Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

ISAIAH 23:16KJV
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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.

Where else these words appear

“melody” Hebrew H5059 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
  • 1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
  • Psalms 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

“harp” Hebrew H3658 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
  • Psalms 71:22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

“harlot” Hebrew H2181 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 34:31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
  • 1 Kings 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
  • Ezekiel 16:31 In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

“songs” Hebrew H7892 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 31:27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
  • Psalms 18:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
  • Psalms 126:1 A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.