Isaiah 23:12 · Bible study
Isaiah 23:12 Commentary: No Rest for the Oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why God declares that fleeing to Cyprus will not escape judgment. Grammatical and theological analysis of Isaiah 23:12 with commentary consensus.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God declares that Tyre's past joy is over; even fleeing to Cyprus will not bring rest because His judgment is comprehensive and inescapable.
- Key words: ha·me·'ush·sha·qah ('oppressed' / 'ravished', Pual participle of H6231); be·tu·lat ('virgin', H1330); ya·nu·ach ('rest', H5117); Kittim (Cyprus, H3794).
- Main debate: Whether 'daughter of Sidon' refers to Tyre as colony, to Sidon itself, or to all Phoenicia; also whether 'no rest' refers to immediate Babylonian pursuit or long-term historical subjugation.
- Theological theme: Human pride and self-sufficiency cannot outrun divine judgment; even the most established resources become futile against God's decree.
- Best use: A sermon on the certainty of judgment, the inadequacy of human refuge, and the contrast with the rest found in God (cf. Matthew 11:28).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He 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.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
He said, “You shall rejoice no more, you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Kittim. Even there you will have no rest.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon: arise, pass over to Kittim; even there shalt thou have no rest.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And He saith, `Thou dost not add any more to exult, O oppressed one, virgin daughter of Zidon, To Chittim arise, pass over, Even there--there is no rest for thee.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
and hath said, Thou shalt no more exult, [thou] oppressed virgin, daughter of Sidon: get thee up, pass over to Chittim; even there shalt thou have no rest.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he said: Thou shalt glory no more, O virgin daughter of Sidon, who art oppressed: arise and sail over to Cethim, there also thou shalt have no rest.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y dijo: No te alegrarás más, oh tú, oprimida virgen hija de Sidón. Levántate para pasar á Chîttim; y aun allí no tendrás reposo.
E disse: Nunca mais te encherás de alegria, ó oprimida virgem, filha de Sidom; levanta-te, passa ao Chipre; e alinda ali não terás descanso.
Il a dit: Tu ne te livreras plus à la joie,
und spricht: Du sollst nicht mehr fröhlich sein, du geschändete Jungfrau, du Tochter Sidon! Nach Chittim mache dich auf und zieh fort; doch wirst du daselbst auch nicht Ruhe haben.
En Hij heeft gezegd: Gij zult niet meer vrolijk huppelen, o gij verdrukte maagd, gij dochter van Sidon! Naar Chittim toe, maak u op, vaar over; ook zult gij aldaar geen rust hebben.
e ha detto: “tu non continuerai più a rallegrarti, o figliuola di Sidon, vergine disonorata!” Lèvati, passa nel paese di Kittim! Neppur quivi troverai requie.
I rzekł: Już się nie będziesz więcej weseliła, ty zgwałcona panno, córko Syońska! Powstań, przepraw się do Cytym; lecz i tam nie będziesz miała odpoczynku.
и сказал: ты не будешь более ликовать, посрамленная девица, дочь Сидона! Вставай, иди в Киттим, но и там не будет тебе покоя.
他又說：受欺壓 西頓 的居民（原文是處女）哪，你必不 得 再 歡樂。起來！過到 基提 去；就是 在那裡 也不得 安歇。
And he said, There is no more joy for you, O crushed virgin daughter of Zidon: up! go over to Kittim; even there you will have no rest.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 23:12
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Isaiah 23:12 is God's direct declaration of judgment against Phoenicia, specifically Tyre as a colony of Sidon. The phrase 'virgin daughter of Sidon' uses the metaphor of a maiden never conquered, now violated, the Hebrew participle ha·me·'ush·sha·qah (H6231, Pual participle) meaning 'oppressed' or 'ravished.' Barnes and the Cambridge Bible both note that 'virgin' implies the city had never before been subdued. The command to 'arise, pass over to Kittim' (Cyprus) points to the only apparent refuge for Tyrian merchants. But God declares, 'Even there you will have no rest', the Hebrew verb ya·nu·ach (H5117) meaning to settle or find quiet. Calvin and Keil & Delitzsch agree that the judgment is inescapable: colonies that once depended on Tyre will now refuse shelter, and the Babylonians or later empires will pursue them. The 'no more rejoicing' is not absolute forever, Isaiah 23:17 shows restoration after seventy years, but the certainty of immediate ruin is unequivocal.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Tyre as addressed directly: The broader oracle (Isa 23) targets Tyre; 'daughter of Sidon' is a poetic title for Tyre as a colony relying on Sidonian heritage.
- Sidon itself is addressed: The phrase 'virgin daughter of Sidon' parallels 'daughter of Zion' – the city named is the one being spoken to directly (Gill, possible reading of Cambridge).
- All Phoenicia personified: Keil & Delitzsch take 'daughter of Sidon' as synonymous with Canaan (Phoenicia) as a whole, making the judgment comprehensive.
What is clear: God declares judgment that is inescapable: even fleeing to another land (Cyprus) will not bring rest, demonstrating that no human refuge can counter the decree of the Lord.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of 'virgin daughter of Sidon' | Most commentators take this as a personification of Tyre, which was a colony of Sidon. The phrase 'daughter of Zidon' means the city dependent on or descended from Sidon. | Some (e.g., Gill) think Sidon itself is directly addressed; others (Keil & Delitzsch) see it as all Phoenicia. Cambridge Bible suggests it may refer to Zidon as the ancestral city, with Tyre implied. |
| Meaning of 'no more rejoice' | All agree this indicates a cessation of joyous celebration and prosperity, not absolute eternal silence, because Tyre is later restored (Isa 23:15, 17). | Barnes emphasizes the temporary nature; Gill interprets it as 'not for a long time.' Calvin sees it as a prophetic certainty that the city will fall and remain subdued for a season. |
| Historical reference of 'Chittim' (Kittim) | Kittim is Cyprus, specifically the city of Citium. It was a common destination for Tyrian ships and colonists. | Gill and Vitringa expand Kittim to include Macedonia, Greece, and Italy. Barnes mentions Nebuchadnezzar's campaign to the Pillars of Hercules, suggesting wider Mediterranean reach. |
| Scope of 'no rest' | The phrase indicates that the judgment follows the refugees even to their colonies; no place will be safe. | Some see it as immediate pursuit by Nebuchadnezzar's army (Barnes, Cambridge); others as long-term historical oppression by Rome (Calvin, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 23 is an oracle against Tyre, the great Phoenician port city famed for its maritime trade and wealth. Sidon, its mother city, is named in verse 12 as the ancestral origin. Tyre was a colony of Sidon (Genesis 10:15,19) and had grown to surpass its parent. The term 'daughter of Zidon' personifies the city as a young woman, a common biblical metaphor for a people group (cf. 'daughter of Zion'). The epithet 'virgin' signals that Tyre had never been conquered, a proud, untouched fortress. But now she is 'oppressed,' a word that can mean defiled or stormed, signaling first-time subjugation.
Kittim (Cyprus) was a known destination for Phoenician ships; the city of Citium on Cyprus was a Tyrian colony. Fleeing there seemed natural, but God says even that refuge will offer no rest. Historical fulfillment likely came through Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Tyre (585, 573 BC). Megasthenes, cited by Barnes, reports that Nebuchadnezzar extended his campaigns to Cyprus. Later, Roman conquests would also ravage Carthage and other Phoenician colonies, echoing this curse. The phrase 'no rest' echoes Deuteronomy 28:64, 67, where disobedience leads to being scattered and finding no rest among the nations. Here, the judgment is specific: the very colonies that Tyre exploited will turn against her (as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown notes). The verse underscores that no geographic distance can shield a people from divine judgment when pride has provoked God’s decree.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries and lexica note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 23:12. The Masoretic Text (MT) is consistent across manuscripts. The anomalous form ma·'oz·ne·ha ('fortresses') in verse 11 is discussed by Lange, but the text of verse 12 itself is stable. The Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate follow the Hebrew closely, with no alternative readings that affect interpretation.
Reception History
Early church fathers such as Jerome and Eusebius of Caesarea interpreted Tyre as a symbol of worldly wealth and pride, and saw this verse as evidence that God's judgment humbles the proud. In medieval exegesis, Tyre often represented the fallen world system, and the flight to Kittim became a warning that human refuge cannot outrun divine justice. Reformation commentators (Calvin, Luther) used the passage to emphasize the sovereignty of God over nations and the futility of trusting in commerce or military power. Throughout Christian history, Isaiah 23:12 has been read as a sobering reminder that no geographic distance or human ingenuity can provide rest when God has decreed judgment. The theme of 'no rest' also finds resonance in the New Testament promise of rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28, 29), contrasting the fleeting safety of earthly refuge.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The pride that invites judgment. Tyre, called 'virgin daughter of Sidon,' had never been conquered. Her wealth and self-sufficiency bred arrogance. God's command against her (v.11) targets pride that exalts itself.
- The illusion of escape. 'Arise, pass over to Kittim', human instinct says run. But God's word declares that even our best exit strategies fail under His judgment. The Hebrew gam sham ('also there') emphasizes comprehensive reach.
- The humiliation of refuge rejected. 'There also shalt thou have no rest.' No welcome from colonies, no safe harbor. The judgment strips away every false security.
Five-point outline
- God speaks: 'He said', the verse is divine speech, not human observation.
- Joy ceases: 'You shall rejoice no more', the party is over. The riotous celebration of Tyre's commerce (cf. v.7) ends.
- Status inverted: 'oppressed virgin', the untouchable queen becomes the violated victim. The Pual participle denotes a forceful act, indicating God's direct agency.
- Flight commanded: 'Arise, pass over', ironically, the city that sent ships to every port now must flee like a refugee.
- Refusal of rest: 'No rest' even there. The same word nuach used for Noah's ark resting (Genesis 8:4) is denied to Tyre.
Illustration hooks
- A company that boasted 'too big to fail' crashes, and the partners flee to a foreign branch, only to find the legal trouble has followed them.
- A teenager runs away from consequences of a lie, only to find the same patterns repeat in the new town.
- The futile search for 'somewhere else', moving cities to outrun a guilty conscience.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God judge nations today, or is that only in the Old Testament?
- If I have sinned, is there any place I can go to escape God's discipline?
- What does it mean that God 'has given a commandment against' a city? Is that still active?
Leading a Discussion
This verse appears in God's oracle against Tyre, a wealthy Phoenician city-state. The people trusted in their navy, colonies, and trade routes. God declares that even their strongest backup plan, Cyprus, will fail them. As you read the passage, consider how we place our security in things that can be removed overnight.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 23:8, 9. Why does God say He planned this judgment against Tyre?
- The phrase 'virgin daughter of Sidon' suggests Tyre was once untouched. Why is the metaphor of violated virginity so devastating in this context?
- What does the command 'arise, pass over to Kittim' reveal about human response to coming judgment?
- How does the promise of 'no rest' echo the warnings in Deuteronomy 28:64, 67?
- Calvin notes that the colonies of Tyre would refuse her refugees. How do our own past actions come back to haunt us when we crisis?
- In what ways do we, like Tyre, trust in our 'Kittim', a plan B that we think will save us?
- How does this passage point to the ultimate security found only in God, not in geography or wealth?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 10:15 | Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth, |
| Genesis 10:19 | The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon—as you go toward Gerar—to Gaza—as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim—to Lasha. |
| Genesis 49:13 | “Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon. |
| Numbers 24:24 | But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.” |
| Deuteronomy 28:64 | Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth. There you will serve other gods which you have not known, you nor your fathers, even wood and stone. |
| Deuteronomy 28:67 | In the morning you will say, “I wish it were evening!” and at evening you will say, “I wish it were morning!” for the fear of your heart which you will fear, and for the sights which your eyes will see. |
| Joshua 11:8 | Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and chased them to great Sidon, and to Misrephoth Maim, and to the valley of Mizpah eastward. They struck them until they left them no one remaining. |
| Isaiah 23:1 | The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in. From the land of Kittim it is revealed to them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that the oracle's statement "thou shalt no more rejoice" does not mean Tyre would never again exult, since the prophet later describes its restoration. He also observes that Tyre's refugees would flee to colonies like Cyprus, yet even there they would find no lasting rest, as those colonies themselves were drawn into later conflicts.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin compares Tyre's boastful joy to a prostitute's empty laughter, drawing a parallel with the ancient poet Horace mocking a harlot named Lydia. The point is that Tyre, like any city or person lifted by worldly success, forgets its true condition and celebrates something that will not last.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that the term "virgin" applied to Zidon pictures it as a fortress never before violated by a conqueror. This implies the coming calamity is the first of its kind within living memory, a detail that points historically to Shalmaneser's campaign rather than Sennacherib's.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note observes that Zidon's confidence will be shattered: even as a "virgin daughter" unassailed before, she will be oppressed and forced to flee. Yet flight to Chittim offers no refuge, for God's judgment pursues her there as well, leaving no place of rest.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that "no more rejoice" means a long suspension of joy, not permanent silence. He identifies Tyre as the virgin city now plundered by Nebuchadnezzar, and explains that even fleeing to colonies like Chittim would not provide rest, as those lands would also fall to invaders.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights a theme of poetic justice: Tyre, which harshly dominated its colonies, will find no refuge even among them. Those settlements now repay Tyre in kind for past oppression. An alternate view traces these calamities to the ancient curse on Canaan's descendants.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch observes that the prophet describes God's judgment on Phoenicia (called Canaan only here in the Old Testament) as falling on a once untouched virgin nation now defiled. Even if the people flee to their colony in Cyprus, they will find no rest there because the colony will reject them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees Tyre's fall as a deliberate divine judgment against human pride. The Lord of hosts purposed the city's destruction specifically to stain the pride of all glory and bring the honorable of the earth into contempt. No human power or wealth can stand when God acts to humble the proud.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that calling Tyre a "virgin" means it had never been conquered before. He also notes Tyre is called "daughter of Zidon" because Zidonians originally built and settled it. The "no rest" warning means enemies will chase them even there.