Isaiah 23:4
Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.
ISAIAH 23:4
This verse is a direct divine rebuke to Zidon, a major Phoenician city adjacent to Tyre. The Sea speaks: the waters testify to the city’s insecurity, power, and dependence on the sea. The imagery of “the sea hath spoken” personifies nature as witness to human pride. The phrases “the strength of the sea” and “travail not… nourish up young men” articulate a critique of Tyre’s self-sufficiency: Tyre trusts fleets, traders, and wealth rather than the living God. The Sea’s voice declares a counter-narrative to worldly confidence: wealth and power do not guarantee security; in fact, they reveal vulnerability. The cultural context includes urban commerce centers that leveraged maritime prowess for influence. Tyre’s independence from other nations is mocked as a fragile illusion. The prophetic lament uses a familiar technique: mocking a rival city’s boast to reveal a deeper truth about dependence and vulnerability before God.
This verse highlights divine judgment turning the table on human boast. The sea’s decree that it “travail not, nor bring forth children” overturns Tyre’s imagined fecundity—its power is not real life; it’s a fragile facade. It exposes how wealth and military strength cannot secure lasting identity or freedom from consequence. Theologically, it reinforces God’s supremacy over nations and the divinely ordained humility of the proud. It also warns against equating prosperity with divine favor. The image of “nourishing up young men” and “virgins” being produced by the sea mocks the notion that human enterprise alone can sustain a thriving population or empire.
For readers today, the voice of the sea challenges the belief that economic might equates to ultimate security or meaning. We might be tempted to trust our investments, careers, or status as our true safety net. A practical response: re-center life on God’s provision rather than on systems we think can never fail. Demonstrate humility in success, and invest in people rather than projects. Consider personal finance with a spiritual compass: cultivate generosity, avoid greed, and ensure that modern “seas” (markets) do not govern your identity. In communities, guard against idolizing corporate success or national power. Use prosperity to bless others, support vulnerable neighbors, and build lasting relationships that reflect God’s kingdom values rather than imperial pride.
Cross-References: Psalm 46:2-3; Jeremiah 2:17; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Luke 12:15; James 4:13-16