Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "no more strength" might seem to refer to a city's defenses being gone, but it’s a subtle wordplay. It likely points to the loss of Tyre's "girdle" – its power to bind and control its colonies and trade routes, effectively freeing them to flow independently. This isn't just about weakness, but about a fundamental shift in global connections and Tyre's role within them.
Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy is about the downfall of the great trading city of Tyre. The verses leading up to this passage describe the devastation that will come upon Tyre, emphasizing the loss of its wealth and power, and the scattering of its people. This verse follows those pronouncements of doom.
Imagine a city’s defenses, its wealth, its very structure – all the things that hold it together. What happens when that 'girdle' is removed?
The verse paints a stark picture of Tyre's vulnerability. The 'strength' or 'girdle' that once protected and contained the city is no more. This isn't just about physical walls being broken down, but also the loss of economic power and political stability.
The image of a river isn't always about gentle flow. Sometimes, it's about an overwhelming, unstoppable force. What does this comparison reveal about Tyre's fate?
The command to 'Pass through your land like the Nile' is a powerful metaphor for the destruction and scattering of Tyre. The Nile, particularly in its annual flood, was known for its overwhelming power, covering the land.
Ask a follow-up
Tyre is called the 'daughter of Tarshish.' What does this relationship tell us about Tyre's eventual fate and the significance of its heritage?
Calling Tyre the 'daughter of Tarshish' is a complex designation that highlights the deep, interconnected, and ultimately dependent relationship between the two cities. When Tyre falls, this connection signifies a loss of identity and a fading legacy.
Understand the original words
bath · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for a nation, city, or the people living within a specific territory; it often implies the city is personified as a woman or daughter under the authority or influence of a parent entity.
The verse speaks to the aftermath of Tyre's destruction, likely by Nebuchadnezzar. The 'river' imagery, possibly referencing the Nile, suggests an uncontrolled, widespread scattering of its people and influence, as the city's strength ('girdle') is gone.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria, increasing Assyrian pressure on Phoenician cities like Tyre and Sidon. This event marks a shift in regional power dynamics.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Tyre
Assyrian king Sennacherib campaigns in the region and besieges Tyre. While Tyre ultimately withstands the siege, this event signifies the growing military threat and vulnerability of Phoenician city-states.
689 BC
Destruction of Babylon
Assyrian king Sennacherib devastates Babylon. This shows the immense power of the Assyrian empire and its willingness to utterly destroy major cities, a foreshadowing for Tyre.
c. 660s BC
Assyrian Hegemony
Tyre is largely under the control or influence of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. While maintaining some autonomy, its strategic and economic activities are subject to Assyrian interests.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon defeats the Egyptians and Assyrians. This marks the beginning of Babylonian dominance and the eventual fall of Jerusalem, impacting trade routes and regional stability for Tyre.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and exiles many Judeans. This event further consolidates Babylonian power and disrupts the region, affecting Tyre's political and economic landscape.
573 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's Siege of Tyre
After a prolonged 13-year siege, Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally conquer the island city of Tyre. This devastating event, foretold by Isaiah, marks a significant loss of Tyrian independence and power.
This passage directly parallels the idea of Tyre's defenses being weakened, describing how invaders will enter with 'the noise of the hoofs of his strong horses, thy rattling chariots, and thy broken wheels.'
Jeremiah 50:38This verse uses similar imagery of a river overflowing to describe the destruction of Babylon, highlighting the theme of judgment through overwhelming force.
Psalm 107:23-27This passage describes sailors tossed by a storm on the sea, illustrating the powerlessness of humans against mighty forces, which resonates with Tyre's loss of 'strength' and its vulnerability to God's judgment.
Revelation 18:17-19This New Testament passage describes the mourning of merchants and sailors over the fall of a great commercial city (symbolically Babylon), mirroring the lament for Tyre and its lost trade and influence.
bensonIsaiah 23:10: "Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength."
Isaiah 23:10 . Pass through thy land — Tarry no longer in thy own territories, but flee through them, into other countries, for safety and relief. As a river — Swiftly, lest you be prevented; continually, till you be all gone, and in shoals and multitudes. O daughter of Tarshish — Tyre is here called the daughter of Tarshish, because it was enriched and increased by trade to that place: or, rath…
barnesIsaiah 23:10: "Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength."
Pass through thy land as a river - This verse has been very variously understood. Vitringa supposes that it means that all that held the city together - its fortifications, walls, etc., would be laid waste, and that as a river flows on without obstruction, so the inhabitants would be scattered far and near. Everything, says he, would be leveled, and the field would not be distinguishable from th…
The phrase "no more strength" might seem to refer to a city's defenses being gone, but it’s a subtle wordplay. It likely points to the loss of Tyre's "girdle" – its power to bind and control its colonies and trade routes, effectively freeing them to flow independently. This isn't just about weakness, but about a fundamental shift in global connections and Tyre's role within them.
This prophecy is about the downfall of the great trading city of Tyre. The verses leading up to this passage describe the devastation that will come upon Tyre, emphasizing the loss of its wealth and power, and the scattering of its people. This verse follows those pronouncements of doom.
This prophecy is about the downfall of the great trading city of Tyre. The verses leading up to this passage describe the devastation that will come upon Tyre, emphasizing the loss of its wealth and power, and the scattering of its people. This verse follows those pronouncements of doom.
"Cross over your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint anymore." — The phrase "no more strength" might seem to refer to a city's defenses being gone, but it’s a subtle wordplay. It likely points to the loss of Tyre's "girdle" – its power to bind and control its colo…
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Last reviewed October 2026