Your cords hang loose; they cannot hold the mast firm in its place or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will take the prey.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The image of the disabled ship, with its loose cords and inability to sail, powerfully illustrates not just the enemy's defeat, but also the surprising abundance of the spoils! Even the weakest, the "lame," will have more than enough plunder left for them, highlighting the total collapse of the enemy and the overwhelming victory for God's people.
Your cords hang loose; they cannot hold the mast firm in its place or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will take the prey.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the triumphant vision of God's river of salvation protecting Zion, the prophet shifts to a vivid metaphor of a ship, addressing the proud Assyrian army. He describes their once mighty fleet as being reduced to a wreck, its ropes loose and mast unable to hold, rendering it helpless. This disarray signals not just their defeat but that the very people they came to plunder—even the weak and vulnerable—will claim their abandoned spoils.
Imagine a grand ship, its ropes frayed, its mast unstable, and its sails unable to catch the wind. This isn't just a nautical disaster; it's a powerful picture of God's enemies.
Isaiah uses vivid imagery here, comparing the invading Assyrian army to a ship that's falling apart.
The Broken Vessel
This isn't just a random description of bad sailing; it's a divine pronouncement. The enemies, like this ship, are utterly incapable of achieving their destructive goals against God's people.
What happens when a mighty, destructive force is completely neutralized? It leaves behind a treasure trove for those it intended to plunder.
The second part of the verse dramatically shifts from the enemy's failure to the people's incredible victory and abundance.
Ask a follow-up
The Feast After the Battle
This isn't just about material gain; it's a picture of God's ultimate triumph over all opposition and His generous provision for those who trust Him.
This prophecy vividly describes the utter destruction and plundering of the mighty Assyrian army, framed as a shipwrecked vessel, which is then overrun by the very people they intended to conquer. It highlights God's power to utterly dismantle even the most formidable earthly empires, turning defeat into abundant spoil for His people.
c. 705 BC
Sennacherib Ascends Assyrian Throne
Sennacherib becomes king of the Assyrian Empire, a formidable military power known for its aggressive expansion and brutal tactics.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
Sennacherib launches a massive invasion of the Levant, including Judah, with the goal of crushing rebellious vassals and expanding Assyrian control.
c. 701 BC
Siege of Jerusalem
Sennacherib's forces besiege Jerusalem, demanding Hezekiah's surrender and imposing a heavy tribute. The city is miraculously spared direct assault.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Withdrawal and Plunder
Following a catastrophic plague or other divine intervention that decimates the Assyrian army, Sennacherib withdraws his forces, leaving behind immense spoils.
Post-701 BC
Judah's Recovery and Prosperity
After the Assyrian withdrawal, Judah experiences a period of recovery. The spoils left behind are so abundant that even the weak and infirm can claim their share, and the nation prospers.
This passage vividly describes Tyre as a magnificent ship, detailing its elaborate construction and expansive trade, which serves as a powerful contrast to the disabled vessel in Isaiah 33:23. It highlights the vulnerability of even the most powerful entities when their strength fails.
Jeremiah 51:30-32This passage describes the fall of Babylon using similar imagery of a mighty empire being overcome and its spoils being divided. It reinforces the theme of powerful enemies becoming prey to others, even the weak.
Psalm 76:10This psalm speaks of God's judgment where human wrath ultimately leads to His praise. It echoes the idea in Isaiah 33:23 that the plans and power of the enemy (Sennacherib's Assyrians) will be thwarted and turned into an abundant spoil for God's people.
Isaiah 35:6This verse speaks of a future time when 'the lame man leaps like a deer.' It connects with Isaiah 33:23's image of the lame taking the prey, showing a consistent prophetic theme of God empowering the weak and vulnerable to triumph.
barnesIsaiah 33:23: "Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey."
Thy tacklings - This is evidently an address to Sennacherib. The mention of the war-galley and the ship seems to have suggested the application of the figure to the enemies of the Jews, and particularly to Sennacherib. The prophet, therefore, compares the Assyrian to a ship that was rendered unserviceable; whose s…
cambridgeIsaiah 33:23: "Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey."
23 . The abrupt transition from the glorious future to the present or the past, in the first part of the verse, is somewhat surprising at this point. It is not Assyria but Zion which is compared to an unseaworthy ship, a comparison natural enough in itself, as when we speak of the “ship of state.” Thy tacklings ar…
The image of the disabled ship, with its loose cords and inability to sail, powerfully illustrates not just the enemy's defeat, but also the surprising abundance of the spoils! Even the weakest, the "lame," will have more than enough plunder left for them, highlighting the total collapse of the enemy and the overwhelming victory for God's people.
Following the triumphant vision of God's river of salvation protecting Zion, the prophet shifts to a vivid metaphor of a ship, addressing the proud Assyrian army. He describes their once mighty fleet as being reduced to a wreck, its ropes loose and mast unable to hold, rendering it helpless. This disarray signals not just their defeat but that the very people they came to plunder—even the weak and vulnerable—will claim their abandoned spoils.
Following the triumphant vision of God's river of salvation protecting Zion, the prophet shifts to a vivid metaphor of a ship, addressing the proud Assyrian army. He describes their once mighty fleet as being reduced to a wreck, its ropes loose and mast unable to hold, rendering it helpless. This disarray signals not just their defeat but that the very people they came to plunder—even the weak and vulnerable—will claim their abandoned spoils.
"Your cords hang loose; they cannot hold the mast firm in its place or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will take the prey." — The image of the disabled ship, with its loose cords and inability to sail, powerfully illustrates not just the enemy's defeat, but also the surprising abundance of the spoils! Even the weakest, the…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026