Isaiah 23:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the sea, which signifies the mightiest of the sea, Tyre, witnessing her desolation and lack of inhabitants, will continually assert, "I am not afflicted, nor have I given birth, nor nurtured young men, nor raised maidens; for I have become like women who have never borne children, having not raised either young men or maidens, because they have all perished, and there is no one remaining."

When news reaches Egypt, they will mourn upon hearing of Tyre. It is evident that the Egyptians, upon learning of the downfall of a powerful neighboring civilization due to prolonged siege, will perceive that their own destruction is imminent.

Be ashamed, O Sidon, proclaimed the sea; and the expanse of the waters affirmed: I have not endured labor, nor given birth, nor raised young men, nor nurtured maidens. Yet, when this is made known in Egypt, their sorrow for Tyre will surely visit them. The sea of this present age, teeming with both small and great creatures, including serpents, created by God for His purposes, perceives that it previously fell captive to demons ensnared by the hunters of Christ, who hunted from every mountain and hill. It turns now against the hunters, symbolized by Sidon, and declares: Be ashamed, Sidon, for I was not tormented by labor, nor did I give birth or nurture young men captured by you, a folly rebuked in the Gospel (Mt. 25). My gluttony and the nurturing of virgins are overturned by the excess of Christ's apostles, one of whom stated: “My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19), and again, “I fed you with milk, not solid food” (1 Cor. 3:2), and again, “I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). When Egypt, known in Hebrew as Mesraim, signifying “distress” or “constraint,” hears this, it will tremble, realizing that it too will endure the suffering that befell Tyre. This understanding of all vices can similarly apply to various heresies; when one heresy collapses, others become fearful, and one’s shame foreshadows another's downfall. As it is written regarding the Sodomites: “If Sodom had possessed the strength of the powers in Capernaum, it would have stood until this very day.” It is said, “The land of Sodom will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment than you,” and likewise, the Savior spoke similarly about Tyre and Sidon: “Both Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment than you” (Matt. 11:24). For this reason, it is recorded of the Canaanite woman, who recognized that her daughter, her very soul, was tormented by a wicked demon, that she ventured beyond the borders of Tyre and Sidon to seek the grace of Christ, as she could encounter the Savior only by leaving those confines.

And let not the merchant, who might, as some say, due to some intrinsic good fortune, suddenly find himself wealthy while being idle, fear for his own salvation amid perilous seas. Yet not everyone shares such views. The farmer diligently tills the soil with his plough buried deep, working in simplicity, sowing in modesty, and harvesting the ripe grain under the blazing sun. The merchant, despite his aversion to the south-easterly winds, bravely navigates treacherous waters in a vessel often deemed untrustworthy. Thus, the prophet, denouncing their arrogance and folly, proclaims, "Be ashamed, O Sidon; the sea has given voice." In other words, if peril does not compel you, then at the very least, let shame restrain you and humble your pride. Be ashamed, Sidon, for you know no virtue, you show no regard for salvation, no youth aims for valor in defense of the homeland nor is skilled in the art of warfare, but only seek profit and are consumed by your trade.

It resembles the lament of the weary sea, crying out, ‘Be ashamed, Sidon,’ meaning, ‘O merchant, you criticize my waves while you are more restless than they. At least feel shame, for you remain unaffected by true danger. The winds display more humility than your insatiable greed. They may find rest in stillness; you, in your relentless pursuit of gain, never cease. Even when the tempest quiets, your ships remain in constant motion. Water churns beneath the oar as soon as the wind ceases to stir it. I have endured no labor,’ she states, ‘I have borne no children, nor raised any young men. Why must I be troubled by those I do not know and cannot recognize?

To alleviate the fatigue of those journeying by sea, the Creator has established islands as havens, where voyagers can dock, rest, procure necessities, and continue their travels. Thus, the sea communicates its message: let us acknowledge the abundance of grace bestowed upon us. This sentiment resonates more profoundly with you than with Sidon. While Sidon, in ignorance of the Creator, fractured the divine essence into multiple deities and divided true worship among non-existent gods, your understanding — freed from the allure of polytheism — recognizes that all visible creations are made by God and that you should honor the Creator. Yet, you fall into the error of distancing Him from creation, proposing that this expansive universe operates without divine governance, like a rudderless vessel drifting aimlessly.

Divine providence has established a boundary around us, safeguarding our justification and closing off human attempts to breach it. The ungodly person, one who lives without the law, is placed at the center, serving to reveal the shortcomings of those bound by the Mosaic covenant. The prophet succinctly expresses this by proclaiming a call for shame upon Sidon, as uttered by the sea. Here, Sidon symbolizes the unchangeable nature of those under the law, while the sea embodies the lifestyle of the Gentiles. Thus, the sea reproaches Sidon, for the behavior of the Gentiles casts a shadow on the lives of those under the law, illustrating how worldly actions can overshadow religious conduct. Even those who make promises often fail to adhere to the teachings they receive, living in a manner unbound by the commandments of the law.