The Church Fathers on this verse

Isaiah 23:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island.

Douay-Rheims

עִבְר֖וּ תַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה הֵילִ֖ילוּ יֹ֥שְׁבֵי אִֽי׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

3 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

Such sentiments are prevalent among the prophets, for it is not in the truest sense that he instructs the Tyrians to abandon their homes and relocate to Carthage—not merely to lament, but seemingly to reproach those who retreat, consumed by overwhelming dread. He asserts that they ought to mourn for themselves and the misfortunes that have befallen them; yet such actions are more fitting for women, particularly children, and for men who have entered old age. When war is imminent, and the threat approaches a nation or city, the strong among men prepare for combat, train for battles, and are filled with fervor to confront the enemy, even if they have not yet arrived, but only in their aspirations.

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Meanwhile, women and children tend to think of escape, expressing their sorrow through weeping, for they are often more prone to give in to fear and lament. Thus, the Almighty observes with derision the timidity of the Tyrians, as they flee and mourn for those who once held power—those who in times of conflict were fearful and unyielding, yet bold and irresistible.

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

Journey to Pharsis, also known as Carchidon; escape for your safety, for the harbor of Tyre is under the control of alien forces, rendering it inaccessible. Alternatively, the prophet addresses those who have survived, those who fled from the harbor of Tyre and relocated to the nearby islands, so they could share the news of Tyre's downfall far and wide.

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

Let the inhabitants of the island raise their voices across the seas. Instead of referencing the sea and Pharsis, the Septuagint translates this to mean Carthage. In the historical accounts of the Assyrians, we find that when the besieged Tyrians recognized there was no hope for salvation, they took to the sea and fled to Carthage or other isles of the Ionian and Aegean Seas. In this context, Ezekiel also remarks, ‘no reward was given to him and his army from Tyre’ (Ezekiel 29:18); for the entire wealth of the city was carried away, leaving its nobility in a state of desolation.

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Is he not yours, who has boasted of his ancient heritage since time immemorial? He proclaims judgment upon Tyre in his arrogance, as it exalted itself by boasting of its foundation's age, neglecting to direct its gaze toward God, and magnifying itself by its ancestral names, believing itself to be everlasting. Instead, his path shall lead to distant wanderings. This is a reference to those who remained in the city and were taken captive to Babylon.

Come to Carthage; let the inhabitants of this island cry out. Is this your pride from the very beginning until the moment of betrayal? His feet shall guide him in far wanderings. The phrase, They shall lead his feet far to wander, is derived from the Hebrew and is indicated by the asterisk, symbolizing the illuminating stars. O Tyrians, you who are confined and dwell upon this island, exposed to the ceaseless waves of temptation on every side, depart and journey to Carthage, representing Pharsis, and seek true joy, mourning the ancient transgressions and insults that you have either inflicted upon others or endured yourselves. This I command because you see that Tyre will shift away from its rightful place and the established order of life into new boundaries when it abandons its long-standing errors and submits to the Gospel of the Savior, transforming those who once lived in confinement into travelers seeking the teachings of the Lord Savior.

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