Isaiah 23:8-9

23:8 Who planned this for royal Tyre,

whose merchants are princes,

whose traders are the dignitaries of the earth?

23:9 The Lord who commands armies planned it –

to dishonor the pride that comes from all her beauty,

to humiliate all the dignitaries of the earth.


tn The precise meaning of הַמַּעֲטִירָה (hammaatirah) is uncertain. The form is a Hiphil participle from עָטַר (’atar), a denominative verb derived from עֲטָרָה (’atarah, “crown, wreath”). The participle may mean “one who wears a crown” or “one who distributes crowns.” In either case, Tyre’s prominence in the international political arena is in view.

tn Heb “the honored” (so NASB, NRSV); NIV “renowned.”

tn Heb “the pride of all the beauty.”