Isaiah 23:8

23:8 Who planned this for royal Tyre, ¹ 

whose merchants are princes,

whose traders are the dignitaries ²  of the earth?

Isaiah 49:20

49:20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement

will say within your hearing,

‘This place is too cramped for us, ³ 

make room for us so we can live here.’ ⁴ 

[23:8]  ¹ tn The precise meaning of הַמַּעֲטִירָה (hamma’atirah) 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.

[23:8]  ² tn Heb “the honored” (so NASB, NRSV); NIV “renowned.”

[49:20]  ³ tn Heb “me.” The singular is collective.

[49:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “draw near to me so I can dwell.”