The Meaning of Isaiah 23:2 Explained

Isaiah 23:2

KJV: Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

YLT: Be silent, ye inhabitants of the isle, Trader of Zidon, passing the sea, they filled thee.

Darby: Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle! The merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished thee.

ASV: Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast, thou whom the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Be still,  ye inhabitants  of the isle;  thou whom the merchants  of Zidon,  that pass over  the sea,  have replenished. 

What does Isaiah 23:2 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 23

1  The miserable overthrow of Tyre
15  Her restoration and unfaithfulness

What do the individual words in Isaiah 23:2 mean?

Be still you inhabitants of the coastland You merchants of Sidon Whom those who cross the sea have filled
דֹּ֖מּוּ יֹ֣שְׁבֵי אִ֑י סֹחֵ֥ר צִיד֛וֹן עֹבֵ֥ר יָ֖ם מִלְאֽוּךְ

דֹּ֖מּוּ  Be  still 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: דָּמַם 
Sense: to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb.
יֹ֣שְׁבֵי  you  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
אִ֑י  of  the  coastland 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִי  
Sense: coast, island, shore, region.
סֹחֵ֥ר  You  merchants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: סָחַר  
Sense: to go around, go about, travel about in, go about in trade.
צִיד֛וֹן  of  Sidon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִידֹון  
Sense: ancient Phoenician city, on Mediterranean coast north of Tyre.
עֹבֵ֥ר  Whom  those  who  cross 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
יָ֖ם  the  sea 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
מִלְאֽוּךְ  have  filled 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural, second person feminine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.