The Meaning of Isaiah 23:5 Explained

Isaiah 23:5

KJV: As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

YLT: As at the report of Egypt they are pained, So at the report of Tyre.

Darby: when the report came into Egypt, they were sorely pained at the news of Tyre.

ASV: When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As at the report  concerning Egypt,  [so] shall they be sorely pained  at the report  of Tyre. 

What does Isaiah 23:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The fourth entity to sorrow over the news of Tyre"s downfall would be Egypt. Tyrian ships transported Egyptian products all over the Mediterranean region. Tyre"s destruction would have far-reaching effects.

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 23

1  The miserable overthrow of Tyre
15  Her restoration and unfaithfulness

What do the individual words in Isaiah 23:5 mean?

When the report [reaches] Egypt they also will be in agony at the report of Tyre
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ שֵׁ֖מַע לְמִצְרָ֑יִם יָחִ֖ילוּ כְּשֵׁ֥מַע צֹֽר

שֵׁ֖מַע  the  report  [reaches] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁמַע  
Sense: report, a hearing.
לְמִצְרָ֑יִם  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
יָחִ֖ילוּ  they  also  will  be  in  agony 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
כְּשֵׁ֥מַע  at  the  report 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁמַע  
Sense: report, a hearing.
צֹֽר  of  Tyre 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צֹור 
Sense: the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast.