Isaiah 23 in the early church

[Vulgate: Isaias]

27 passages quote, allude to, or echo Isaiah 23, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 12 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18

Isaiah 23:1

This is the burden against Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for Tyre is laid waste, without house or harbor. Word has reached them from the land of Cyprus.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:1On the Resurrection of the Flesh 20 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidenceca. 208–212
Isa 23:1Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 4 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Isa 23:1Against Parmenian the Donatist 3.3 · Optatus of Milevisquotation, high confidenceca. 366–385
Isa 23:1On Elijah and Fasting 69 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 23:1On Elijah and Fasting 72 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:2

Be silent, O dwellers of the coastland, you merchants of Sidon, whose traders have crossed the sea.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:2On Elijah and Fasting 70 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:3

On the great waters came the grain of Shihor; the harvest of the Nile was the revenue of Tyre; she was the merchant of the nations.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:3On Elijah and Fasting 70 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 23:3On Elijah and Fasting 72 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 23:3Hexameron (Exameron) 4.19 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:4

Be ashamed, O Sidon, the stronghold of the sea, for the sea has spoken: “I have not been in labor or given birth. I have not raised young men or brought up young women.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:4On Christ and Antichrist 52 · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceca. 200–215
Isa 23:4Theological Oration 4 (Or. 30), On the Son 2 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidence380
Isa 23:4On Elijah and Fasting 71 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 23:4On Elijah and Fasting 72 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 23:4Hexameron (Exameron) 4.19 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:5

When the report reaches Egypt, they will writhe in agony over the news of Tyre.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:5On Christ and Antichrist 52 · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceca. 200–215

Isaiah 23:6

Cross over to Tarshish; wail, O inhabitants of the coastland!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:6On Elijah and Fasting 72 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:12

He said, “You shall rejoice no more, O oppressed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Get up and cross over to Cyprus—even there you will find no rest.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:12Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 30.25.8 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374-377

Isaiah 23:14

Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your harbor has been destroyed!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:14On Elijah and Fasting 73 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:15

At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years—the span of a king’s life. But at the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:15Book of Rules 4 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Isa 23:15On Elijah and Fasting 73 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:16

“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:16Letter 130.9 · Jeromeallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Isa 23:16Book of Rules 4 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Isa 23:16On Elijah and Fasting 74 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:17

And at the end of seventy years, the LORD will restore Tyre. Then she will return to hire as a prostitute and sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:17Book of Rules 4 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Isa 23:17On Elijah and Fasting 74 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Isaiah 23:18

Yet her profits and wages will be set apart to the LORD; they will not be stored or saved, for her profit will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothing.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 23:18Book of Rules 4 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Isa 23:18Book of Rules 7 · Tyconiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380