Introduction to Isaiah 23:3: Trade and Wealth in Poetic Prophecy
Isaiah 23 is a poetic oracle against the city of Tsor (Tyre), a hub of international commerce and maritime influence. In verse 3, the prophet depicts the city’s economic entanglements using vivid agricultural and geographical metaphors. One key phrase is זֶרַע שִׁחֹר—“the seed of Shīḥor”—which encapsulates Tyre’s reliance on the abundant produce of foreign lands. This article analyzes the construct noun chain, identifies the meaning of שִׁחֹר, and explores the poetic function of this expression.
וּבְמַ֤יִם רַבִּים֙ זֶ֣רַע שִׁחֹ֔ר קְצִ֥יר יְאֹ֖ור תְּבֽוּאָתָ֑הּ וַתְּהִ֖י סְחַ֥ר גֹּויִֽם׃
Grammatical Analysis of זֶרַע שִׁחֹר
1. זֶרַע – “seed, grain, produce”
- Root: זָרַע – “to sow” (noun form: “seed”)
- Form: Masculine singular noun in construct state, linking to the following noun
In the construct state, זֶרַע forms a grammatical chain with שִׁחֹר, indicating possession or source. Thus, it means “the seed of Shīḥor”—i.e., grain that comes from or grows along Shīḥor.
2. שִׁחֹר – “Shīḥor” (a poetic name for part of the Nile)
- Proper noun referring to a tributary or branch of the Nile River, often symbolizing Egyptian agriculture (cf. Josh 13:3; Jer 2:18)
שִׁחֹר (Shīḥor) is generally identified as the eastern Nile delta region, possibly the Pelusiac branch, and here symbolizes abundance and fertility due to its association with the Nile’s flood cycle.
3. Syntactic Role in the Verse
The phrase זֶרַע שִׁחֹר is the subject of the clause and is parallel to קְצִיר יְאֹור (“harvest of the Nile”). These twin images emphasize agricultural richness and position Egypt’s produce as foundational to Tyre’s economy. The construct chain binds two nouns into a unit of meaning that expresses origin and dependence.
Lexical and Semantic Commentary
1. Agricultural Abundance
The noun זֶרַע in biblical Hebrew can mean not only “seed” in a literal agricultural sense but also metaphorically refer to offspring or productivity. In this context, it denotes grain or produce resulting from the fertile land irrigated by Shīḥor.
2. Poetic Parallelism
The verse uses parallel structures:
זֶרַע שִׁחֹר // קְצִיר יְאֹור
This poetic balance reinforces the imagery of plentiful harvest and ties Egypt’s geography (Shīḥor / Ye’or) directly to its economic output (seed / harvest).
3. Economic Interconnection
In the broader prophetic context, Tyre’s wealth is depicted as dependent upon Egypt’s produce. The phrase וַתְּהִי סְחַר גֹּויִם (“and she was the merchandise of nations”) shows how זֶרַע שִׁחֹר symbolizes the economic lifeline upon which Tyre’s trade empire was built.
The Role of זֶרַע שִׁחֹר in Isaiah 23:3
The phrase זֶרַע שִׁחֹר functions as a poetic construct chain that communicates complex economic, geographical, and theological themes:
- Grammatically: A classic construct chain linking source (Shīḥor) and product (seed)
- Lexically: Rich in agricultural connotation and rooted in Egyptian fertility imagery
- Literarily: Part of a balanced poetic structure with קְצִיר יְאֹור
- Theologically: Suggests divine control over natural abundance and questions human reliance on foreign powers for prosperity
In Isaiah 23:3, זֶרַע שִׁחֹר is more than a geographical detail—it is a symbol of worldly dependence and economic entanglement, which the prophet subtly critiques. The grammar of the construct chain binds Egypt’s blessing to Tyre’s fortunes, revealing the fragile and interconnected nature of empire, trade, and divine judgment.
