Isaiah 33:23

The abrupt transition from the glorious future to the present or the past, in the first part of the verse, is somewhat surprising at this point. It is not Assyria but Zion which is compared to an unseaworthy ship, a comparison natural enough in itself, as when we speak of the "ship of state."

Thy tacklings are loosed Or, thy ropes hung slack.

they could not well strengthen, &c. they could not hold fast the foot of their mast, they did not spread out the sail (or, "the ensign").

The subject here is the ropes; they could not serve the two purposes for which they were intended, supporting the mast and extending the sail. The word rendered wellmust from its position be a substantive; it denotes the μεσόδμη, the cross-beam into which the mast was let, or else the hole in the keel which received its foot (ἱστοπέδη). The rendering "sail" is doubtful. The word means elsewhere "ensign," and one is tempted to translate it "flag." But it is said that ships had no flags in ancient times (Cornill on Ezekiel 27:7).

the prey of a great spoil Rather, "prey of spoil in abundance." The expression "prey of spoil" is perhaps to be explained like the Latin praeda exuviarum. The figure of the ship is entirely dropped. On the word for "prey" see on ch. Isaiah 9:6.