This final couplet of “against all” lines draws attention to trading ships that were symbols of wealth and pride.

Against all the ships of Tarshish: There are several places in the Bible with the name Tarshish, but here it most likely refers to the country of Spain. Spain was at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea and at the end of the world known to the Israelites at that time. Ships of Tarshish probably refers to large boats that were used for travel and carrying cargo to and from places as far away as Spain. These ships were famous as large ocean-going vessels, so they were another great human achievement that could be taken as a symbol of human pride and arrogance. “Ships going to and from Spain” is a possible translation model. However, Tarshish or Spain as a geographical name is not the focus in this context. It only serves to illustrate the metaphor for pride. Good News Translation drops the reference to Tarshish and only mentions “largest … ships.”

And against all the beautiful craft is parallel to the previous line. Since the Hebrew word rendered craft occurs only here in the Old Testament, we have to depend on this context for its meaning. The Hebrew word for beautiful usually describes something of great value, precious, or very special. Translators may say “wonderful” or use a term specially related to sailing vessels, such as “sleek.”

Good News Translation collapses both lines and makes the underlying meaning of against explicit with the verb “sink.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• It [Yahweh’s time of judgment] will be against all who are like the big ships that sail to and from Spain
or like beautiful ships on the sea.

• He will bring low all the arrogant people,
as if he were sinking large and beautiful ships.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .