11 J. N. Oswalt (Isaiah [], 1:) sees here a reference to Yam, the Canaanite god of the sea. He interprets the phrase מָעוֹז הַיָּם (ma’oz hayyam, “fortress of the sea”) as a title of Yam, translating “Mighty One of the Sea.” A more traditional view is that the phrase refers to Sidon.
12 Or “virgins” (, , , ). The sea is personified here as a lamenting childless woman. The foreboding language anticipates the following announcement of Tyre’s demise, viewed here as a child of the sea, as it were.

In other versions

Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken,

the stronghold of the sea, saying:

“I have neither labored nor given birth,

I have neither reared young men

nor brought up young women.”

Be ashamed, Sidon, and you fortress of the sea,

for the sea has spoken:

“I have neither been in labor nor given birth;

I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters.”

Be ashamed, 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.”

But now you are put to shame, city of Sidon,

for Tyre, the fortress of the sea, says,

“Now I am childless;

I have no sons or daughters.”

Be ashamed, Sidon, for the sea,

the fortress of the sea said, saying,

“I was not in labor,

and I have not given birth,

and I have not reared young men,

brought up young women.”

Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken,

Even the strength of the sea, saying,

I travail not, nor bring forth children,

Neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.

Public Domain