Isaiah 20:4 kjv
So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
Isaiah 20:4 nkjv
so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
Isaiah 20:4 niv
so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared?to Egypt's shame.
Isaiah 20:4 esv
so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt.
Isaiah 20:4 nlt
For the king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Ethiopians as prisoners. He will make them walk naked and barefoot, both young and old, their buttocks bared, to the shame of Egypt.
Isaiah 20 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 20:1 | In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him | Historical context |
| Isaiah 20:2 | At that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from your loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, and walked naked and barefoot. | Symbolic prophecy |
| Isaiah 20:3 | And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder | Purpose of the prophecy |
| Isaiah 20:4 | And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia | Target of prophecy |
| Jeremiah 43:12 | And when he hath set fire upon the house of Pharaoh, and the houses of the gods of Egypt, he shall burn them with fire, and he shall carry them away captives; and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment | Egyptian subjugation |
| Jeremiah 46:25-26 | The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith, Behold, I will punish the house of Pharaoh, and the king of Egypt, them, and their gods, and their kings; but I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their life, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and it shall come to pass afterward, that it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD. | Judgment on Egypt by Babylon |
| Ezekiel 29:18-19 | Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre: every head was made bare, and every shoulder was stripped; yet he had no wages, nor his army, from Tyre, for the service that he served against it: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon the land of Egypt; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army. | Egyptian subjugation by Babylon |
| Nahum 3:4-5 | Because of the great whoredom of the well-favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. | Judgment on Nineveh |
| Revelation 18:6-8 | Reward her as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. | Judgment on Babylon |
| 2 Corinthians 11:2 | For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. | Spiritual purity |
| Psalm 7:14-16 | He travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violence shall come down upon his own pate. | Consequences of evil |
| Proverbs 26:27 | Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will be turned back upon him. | Consequences of evil |
| Jeremiah 2:22 | For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD. | Iniquity cannot be hidden |
| Ezekiel 16:37 | Therefore, behold, I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy shame. | Shame revealed |
| Psalm 106:26 | Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness; | Judgment by divine hand |
| Habakkuk 2:16 | Thou art filled with vanity more than glory: yea, thyself shalt drink, and be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shame shall be upon thy glory. | Shame and downfall |
| Isaiah 23:12 | And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Sidon: arise, pass over unto Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest. | Fall of Tyre |
| Jeremiah 4:12 | For a dry wind shall come unto them from the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, even a full stronger wind than that to fan shall come unto me: henceforth also will I speak judgments against them. | Divine judgment from afar |
| Isaiah 47:3 | Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. | God's direct judgment |
| Ezekiel 23:46 | Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring a company upon them, and will give them to be a prey and a spoil. | Enemies as spoil |
| Lamentations 1:8 | Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they see her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward. | Jerusalem's shame |
| Zephaniah 3:19 | Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her out of the nations: and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. | Restoration after shame |
Isaiah 20 verses
Isaiah 20 4 Meaning
The verse prophesies the downfall and exile of Egypt and Ethiopia by the king of Assyria, who would lead them away as captives, both young and old, in a state of nakedness and destitution. This event serves as a sign and a warning regarding the judgment God would bring upon nations that defied Him and relied on their own strength or alliances.
Isaiah 20 4 Context
Isaiah 20 takes place during the period of Assyrian imperial expansion. The chapter describes a symbolic act performed by the prophet Isaiah, as commanded by God, in response to Egypt and Ethiopia's anticipated reliance on military might against Assyria. Historically, this likely refers to the events surrounding the Philistine city of Ashdod's rebellion against Assyria around 713-711 BC. Sargon II, the Assyrian king, sent his general (Tartan) to quell the rebellion. Isaiah's prophetic message and his symbolic nakedness and barefoot walking served as a dire warning to Judah, advising them not to place their trust in alliances with Egypt and Ethiopia, but rather in God alone. The "nakedness" signifies vulnerability, humiliation, and utter defeat. The prophecy foretells the capture and exile of the Egyptians and Ethiopians by the Assyrians, emphasizing the futility of trusting in earthly powers against God's sovereign will.
Isaiah 20 4 Word analysis
- "And the LORD said": (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמַר יְהוָה - wayyōʾmar YHWH) This phrase indicates a direct divine communication or command from God.
- "Like as": (Hebrew: כִּֽי־ as in 'because', or כַּאֲשֶׁר - kaʾăšer) This phrase introduces a comparison, linking Isaiah's personal sign to a future event. It signifies that the action Isaiah performed is a prophetic representation.
- "my servant Isaiah": Refers to Isaiah's role as a servant of the LORD, one who carries out God's commands.
- "hath walked naked and barefoot": (Hebrew: הָלַךְ עָרוֹם וְיָחֵף - hālǎḵ ʿārōm wəyāḥēf) Isaiah's act of walking without clothes and shoes, a profound symbol of disgrace, vulnerability, and powerlessness in the ancient Near East. This was a stark, unforgettable visual.
- "three years": A period of time significant for prophetic signs, lending weight and emphasis to the warning. It implies a sustained prophetic message and patience before the predicted event.
- "for a sign and wonder": (Hebrew: לְאוֹת וּלְמֹפֵת - ləʾōṯ ûləmōp̄ēṯ) Highlights the dual purpose of Isaiah's action: a tangible sign (אוֹת - ʾōṯ) pointing to a future reality, and a wonder or marvel (מוֹפֵת - mōp̄ēṯ) that would capture attention and provoke thought or fear.
- "against Egypt and Ethiopia": (Hebrew: עַל־מִצְרַיִם וְעַל־כּוּשׁ - ʿal-miṣra’yim wəʿal-kûš) Identifies the specific nations that are the object of God's judgment and the target of this prophetic warning. Egypt (Mitzrayim) and Cush (Kush, often referring to Nubia or areas south of Egypt) were significant regional powers, often allied.
- "So shall the king of Assyria": (Hebrew: כֵּן - kēn) The particle 'so' or 'thus' establishes a direct correspondence between Isaiah's prophetic sign and the coming reality.
- "lead away the captives of Egypt": (Hebrew: יִשַּׁא — שְׁבִ֣י מִצְרָ֔יִם - yiśśā — šəḇī miṣrayim) Refers to the removal and enslavement of people from Egypt.
- "and the captives of Ethiopia": (Hebrew: וּשְׁבוּאֵי כוּשׁ - ûšəḇûʾê kûš) Similarly, the people of Cush.
- "both naked and barefoot": (Hebrew: עֲרוּמִּים וְיְחֵפִים - ʿərûmmiym wəyəḥēp̄îm) This reinforces the complete humiliation and stripping away of dignity and resources, mirroring Isaiah's own symbolic act.
- "even with their buttocks uncovered": (Hebrew: עַד־עָֽקְבֵי־מִצְרָ֔יִם - ʿaḏ-ʿāqḇê-miṣrayim) This phrase means "to their heels" or "their buttocks exposed." It signifies the ultimate shame and degradation, with no coverings or defenses against exposure. The emphasis is on utter destitution and ignominy.
- "to the shame of Egypt": (Hebrew: לְחִפָּתָֽה — מִצְרָֽיִם - ləḥippātāh—miṣrayim) The disgrace and humiliation of Egypt is explicitly stated as the result of their defeat.
Isaiah 20 4 Bonus section
The prophet Isaiah's participation in this highly unusual and public act of "nakedness and barefoot" demonstrates the extreme measures God would use to communicate His message and judgment. It’s a visceral depiction of vulnerability and disgrace that transcended mere verbal prophecy. The specific mention of Ethiopia (Cush) indicates that God's judgment and concern extended beyond the immediate geopolitical rivals of Israel, encompassing the broader world. The judgment described here aligns with the historical context of Assyria's dominance, with Egypt and Cush often being targets or spheres of influence. The verse also reflects ancient Near Eastern customs where nakedness and being barefoot were signs of extreme suffering, captivity, or dishonor, seen in imagery from Assyrian and Babylonian reliefs. This thorough humiliation signifies the complete loss of sovereignty and pride for the defeated nations.
Isaiah 20 4 Commentary
Isaiah 20 presents a powerful prophetic act designed to convey a crucial message about divine sovereignty and the folly of trusting in human strength or political alliances. Isaiah, by walking naked and barefoot for three years, physically embodied the future desolation and humiliation that would befall Egypt and Ethiopia at the hands of the Assyrian king. This was not merely an odd display, but a divinely orchestrated sign for both the people of Judah and the surrounding nations. The stark imagery of "nakedness and barefoot," extended to "their buttocks uncovered," conveys the totality of their defeat – stripped of their pride, their wealth, their defenses, and their very dignity. It underscores God's absolute power to bring down even mighty empires and His warning to Judah against seeking security in foreign aid rather than in Him. The passage serves as a timeless reminder that ultimate security lies not in earthly powers, but in faithful reliance on the Lord.
- Practical Application: Nations today, like ancient Egypt and Ethiopia, often look to military might or international alliances for security, sometimes neglecting their reliance on God.
- Example: When faced with threats, a congregation might be called to remember Isaiah’s symbolic act, praying for wisdom and relying on God's protection rather than succumbing to fear and misplaced trust in worldly systems.