Isaiah 20:6 kjv
And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?
Isaiah 20:6 nkjv
And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, 'Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?' "
Isaiah 20:6 niv
In that day the people who live on this coast will say, 'See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?'?"
Isaiah 20:6 esv
And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, 'Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?'"
Isaiah 20:6 nlt
They will say, 'If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? We were counting on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.'"
Isaiah 20 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 20:5 | "They shall be ashamed and confounded because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory." | Isaiah 20:5 (Fulfillment) |
| Jeremiah 46:2 | "Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish..." | Jeremiah 46:2 (Defeat of Egypt) |
| Ezekiel 29:12 | "I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the desolate countries..." | Ezekiel 29:12 (Judgment on Egypt) |
| Jeremiah 50:37 | "A drought is upon her waters; and she shall be dried up..." | Jeremiah 50:37 (Desolation) |
| Psalm 76:12 | "He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth." | Psalm 76:12 (God's Sovereignty) |
| Psalm 33:16 | "There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by great strength." | Psalm 33:16 (Futility of earthly might) |
| 1 Samuel 17:45 | "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts..." | 1 Samuel 17:45 (Contrast in power) |
| 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 | "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the host that is with him: for there be more with us than with him..." | 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (Trust in God over earthly armies) |
| Isaiah 8:9 | "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries..." | Isaiah 8:9 (Nations broken by God) |
| Isaiah 30:16 | "Ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon swift horses; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift." | Isaiah 30:16 (Fleeing from enemy, like the verse) |
| Hosea 10:13 | "Ye have sown wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou trustest in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men." | Hosea 10:13 (Trusting in self leads to destruction) |
| Isaiah 14:27 | "For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" | Isaiah 14:27 (God's unchangeable purpose) |
| Isaiah 18:3 | "All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; see ye, when he bloweth a trumpet." | Isaiah 18:3 (Sign of God's action) |
| Isaiah 37:36 | "Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses." | Isaiah 37:36 (Divine intervention against armies) |
| Psalm 147:10 | "He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man." | Psalm 147:10 (God's perspective on might) |
| Romans 9:16 | "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." | Romans 9:16 (Sovereignty of God) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" | 1 Corinthians 1:27 (God's choice of the weak) |
| Revelation 18:10 | "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!" | Revelation 18:10 (Fear of divine judgment on powerful entities) |
| Proverbs 21:31 | "The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD." | Proverbs 21:31 (True safety is from God) |
| Amos 3:15 | "And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD." | Amos 3:15 (Judgment on proud structures) |
Isaiah 20 verses
Isaiah 20 6 Meaning
This verse describes the aftermath of a significant event where the Egyptians and Ethiopians, who relied on their chariots and horsemen, were struck down by God. It signifies their shame and defeat, leaving them exposed and vulnerable, with no means of escape or defense.
Isaiah 20 6 Context
Isaiah chapter 20 is a prophetic oracle directed at Judah, specifically concerning their alliance with Egypt against the Assyrian threat. Isaiah is instructed by God to go naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a warning. This was a public demonstration symbolizing the impending defeat and exile of Egypt and Ethiopia, who were allies that Judah was tempted to trust in, rather than relying on God. The verse in question describes the consequence of this futile trust—their shame and the complete breakdown of their military power, represented by their chariots and horsemen. The surrounding nations were to see this downfall and understand that their own reliance on military strength was also misplaced.
Isaiah 20 6 Word Analysis
וְהָיָה (wə·hā·yəh): "And it shall come to pass." This phrase introduces a future event or consequence, setting up the prophetic outcome.
חָבוּשׁ (ḥā·ḇûš): "Bound" or "clad." Here, it implies being dressed in their military equipment, ready for action.
לִרְכֶב (lir·ḵeḇ): "For the riders" or "for cavalry." Refers to the horsemen or the mounted troops, a significant part of ancient armies.
וּלְפַרְשֵׁיהֶם (ū·lə·p̄ā·rə·šê·hem): "And for their horsemen." This reiterates and emphasizes the component of mounted soldiers, reinforcing the idea of military readiness. The word parash refers to a distinguished horseman or a troop of cavalry.
וְהָיוּ (wə·hā·yû): "And they shall be." Another future indicator, describing the state of these forces.
חָלָשׁ (ḥā·lāš): "Weak," "feeble," or "defeated." Indicates a loss of strength and effectiveness.
מִבַּטְחָם (mi·baṭ·ḥām): "Their confidence" or "their reliance." Points to what they placed their trust in—their military might.
וּבָֽשְׁתּוּ (ū·ḇā·šə·tû): "And they shall be ashamed." Denotes embarrassment and disgrace resulting from their failure and loss.
וְכָֽל־ (wə·ḵāl): "And all." Emphasizes the totality of their ruin.
הַיּוֹתְרִים (hay·yō·ṯə·rîm): "Remaining" or "survivors." Those left after the initial destruction.
וְאָמַרְתָּ (wə·’ā·mar·tā): "And you shall say." Direct instruction to Isaiah to articulate the meaning of this event.
הִנֵּה (hîn·neh): "Behold" or "Lo." Used to draw attention to a significant or surprising revelation.
וַאֲנַחְנוּ (wa·’ă·naḥ·nū): "And we." A personal reflection or statement by those witnessing the event.
נִצַּלְנוּ (niṣ·ṣal·nū): "Are delivered" or "escaped." Initially, they might feel or believe they have escaped disaster, but the context suggests this will prove false or insufficient. This word is often used for rescue, but here implies a desperate, futile attempt.
Group Analysis: The verse constructs a powerful contrast: the fully equipped cavalry ("bound for their riders, and for their horsemen") versus their subsequent state of being "weak, their confidence, and all the remaining [among them] shall be ashamed." This juxtaposition highlights the utter failure of their military might and the profound shame that will accompany their defeat, implying that their perceived security in their forces will turn into their greatest disgrace. The concluding "And you shall say, Behold, we are delivered" likely refers to the expectation of these forces, or perhaps a last desperate cry that will prove hollow.
Isaiah 20 6 Bonus Section
The prophet's act of walking "naked and barefoot" (Isaiah 20:2) amplified the symbolic meaning of vulnerability and shame for the defeated nations. This physical act made the prophetic message tangible and memorable. The chariots and horsemen were the prestige and strength of these armies, akin to modern tanks and fighter jets. Their destruction or disabling would be a devastating blow, leaving nations utterly exposed and humbled. The ultimate "deliverance" they might boast of is shown to be hollow, leading only to greater disgrace when the full extent of their defeat is realized. This passage is a classic illustration of the inadequacy of human strength when pitted against God's sovereign power.
Isaiah 20 6 Commentary
The verse encapsulates the divine judgment on military reliance. Egypt and Ethiopia, great powers of the ancient world, prided themselves on their chariots and horsemen, seeing them as the ultimate guarantee of safety. God, however, demonstrates through Isaiah’s sign and the resulting prophetic judgment that this confidence is misplaced. Their powerful cavalry will become a source of shame when God intervenes, rendering their military strength useless and leaving them exposed. This serves as a stark warning to Judah against forming alliances based on worldly power rather than trusting in God's deliverance. It underscores the principle that true security comes not from armies, but from God alone.