Add parallel Print Page Options

A Sign regarding Egypt and Cush

20 In the year the commander-in-chief came[a] to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and he took it, at that time, Yahweh had spoken by the hand of Isaiah son of Amoz, saying,

“Go and loosen the sackcloth from your loins,
    and take off your sandals[b] from your feet,”

and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot.

Then[c] Yahweh said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, so shall the king of Assyria lead the captives[d] of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks,[e] the shame of Egypt.

And they shall be dismayed,
    and they shall be ashamed
because of Cush, their hope,
    and because of Egypt, their pride.

And the inhabitant[f] of the coastland will say this on that day:

‘Look! This is our hope to whom we fled for help, to be delivered from[g] the king of Assyria, and how shall we escape?’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 20:1 Literally “of the coming of the commander in chief”
  2. Isaiah 20:2 Hebrew “sandal”
  3. Isaiah 20:3 Or “And”
  4. Isaiah 20:4 Hebrew “captive”
  5. Isaiah 20:4 Literally “and bare of buttocks”
  6. Isaiah 20:6 Hebrew “inhabitant”
  7. Isaiah 20:6 Literally “from the face of”

Isaiah naked and barefoot

20 In the year that Assyria’s King Sargon sent his general to Ashdod, he fought against Ashdod and captured it. At that time the Lord had spoken through Isaiah, Amoz’s son, “Go, take off the mourning clothes from your waist, and remove the shoes from your feet.” And Isaiah did this, walking naked and barefoot.

The Lord said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years, as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, so will the king of Assyria lead the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, both young and old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks bared, humiliating Egypt. They will be shattered and shamed because of Cush their hope, and because of Egypt their glory.

“On that day, those who live on this coast will say, ‘Look at those in whom we had hoped, to whom we fled for help and rescue from the king of Assyria. How then will we escape?’”

Read full chapter