Isaiah 20:4
Isaiah 20:4 in Multiple Translations
so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.
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.
so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
So will the king of Assyria take away the prisoners of Egypt and those forced out of Ethiopia, young and old, unclothed and without shoes, and with backs uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
so shall the king of Assyria lead the Egyptian prisoners and the Ethiopian exiles, both young and old, naked and barefoot. Their buttocks will be bare, to Egypt's shame.
So shall the King of Asshur take away the captiuitie of Egypt, and the captiuitie of Ethiopia, both yong men and olde men, naked and barefoote, with their buttockes vncouered, to the shame of Egypt.
so doth the king of Asshur lead the captivity of Egypt, and the removal of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot, with seat uncovered — the nakedness of Egypt;
so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Cushites captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their hind-parts uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
So shall the king of the Assyrians lead away the prisoners of Egypt, and the captivity of Ethiopia, young and old. naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt.
What will happen is that the army of the King of Assyria will invade those countries and capture many of the people and take them away as their prisoners. They will force all them, including both the young ones and the old ones, to walk naked and barefoot. They will also force them to have no clothes around their buttocks, which will cause the people of Egypt to be ashamed.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 20:4
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Isaiah 20:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 20:4
Study Notes — Isaiah 20:4
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 20:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 20:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 20:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 20:4
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 20:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
- Sermons on Isaiah 20:4
Context — A Sign against Egypt and Cush
4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.
5Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 19:4 | I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of harsh masters, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 13:26 | So I will pull your skirts up over your face, that your shame may be seen. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 13:22 | And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?” It is because of the magnitude of your iniquity that your skirts have been stripped off and your body has been exposed. |
| 4 | Isaiah 47:3 | Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.” |
| 5 | Revelation 3:18 | I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 46:26 | I will deliver them into the hands of those who seek their lives—of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But after this, Egypt will be inhabited as in days of old, declares the LORD. |
| 7 | 2 Samuel 10:4 | So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 30:18 | The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity. |
| 9 | Micah 1:11 | Depart in shameful nakedness, O dwellers of Shaphir. The dwellers of Zaanan will not come out. Beth-ezel is in mourning; its support is taken from you. |
| 10 | Isaiah 3:17 | the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare. ” |
Isaiah 20:4 Summary
This verse is saying that the king of Assyria will defeat Egypt and Cush, and lead their people away as captives, naked and barefoot, which is a sign of great shame and humiliation, as seen in Isaiah 20:4. This is a fulfillment of God's judgment on these nations, as prophesied in Isaiah 19:1-15. It's a reminder that God is a God of justice and righteousness, and that we should trust in Him alone, rather than in our own strength or the strength of others, as seen in Psalm 20:7 and Jeremiah 17:5-8. By trusting in God, we can avoid the shame and humiliation that comes from trusting in false idols or hopes, and instead, we can experience His love, mercy, and forgiveness, as seen in Romans 5:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the king of Assyria leading away captives naked and barefoot?
This act is a sign of shame and humiliation, as seen in Isaiah 20:4, and is a fulfillment of God's judgment on Egypt and Cush, as prophesied in Isaiah 19:1-15 and Isaiah 20:3.
Why does God use such a drastic visual representation of judgment?
God often uses vivid imagery and object lessons, like Isaiah walking naked and barefoot for three years, as seen in Isaiah 20:2-3, to drive home the seriousness of sin and the consequences of disobedience, as also seen in Jeremiah 13:1-11.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
Isaiah 20:4 is a direct consequence of Isaiah's prophetic act in Isaiah 20:2-3, and it sets the stage for the response of the people in Isaiah 20:5-6, who will be dismayed and ashamed when they see their hopes and boasts, Egypt and Cush, being led away in shame.
What can we learn from this verse about God's character?
This verse shows that God is a God of justice and righteousness, who will not tolerate sin and rebellion, as seen in Isaiah 20:4, and that He is willing to use drastic measures to get our attention and bring us back to Himself, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and Jeremiah 25:1-14.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am trusting in my own strength or the strength of others, rather than in God's power and provision?
- How can I apply the lesson of Isaiah 20:4 to my own life, and what are some ways I can humble myself before God and acknowledge my dependence on Him?
- What are some idols or false hopes that I have been trusting in, and how can I repent and turn to God, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 and 1 John 5:21?
- How can I use this verse to share the gospel with others and to warn them of the dangers of trusting in anything other than God, as seen in Romans 1:16-25 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-25?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 20:4
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 20:4
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 20:4
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 20:4
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 20:4
Sermons on Isaiah 20:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Are You a Vital Christian by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, Dr. Helen Redpath focuses on the importance of being a vital Christian. She begins by emphasizing the need to give all glory to God and to exalt Him above our own p |
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Joshua 23:14 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the faithfulness of God as Joshua addresses the Israelites in his old age, reminding them that they know in their hearts the truth of God's promises. He high |
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Change or Exchange by Lewis Gregory | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that humans have a fundamental flaw that renders their lives worthless. God is calling for a drastic change in their lives, as mere confessi |
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Why Are These Things Come Upon Me? by Dan Biser | This sermon delves into the reasons behind the challenges faced by individuals, families, churches, and nations, emphasizing the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and |
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We Need More Troublemakers in the Church by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a man who reached out for help because his wife claimed to be a prophetess and had a vision of going to heaven and skydiving with |
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(Dangers in the Way Series): Dangers of Prosperity and Adversity by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the dangers that Christians face in their journey towards heaven. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing these perils, |
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Brought Up, Set Up, Kept Up and Tuned Up by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preaching with a broken heart and being deeply moved by the message of sin and redemption. He highlights the need for the |







