Isaiah 19:9 — Word Study
WLCוּבֹ֛שׁוּ עֹבְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים שְׂרִיק֑וֹת וְאֹרְגִ֖ים חוֹרָֽי׃
BSAThe workersʻâbad [laborers, servants] in flaxpishteh [combed, carded] will be dismayedbûwsh [ashamed, confounded] and the weaversʼârag [makers, craftsmen] of fine linensᵉrîyqâh△ [white cloth, net-works] will turn palechôwr△ [be in despair, be put to shame]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבֹ֛שׁוּ | and they will be ashamed | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| עֹבְדֵ֥י | workers of | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine plural common |
| פִשְׁתִּ֖ים | flax | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| שְׂרִיק֑וֹת | combed | Adj |
| וְאֹרְגִ֖ים | and [those who] weave | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| חוֹרָֽי׃ | white cloth | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The workers in flax will be dismayed, and the weavers of fine linen will turn pale. |
| KJV | Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. |
| ASV | Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be confounded. |
| YLT | And ashamed have been makers of fine flax, And weavers of net-works. |
| WEB | Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, will be confounded. |
| BBE | And all the workers in linen thread, and those who make cotton cloth, will be put to shame. |
Where they part company is שְׂרִיק֑וֹת — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence presents a main clause followed by a conjunction linking two subjects, emphasizing the collective despair of the workers.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבּוֹשׁ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 6 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 19:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Judgment on Egyptgenerated
Isaiah 19:9 highlights the dismay of laborers in Egypt as they face the consequences of their nation's decline. The passage illustrates the broader impact of calamity on everyday workers, reflecting the interconnectedness of society and the economy. This verse follows a description of fishermen mourning and sets the tone for the lamentation of various trades affected by the impending disaster.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 10:28 | Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the royal merchants purchased them from Kue. |
| 2 | Proverbs 7:16 | I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. |
| 3 | Ezekiel 27:7 | Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וּבֹ֛שׁוּ, u.Vo.shugenerated
The verb בּוֹשׁ (buwsh) means 'to be ashamed' and conveys feelings of guilt, disappointment, or disconcertion. It appears in various forms, including Qal, which indicates a direct experience of shame.
In this context, וּבֹ֛שׁוּ indicates that the workers will experience a profound sense of shame and despair as their work and livelihoods are threatened. The use of this verb emphasizes the emotional weight of their situation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses dismayed and turn pale to convey the emotional response of the workers. Other translations like the KJV and ASV also align closely with this rendering.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of שְׂרִיק֑וֹת — combed (NETB) versus white cloth (ASV, ILT, RVA, ULB, WEB). This distinction highlights the nuances in interpreting the quality of the linen being referenced.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb וּבֹ֛שׁוּ governs the entire verse, indicating a state of being for the subjects. The structure consists of two noun phrases describing the workers and their actions, followed by a conjunction linking the two groups.
The word order emphasizes the workers first, highlighting their plight before introducing the weavers, thus framing the narrative around the laborers' emotional response.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, וּבֹ֛שׁוּ is rendered as αἰσχύνω, which also means 'to be ashamed' but carries a slightly different connotation, focusing on the feeling of disgrace. This choice indicates a broader interpretation of the emotional state of the workers.
The translation choices in the Septuagint suggest an emphasis on the shame associated with failure, aligning with the overall theme of judgment present in the prophecy.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 19:9 describes how workers in flax and weavers of fine linen will feel ashamed and dismayed due to the troubles facing Egypt. This verse emphasizes the emotional impact of societal collapse on everyday laborers.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To be dismayed means they will feel a deep sense of shame and hopelessness as their work is threatened.
The workers in flax are mentioned to illustrate the broader economic impact of Egypt's judgment, highlighting how it affects various trades.
The emotions conveyed are shame, despair, and dismay, reflecting the workers' response to their precarious situation.
This verse connects to the theme of judgment by showing the direct consequences of Egypt's failures on its labor force, emphasizing the widespread impact of divine judgment.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do economic troubles affect communities, as seen in this verse?
- In what ways do feelings of shame and despair manifest in our lives today?
- What can we learn about the relationship between societal issues and individual livelihoods from this passage?
- How does understanding the emotional impact of judgment help us empathize with those affected by crises?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 19:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMoreover they that work in fine flax,.... Of which they made fine linen cloth, and yarn, and was much wore by the Egyptians, and was the commodity of the country, and for which other nations traded
Read John Gill on Isaiah 19 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMoreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. They that work in short flax.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 19 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThat work in fine flax; that make fine linen, which was one of their best commodities; of which See Poole "", See Poole "", See Poole "".
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 19 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 19:9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.Ver. 9. They that work in fine flax shall be confounded,] sc., For want of materials, such as were wont to be sown by the brooks (Plin., lib. ix. cap. 1). They that weave networks.] Or rather whiteworks - that is, white garments made of the fine flax of Egypt. These were much worn by nobles. Whence also in Hebrew they have their name. úåãéí, Albi seu candidati.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 19 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) Moreover they that work in fine flax.—Another class also would find its occupation gone. The “fine flax” was used especially for the dress of the priests (Herod. ii. 81), and for the mummy clothes of the dead (1 Kings 10:28; Ezekiel 27:7). They that weave networks.—Better, white cloths, the cotton or byssus fabrics for which Egypt was famous.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 19 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. They that work in fine flax] פשתים שריקות pishtim sericoth, heckled flax, i.e., flax dressed on the heckle, or comb used for that purpose. The Vulgate uses the word pectentes, combing. They that weave networks shall be confounded - And confounden schul ben that wrogten flax, plattinge and wevynge sotel thingis. - Old MS. Bible.
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. Textile manufactures, linen and cotton, flourished greatly in ancient Egypt. fine flax] combed flax (R.V.). For networks read white-stuffs, probably cotton.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 19 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMoreover - In addition to the calamities that will come upon the fishermen, the drying up of the river will affect all who are supported by that which the overflowing of its waters produced.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 19 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The workers in flax will be dismayed, and the weavers of fine linen will turn pale.
Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, will be confounded.
The workers in flax will be dismayed, and the weavers of fine linen will turn pale.
Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed; those who weave will turn pale.
Tyndale line
Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.
Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be confounded.
Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be ashamed.
Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave net-works shall be confounded.
Moreouer, they that worke in flaxe of diuers sortes, shall be confounded, and they that weaue nettes.
Strictly literal
And they that work in fine flax, and they that weave white stuffs shall be ashamed.
And ashamed have been makers of fine flax, And weavers of net-works.
And makers of fine flax have been ashamed, || And weavers of networks.
And ashamed shall be they that work in fine flax, and they that weave white cloth.
The workers in combed flax and those who weave white cloth will turn pale.
From the Latin
They shall be confounded that wrought in flax, combing and weaving fine linen.
Simplified
The workers who prepare the flax for linen and the weavers of white fabric will be in despair.
And all the workers in linen thread, and those who make cotton cloth, will be put to shame.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls generally agree on the wording of this verse, although the scrolls show some restoration. The Septuagint's translation diverges in structure but retains the core meaning of shame and despair among the workers.
וּבֹ֛שׁוּ עֹבְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים שְׂרִיק֑וֹת וְאֹרְגִ֖ים חוֹרָֽי׃
3 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ובשו] [עבדי] [פשתים] [שריקות] [וארגים] חורי
1 word on the leather — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
יבושו ׳׳׳׳׳׳׳ עבדי פשתים [שריקות] [וארגים] חורו
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
יבושו עובדי פשתיים שריקות ואורגים חורו
6 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 19:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
בּוֹשׁ (buwsh) is a Hebrew root meaning 'to be ashamed.' It encompasses feelings of shame, disappointment, and disconcertion. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to feel shame), Piel (to delay in shame), and Hiphil (to put to shame). The entries indicate a range of uses, from personal feelings of shame to actions that cause shame to others.
בּוֹשׁ 109 vb. be ashamed
Qal
abs. feel shame
sq. מִן, be ashamed of, i.e. disconcerted, disappointed by reason of
with obj. I am ashamed to ask
Polel delay (in shame)
Hiph.
put to shame
put to shame
act shamefully
to be put to shame
be ashamed
Hithp. ashamed before one another
base
H954 בּוֹשׁ be ashamed
954 buwsh boosh
a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to
be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or
delayed:--(be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with,
a-)shamed(-d), be (put to) confounded(-fusion), become dry,
delay, be long.
בּוֹשׁ (bush) — be ashamed.
1) to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to feel shame
1a2) to be ashamed, disconcerted, disappointed (by reason of)
1b) (Piel) to delay (in shame)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to put to shame
1c2) to act shamefully
1c3) to be ashamed
1d) (Hithpolel) to be ashamed before one another
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vqq3cp
a-shamd': Almost exclusively moral in significance; confusion or abashment through consciousness of guilt or of its exposure. Often including also a sense of terror or fear because of the disgrace connected with the performance of some action. Capacity for shame indicates that moral sense (conscience) is not extinct. "Ashamed" occurs 96 out of 118 times in the Old Testament. Hebrew bosh, "to feel shame" (Latin, pudere), with derivatives occurs 80 times; kalam, "to shame," including the thought of "disgrace," "reproach"; chapher, "to blush": hence shame because of frustrated plans (uniformly in the Revised Version (British and American) "confounded"); Greek aischunomai, "suffused with shame," passive only and its compounds. Uses:
(1) A few times, of actual embarrassment, as of Hazael before the steadfast look of Elisha (2Ki 8:11; see…
עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.
עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve
Qal
labour, work, do work
work for another, serve him by labour
serve as subjects
serve God
serve י׳ with Levitical service
Niph.
be tilled, of land
dub. cultivated field
Pu. worked
Hiph.
compel to labour as slaves
make to serve as subjects
cause to serve God
Hoph. be led or enticed to serve
base
H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work
. work for another, serve him by labour
. serve as subjects
. serve God
. serve י׳ with Levitical service
. . be tilled, of land
. dub. cultivated field
. worked
. . compel to labour as slaves
. make to serve as subjects
. cause to serve God
. be led or enticed to serve
5647 `abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to
serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in
bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,
execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,
(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)
servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from
margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.
: serve[someone]
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve
1d2) to cause to serve as subjects
1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.
: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine plural commonHVqrmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
פֵּ֫שֶׁת (pishteh) refers to flax and linen, specifically the fiber used for making garments. It is derived from a root meaning to comminute, indicating its processed form. The entries consistently emphasize its use as a textile material.
[פֵּ֫שֶׁת] n.[m.] flax, linen
base
H6593 [פֵּ֫שֶׁת] flax, linen
6593 pishteh pish-teh'
from the same as 6580 as in the sense of comminuting; linen
(i.e. the thread, as carded):--flax, linen.
see HEBREW for 06580
פֵּ֫שֶׁת (pish.teh) — flax.
1) flax, linen
1a) fibre used as material for garments
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
flaks pesheth, also pishtah; linon (Mt 12:20)): The above Hebrew words are applied
(1) to the plant: "The flax was in bloom" (the King James Version "bolled"; Ex 9:31);
(2) the "stalks of flax," literally, "flax of the tree," put on the roof to dry (Jos 2:6);
(3) to the fine fibers used for lighting: the King James Version "tow," "flax," the Revised Version (British and American). "A dimly burning wick will he not quench" (Isa 42:3); "They are quenched as a wick" (Isa 43:17). The thought is perhaps of a scarcely lighted wick just kindled with difficulty from a spark.
Flax
(Heb. pishtah, i.e., “peeled”, in allusion to the fact that the stalks of flax when dried were first split or peeled before being steeped in water for the purpose of destroying the pulp). This plant was cultivated from earliest times. The flax of Egypt was destroyed by the plague of hail when it “was bolled”, i.e., was forming pods for seed (Ex. 9:31). It was extensively cultivated both in Egypt and Palestine. Reference is made in Josh. 2:6 to the custom of drying flax-stalks by exposing them to the sun on the flat roofs of houses. It was much used in forming articles of clothing such as girdles, also cords and bands (Lev. 13:48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11). (See…
a well-known plant with yellowish stem and bright-blue flowers. Its fibres are employed in the manufacture of linen. The root contains an oil, and after the oil is expressed is sued as a food for cattle. Egypt was celebrated for the culture of flax and the manufacture of linen. The spinning was anciently done by women of noble birth. It seems probable that the cultivation of flax for the purpose of the manufacture of linen was by no means confined to Egypt, but that, originating in India, it spread over Asia at a very early period of antiquity. That it was grown in Palestine even before the conquest of that country by the Israelites appears from (Joshua 2:6) The various processes employed in preparing the flax for manufacture into cloth are indicated: The drying process. The peeling of the stalks and separation of the fibres. The…
A well-known plant, upon which the industry of mankind has been exercised with the greatest success and utility, Jos 2:6 Pr 1:13.
Moses speaks of the flax in Egypt, Ex 9:31, which country has been celebrated, from time immemorial, for its production and manufacture. The "fine linen of Egypt," which was manufactured from this article, is spoken of for its superior excellence, in Scripture, Pr 7:16 Eze 27:7. It is however, probable that fine cotton is sometimes to be understood when the Byssus is spoken of. Most of the linen found wrapped around Egyptian mummies will hardly compare with our common sheetings. But some…
שָׂרִיק (sriyqah) refers to something that is carded or combed, specifically in relation to flax. The term conveys the idea of fine linen or tow, stemming from a root meaning to pierce. It is used in Isaiah 19:9.
[שָׂרִיק] adj. carded, combed, of flax;—fpl. Is 19:9.
ref
H8305 [שָׂרִיק] carded, combed, of flax
8305 sriyqah ser-ee-kaw'
from the same as 8321 in the original sense of piercing;
hetchelling (or combing flax), i.e. (concretely) tow (by
extension, linen cloth):--fine.
see HEBREW for 08321
שָׂרִיק (se.ri.qah) — combed.
carded, combed, fine (of flax)
Adj — AdjHAafpa
אָרַג (arag) is a Hebrew verb meaning to weave or plait, applicable to both cloth and hair, as noted in the context of Samson's hair. It can also refer to the act of weaving in a more figurative sense, such as in intrigue. The entries consistently emphasize its primary meaning related to weaving.
[אָרַג] vb. weave
base
H707 אָרַג weave
707 'arag aw-rag'
a primitive root; to plait or weave:--weaver(-r).
אָרַג (a.rag) — to weave.
1) to weave
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to weave (cloth)
1a2) to braid (Samson's hair)
1a3) weaver (subst.)
1a4) intrigue (fig.)
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHC/Vqrmpa
חוֹרָ֑י (chowr) refers to a type of white material or cloth. The entries indicate that it is associated with the concept of white linen and can be linked to the term for network. It appears in Isaiah 19:9.
חוֹרָ֑י n.m. white stuff; Is 19:9
ref
H2355 חוֹרָ֑י white stuff
2355 chowr khore
the same as 2353; white linen:--network. Compare 2715.
see HEBREW for 02353
see HEBREW for 02715
חוֹרָ֑י (chor) — white cloth.
white cloth, white stuff
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa