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Isaiah 18

BSB·7 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Woeה֥וֹיhō·w — Woe, alas, or lamentH1945 — Full Word Study → to the landאֶ֖רֶץ’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of whirringצִלְצַ֣לṣil·ṣal — A clanging sound; cymbal or metallic noise-making instrumentH6767 — Full Word Study → wingsכְּנָפָ֑יִםkə·nā·p̄ā·yim — wing; edge, border, cornerH3671 — Full Word Study →, alongמֵעֵ֖בֶרmê·‘ê·ḇer — side, border, region beyondH5676 — Full Word Study → the riversלְנַֽהֲרֵי־lə·na·hă·rê- — River, StreamH5104 — Full Word Study → of Cushכֽוּשׁ׃ḵūš — Cush; Ethiopia; a remote African nationH3568 — Full Word Study →, 2which sendsהַשֹּׁלֵ֨חַhaš·šō·lê·aḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → couriersצִירִ֗יםṣî·rîm — hinge; messenger; pain, distressH6735 — Full Word Study → by seaבַּיָּ֜םbay·yām — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →, in papyrusגֹמֶא֮ḡō·me — reed or rush plantH1573 — Full Word Study → vesselsוּבִכְלֵי־ū·ḇiḵ·lê- — vessel, instrument, or article of useH3627 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the watersמַיִם֒ma·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study →. Goלְכ֣וּ׀lə·ḵū — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, swiftקַלִּ֗יםqal·lîm — Swift, quick, light in weight or movementH7031 — Full Word Study → messengersמַלְאָכִ֣יםmal·’ā·ḵîm — messenger; angel; envoyH4397 — Full Word Study →, toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → a peopleגּוֹי֙gō·w — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → tallמְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְmə·muš·šāḵ — to draw, pull, extend, or prolongH4900 — Full Word Study → and smooth-skinnedוּמוֹרָ֔טū·mō·w·rāṭ — to polish, smooth, or make bright; to pluck or scrape offH4803 — Full Word Study →, toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → a peopleעַ֥ם‘am — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → widelyמִן־min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → fearedנוֹרָ֖אnō·w·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study →, to a powerfulקָ֣וqāw — A cord, line, or measuring instrument; figuratively, a rule or standardH6957 — Full Word Study → nationגּ֚וֹיgō·w — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → of strange speechוּמְבוּסָ֔הū·mə·ḇū·sāh — Treading down, subjugation, trampling underfootH4001 — Full Word Study →, whoseאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → landאַרְצֽוֹ׃’ar·ṣōw — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → is dividedבָּזְא֥וּbā·zə·’ū — to plunder, spoil, or despoilH958 — Full Word Study → by riversנְהָרִ֖יםnə·hā·rîm — River, StreamH5104 — Full Word Study →. 3Allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → you peopleיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyō·šə·ḇê — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → of the worldתֵבֵ֖לṯê·ḇêl — The inhabited earth; the worldH8398 — Full Word Study → and dwellersוְשֹׁ֣כְנֵיwə·šō·ḵə·nê — To dwell, inhabit, or settle in a placeH7931 — Full Word Study → of the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, when a bannerנֵ֤סnês — Banner, standard, signalH5251 — Full Word Study → is raisedכִּנְשֹׂא־kin·śō- — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → on the mountainsהָרִים֙hā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study →, you will see itתִּרְא֔וּtir·’ū — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study →; when a ram’s hornשׁוֹפָ֖רšō·w·p̄ār — Ram's horn trumpet; shofarH7782 — Full Word Study → soundsוְכִתְקֹ֥עַwə·ḵiṯ·qō·a‘ — to blow, sound, thrust, or strike with forceH8628 — Full Word Study →, you will hear itתִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃סtiš·mā·‘ū — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study →. 4Forכִּי֩kî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → this is whatכֹ֨הḵōh — thus, so, in this mannerH3541 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → has toldאָמַ֤ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → meאֵלַ֔י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →: “I will quietlyאֶשְׁקוֹטָהʾɛš·qō·ṭå̄h — to rest, be quiet, or settle in peaceH8252 — Full Word Study → look onוְאַבִּ֣יטָהwə·’ab·bî·ṭāh — To look upon, regard, or behold with attentionH5027 — Full Word Study → from My dwelling placeבִמְכוֹנִ֑יḇim·ḵō·w·nî — Foundation, established place, dwellingH4349 — Full Word Study →, like shimmeringצַח֙ṣaḥ — Bright, clear, or dazzling in appearanceH6703 — Full Word Study → heatכְּחֹ֥םkə·ḥōm — Heat, warmth, or intense burning sensationH2527 — Full Word Study → inעֲלֵי־‘ă·lê- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the sunshineא֔וֹר’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study →, like a cloudכְּעָ֥בkə·‘āḇ — Cloud, thick cloud, or cloud massH5645 — Full Word Study → of dewטַ֖לṭal — dew; moisture from the skyH2919 — Full Word Study → in the heatבְּחֹ֥םbə·ḥōm — Heat, warmth, or intense burning sensationH2527 — Full Word Study → of harvestקָצִֽיר׃qā·ṣîr — Harvest; the reaping of crops or figuratively, a limb or branchH7105 — Full Word Study →.” 5Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → beforeלִפְנֵ֤יlip̄·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the harvestקָצִיר֙qā·ṣîr — Harvest; the reaping of crops or figuratively, a limb or branchH7105 — Full Word Study →, when the blossomפֶּ֔רַחpe·raḥ — Flower or blossom; blooming plant partH6525 — Full Word Study → is goneכְּתָם־kə·ṯām- — to finish, complete, bring to an endH8552 — Full Word Study → and the flowerנִצָּ֑הniṣ·ṣāh — Flower; bloom; blossomH5328 — Full Word Study → becomesיִֽהְיֶ֣הyih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a ripeningגֹּמֵ֖לgō·mêl — To deal bountifully; to ripen or mature; to repay or rewardH1580 — Full Word Study → grapeוּבֹ֥סֶרū·ḇō·ser — Unripe or sour grape; fruit not yet matureH1155 — Full Word Study →, He will cut offוְכָרַ֤תwə·ḵā·raṯ — To cut; to make a covenantH3772 — Full Word Study → the shootsהַזַּלְזַלִּים֙haz·zal·zal·lîm — vine tendril; trailing shootH2150 — Full Word Study → with a pruning knifeבַּמַּזְמֵר֔וֹתbam·maz·mê·rō·wṯ — pruning hook or pruning knifeH4211 — Full Word Study → andוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ- — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → removeהֵתַֽז׃hê·ṯaz — to strike away, cut down, hewH8456 — Full Word Study → and discardהֵסִ֥ירhê·sîr — to turn aside, depart, removeH5493 — Full Word Study → the branchesהַנְּטִישׁ֖וֹתhan·nə·ṭî·šō·wṯ — Tendril, branch, or creeping plant growthH5189 — Full Word Study →. 6They will allיַחְדָּו֙yaḥ·dāw — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study → be leftיֵעָזְב֤וּyê·‘ā·zə·ḇū — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → to the mountainהָרִ֔יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → birds of preyלְעֵ֣יטlə·‘êṭ — Bird of prey; ravenous birdH5861 — Full Word Study →, and to the beastsוּֽלְבֶהֱמַ֖תū·lə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → of the landהָאָ֑רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. The birdsהָעַ֔יִטhā·‘a·yiṭ — Bird of prey; ravenous birdH5861 — Full Word Study → will feed on them in summerוְקָ֤ץwə·qāṣ — to summer, spend the summerH6972 — Full Word Study →, and allוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the wild animalsבֶּהֱמַ֥תbe·hĕ·maṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → in winterתֶּחֱרָֽף׃te·ḥĕ·rāp̄ — to reproach, defy, or insult; to blasphemeH2778 — Full Word Study →. 7At thatהַהִ֨יאha·hî — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → timeבָּעֵת֩bā·‘êṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → giftsשַׁ֜יšay — A gift or present given as tribute or offeringH7862 — Full Word Study → will be broughtיֽוּבַל־yū·ḇal- — to lead, conduct, or carry forthH2986 — Full Word Study → to the LORDלַיהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → of Hostsצְבָא֗וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — army, host, or organized military forceH6635 — Full Word Study →from a peopleעַ֚ם‘am — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → tallמְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְmə·muš·šāḵ — to draw, pull, extend, or prolongH4900 — Full Word Study → and smooth-skinnedוּמוֹרָ֔טū·mō·w·rāṭ — to polish, smooth, or make bright; to pluck or scrape offH4803 — Full Word Study →, from a peopleוּמֵעַ֥םū·mê·‘am — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → widelyמִן־min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → fearedנוֹרָ֖אnō·w·rā — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study →, from a powerfulקָ֣וqāw — A cord, line, or measuring instrument; figuratively, a rule or standardH6957 — Full Word Study → nationגּ֣וֹי׀gō·w — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → of strange speechוּמְבוּסָ֗הū·mə·ḇū·sāh — Treading down, subjugation, trampling underfootH4001 — Full Word Study →, whoseאֲשֶׁ֨ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → landאַרְצ֔וֹ’ar·ṣōw — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → is dividedבָּזְא֤וּbā·zə·’ū — to plunder, spoil, or despoilH958 — Full Word Study → by riversנְהָרִים֙nə·hā·rîm — River, StreamH5104 — Full Word Study →toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Mountהַר־har- — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → Zionצִיּֽוֹן׃סṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →, the placeמְק֛וֹםmə·qō·wm — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study → of the Nameשֵׁם־šêm- — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → of Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ — army, host, or organized military forceH6635 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Isaiah 18
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Isaiah 18 presents a mysterious oracle concerning a distant nation beyond the rivers of Ethiopia—likely referring to ancient Cush or Sudan. The passage begins with a "woe" (a divine warning) directed at this land, describing its ambassadors and scattered people. However, the chapter's true focus shifts to God's sovereign plan: He will observe the nations, judge them in His perfect timing, and ultimately receive tribute from all peoples, establishing His kingdom on Mount Zion. This is ultimately a message of God's universal authority and the gathering of nations to His glory.

Verses 1–3: The Distant Nation and God's Call to Witness

Isaiah identifies a powerful nation "shadowing with wings" (verse 1)—likely describing either a nation with widespread influence or, more literally, one with impressive naval or military power. This land sends swift ambassadors by sea in boats made of papyrus reeds, reaching out to a scattered, vulnerable people. The vivid description in verse 2—"scattered and peeled," "terrible from their beginning," "trodden down"—paints a picture of a nation with a fearsome military reputation but presently diminished circumstances.

In verse 3, Isaiah calls all inhabitants of the earth to attention: when God "lifteth up an ensign on the mountains" and "bloweth a trumpet," everyone must take notice. This is God preparing to act. The ensign (banner) and trumpet are biblical symbols of divine announcement and judgment. God is signaling that something momentous is about to happen, and all nations should watch and listen.

Verses 4–6: God's Judgment and Rest

Verse 4 shifts perspective to God's own declaration: "I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place." Despite the activity and ambassadors of earthly powers, the Lord remains calm and sovereign. He observes "like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest"—poetic language suggesting both clarity of vision and the precise timing of God's judgment. God sees everything and acts at exactly the right moment.

Verses 5–6 describe God's pruning judgment. Before harvest, when the fruit is still forming, God cuts off sprigs and branches with pruning hooks. This imagery suggests divine judgment that removes what is unfruitful or opposed to His purposes. The cut branches are left for scavengers—"the fowls of the mountains" and "beasts of the earth" will feed on them in summer and winter. This depicts the complete removal and shame that follows God's judgment. It is a sobering reminder that nations opposing God's purposes will be thoroughly dealt with.

Verse 7: The Gathering of Nations to Zion

The final verse reveals the ultimate outcome: "In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD." Despite judgment, the same scattered and peeled people mentioned in verse 2 will bring gifts—"presents"—to the Lord. They will come to "the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion." This is a vision of restoration and submission. Nations that once seemed powerful or antagonistic will ultimately acknowledge God's supremacy and bring their tribute to Mount Zion, God's holy dwelling place.

Application for Today

Isaiah 18 reminds us that God's kingdom is not determined by earthly power or political maneuvering. When we face a world in turmoil where nations scheme and powers clash, we can rest in God's sovereign calm. He observes all things, judges with perfect timing, and is drawing all peoples toward His throne. Our calling is to align ourselves with His purposes, trust His patience, and look forward to that day when all nations will bow before Him at Zion—the place of His glory and grace.

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