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Isaiah 20

BSB·6 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Before the yearבִּשְׁנַ֨תbiš·naṯ — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → that the chief commanderתַרְתָּן֙ṯar·tān — Assyrian military commanderH8661 — Full Word Study →, sentבִּשְׁלֹ֣חbiš·lōḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → by Sargonסַֽרְג֖וֹןsar·ḡō·wn — The king whose name means 'legitimacy'H5623 — Full Word Study → kingמֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of Assyriaאַשּׁ֑וּר’aš·šūr — Assyria, ancient empireH804 — Full Word Study →, cameבֹּ֤אbō — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → to Ashdodאַשְׁדּ֔וֹדָה’aš·dō·w·ḏāh — A major Philistine cityH795 — Full Word Study → and attackedוַיִּלָּ֥חֶםway·yil·lā·ḥem — to fight; to consume; to battleH3898 — Full Word Study → and capturedוַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃way·yil·kə·ḏāh — To capture, seize, or take hold ofH3920 — Full Word Study → it, 2the LORDיְהוָה֮Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → had already spokenדִּבֶּ֣רdib·ber — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → throughבְּיַ֣דbə·yaḏ — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּyə·ša‘·yā·hū — Isaiah; the name of seven IsraelitesH3470 — Full Word Study → sonבֶן־ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Amozאָמוֹץ֮’ā·mō·wṣ — Strong FatherH531 — Full Word Study →, sayingלֵאמֹר֒lê·mōr — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Goלֵ֗ךְlêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, removeוּפִתַּחְתָּ֤ū·p̄it·taḥ·tā — to open, loosen, or beginH6605 — Full Word Study → the sackclothהַשַּׂק֙haś·śaq — Coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or repentanceH8242 — Full Word Study → fromמֵעַ֣לmê·‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → your waistמָתְנֶ֔יךָmā·ṯə·ne·ḵā — loins, waist, side of the bodyH4975 — Full Word Study → and the sandalsוְנַעַלְךָ֥wə·na·‘al·ḵā — Sandal or shoe; footwearH5275 — Full Word Study → from your feetרַגְלֶ֑יךָraḡ·le·ḵā — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study →.” And Isaiah did soכֵּ֔ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study →, walking aroundהָלֹ֖ךְhā·lōḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → nakedעָר֥וֹם‘ā·rō·wm — naked, bare, exposedH6174 — Full Word Study → and barefootוְיָחֵֽף׃סwə·yā·ḥêp̄ — barefoot, unshodH3182 — Full Word Study →. 3Then the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “Just asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka·’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → My servantעַבְדִּ֥י‘aḇ·dî — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study → Isaiahיְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּyə·ša‘·yā·hū — Isaiah; the name of seven IsraelitesH3470 — Full Word Study → has goneהָלַ֛ךְhā·laḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → nakedעָר֣וֹם‘ā·rō·wm — naked, bare, exposedH6174 — Full Word Study → and barefootוְיָחֵ֑ףwə·yā·ḥêp̄ — barefoot, unshodH3182 — Full Word Study → for threeשָׁלֹ֤שׁšā·lōš — The number three; a group of three thingsH7969 — Full Word Study → yearsשָׁנִים֙šā·nîm — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → as a signא֣וֹת’ō·wṯ — A sign or miraculous wonder that authenticates God's powerH226 — Full Word Study → and omenוּמוֹפֵ֔תū·mō·w·p̄êṯ — A miraculous sign or wonder performed by GodH4159 — Full Word Study → againstעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Egyptמִצְרַ֖יִםmiṣ·ra·yim — Egypt, the ancient nationH4714 — Full Word Study → and Cushכּֽוּשׁ׃kūš — Cush; Ethiopia; a remote African nationH3568 — Full Word Study →, 4soכֵּ֣ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־me·leḵ- — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of Assyriaאַ֠שּׁוּר’aš·šūr — Assyria, ancient empireH804 — Full Word Study → will lead awayיִנְהַ֣גyin·haḡ — to lead, drive, guideH5090 — Full Word Study → the captivesשְׁבִ֨יšə·ḇî — captivity, exile, or the captured/enslaved peopleH7628 — Full Word Study → of Egyptמִצְרַ֜יִםmiṣ·ra·yim — Egypt, the ancient nationH4714 — Full Word Study → and the exilesגָּל֥וּתgā·lūṯ — captivity, exile, deportationH1546 — Full Word Study → of Cushכּ֛וּשׁkūš — Cush; Ethiopia; a remote African nationH3568 — Full Word Study →, youngנְעָרִ֥יםnə·‘ā·rîm — Young man, boy, or male servantH5288 — Full Word Study → and old alikeוּזְקֵנִ֖יםū·zə·qê·nîm — An old person; an elder with authority and wisdomH2205 — Full Word Study →, nakedעָר֣וֹם‘ā·rō·wm — naked, bare, exposedH6174 — Full Word Study → and barefootוְיָחֵ֑ףwə·yā·ḥêp̄ — barefoot, unshodH3182 — Full Word Study →, with baredוַחֲשׂוּפַ֥יwa·ḥă·śū·p̄ay — to uncover, expose, lay bareH2834 — Full Word Study → buttocksשֵׁ֖תšêṯ — buttock, posteriorH8357 — Full Word Study →to Egypt’sמִצְרָֽיִם׃miṣ·rā·yim — Egypt, the ancient nationH4714 — Full Word Study → shameעֶרְוַ֥ת‘er·waṯ — nakedness, shame, exposed vulnerabilityH6172 — Full Word Study →. 5Those who made Cushמִכּוּשׁ֙mik·kūš — Cush; Ethiopia; a remote African nationH3568 — Full Word Study → their hopeמַבָּטָ֔םmab·bā·ṭām — expectation, hope, waitingH4007 — Full Word Study → and Egyptמִצְרַ֖יִםmiṣ·ra·yim — Egypt, the ancient nationH4714 — Full Word Study → their boastתִּפְאַרְתָּֽם׃tip̄·’ar·tām — Beauty, glory, splendor, or magnificenceH8597 — Full Word Study → will be dismayedוְחַתּ֖וּwə·ḥat·tū — to be dismayed, terrified, or beaten downH2865 — Full Word Study → and ashamedוָבֹ֑שׁוּwā·ḇō·šū — to be ashamed; to feel shame or disgraceH954 — Full Word Study →. 6And on thatהַהוּא֒ha·hū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → the dwellersיֹשֵׁ֨בyō·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → of thisהַזֶּה֮haz·zeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → coastlandהָאִ֣יhā·’î — coastland, distant island, or remote regionH339 — Full Word Study → will sayוְ֠אָמַרwə·’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, ‘Seeהִנֵּה־hin·nêh- — Look! Behold! Pay attention!H2009 — Full Word Study → what has happenedכֹ֣הḵōh — thus, so, in this mannerH3541 — Full Word Study → to our source of hopeמַבָּטֵ֗נוּmab·bā·ṭê·nū — expectation, hope, waitingH4007 — Full Word Study →, those to whomאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer- — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → we fledנַ֤סְנוּnas·nū — to flee, escape, or run awayH5127 — Full Word Study → for helpלְעֶזְרָ֔הlə·‘ez·rāh — help, assistance, aidH5833 — Full Word Study → and deliveranceלְהִ֨נָּצֵ֔לlə·hin·nā·ṣêl — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study → fromמִפְּנֵ֖יmip·pə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the kingמֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of Assyriaאַשּׁ֑וּר’aš·šūr — Assyria, ancient empireH804 — Full Word Study →! How thenוְאֵ֖יךְwə·’êḵ — How? In what way? Where?H349 — Full Word Study → can weאֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ס’ă·nā·ḥə·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → escapeנִמָּלֵ֥טnim·mā·lêṭ — to escape, deliver, or save from dangerH4422 — Full Word Study →?’”
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Chapter Commentary — Isaiah 20
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Isaiah chapter 20 records one of the most unusual and difficult symbolic actions in all of Scripture. The prophet Isaiah is commanded by the Lord to walk naked and barefoot through the streets for three years as a living sign to Judah of the coming judgment and captivity that will befall Egypt and Ethiopia. This chapter demonstrates the costliness of true prophecy and the lengths to which God will go to warn His people of impending judgment. Through Isaiah's humiliating obedience, the Lord communicates a sobering message: those who trust in earthly powers rather than in God will be stripped of their dignity and security.

Verses 1-2: The Historical Setting and the Startling Command

Verse 1 establishes the historical context: Sargon of Assyria sends his commander (Tartan) to capture the city of Ashdod. This military campaign was a real historical event (approximately 711 BC) and marks the beginning of Assyria's westward expansion toward Judah. It is at this precise moment of geopolitical upheaval that God speaks to Isaiah.

In verse 2, the Lord commands Isaiah to remove his sackcloth (a garment of mourning) and his sandal, and to walk naked and barefoot. The text emphasizes that "he did so"—Isaiah obeys without hesitation or protest. This was an extraordinarily shameful action in ancient Near Eastern culture, where nakedness was associated with slavery, captivity, and extreme humiliation. Yet the prophet submits to God's word completely.

Verses 3-4: The Three-Year Sign and Its Meaning

Verse 3 clarifies that Isaiah walked in this condition for three years as "a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia." The word "sign" (Hebrew: oth) indicates a divinely appointed symbol meant to communicate God's message to His people. Isaiah's own body becomes the sermon.

Verse 4 interprets the sign: just as Isaiah walks naked and barefoot, so will Assyria lead away the Egyptians and Ethiopians as prisoners and captives, "naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt." The repetition of "naked and barefoot" connects the prophet's humiliating action directly to the humiliation that awaits these nations. This is what military defeat and captivity actually look like—not the glorious rescue Judah hoped for from these supposed allies.

Verses 5-6: The Failure of False Confidence

Verse 5 describes the future shame: the people of Judah "shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory." They had placed their hope in these mighty nations, believing Egypt and Ethiopia would protect them from Assyrian invasion. But these allies would themselves become captives.

Verse 6 brings the message home directly. The "inhabitant of this isle" (referring to Judah) will finally understand their desperate situation. They had foolishly fled to Egypt for help, thinking this superpower would deliver them from Assyria. The chapter concludes with a haunting rhetorical question: "How shall we escape?" The answer is implied—only through trust in the Lord, not in earthly powers.

Application for Today

Isaiah 20 challenges us to examine where we place our confidence. Like ancient Judah, we often trust in visible, earthly securities—wealth, status, political alliances, personal strength—while neglecting our relationship with God. The prophet's willingness to endure public shame for three years demonstrates the priority of obedience to God's word over personal comfort or reputation. When God calls us to stand apart, to speak truth that is unpopular, or to trust Him in uncertain times, may we respond with Isaiah's faithful courage, remembering that ultimate security rests only in the Lord.

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