Isaiah 20:2-4

2 at that time the LORD spoke through 1Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loosen the 2sackcloth from your hips and take your 3shoes off your feet." And he did so, going 4naked and barefoot.
3 And the LORD said, "Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a 5sign and token against Egypt and 6Cush,
4 so the 7king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, 8young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Isaiah 20:2-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 20

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of the Egyptians and Ethiopians by the Assyrians, which had been prophesied of separately in the two preceding chapters Isa 18:1-19:25, and now conjunctly in this: the time of it is given, Isa 20:1 the sign of it, the prophet's walking naked, and barefoot, Isa 20:2 the explanation and accommodation of the sign to the captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia, Isa 20:3,4 the use of this to the Jews, and the effect it had upon them; shame for their trust and dependence on the above nations, and despair of deliverance from the Assyrians by their means, Isa 20:5,6.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 13:1
  • 2. Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 3:4
  • 3. Ezekiel 24:17, 23
  • 4. 1 Samuel 19:24; Micah 1:8
  • 5. Isaiah 8:18
  • 6. Isaiah 37:9; Isaiah 43:3
  • 7. Isaiah 19:4
  • 8. Isaiah 47:2, 3

Footnotes 3

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