Isaiah 20:2-4

2 at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet," and he did so, walking 1naked and barefoot.
3 Then the LORD said, "As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years 2as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush,[a]
4 so shall the 3king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness 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 3

  • 1. Micah 1:8, 11; [1 Samuel 19:24]
  • 2. [Isaiah 8:18]
  • 3. Isaiah 19:4

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.