Isaiah 7:18

Assyria, the LORD’s Instrument

18 In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.

Isaiah 7:18 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the end of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
New Living Translation (NLT)
18 In that day the LORD will whistle for the army of southern Egypt and for the army of Assyria. They will swarm around you like flies and bees.
The Message Bible (MSG)
18 That's when God will whistle for the flies at the headwaters of Egypt's Nile, and whistle for the bees in the land of Assyria.
American Standard Version (ASV)
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
18 On that day the LORD will whistle for the flies that are at the distant branches of the Nile River in Egypt and for the bees that are in Assyria.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
18 On that day the Lord will whistle to the fly that is at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
18 At that time the LORD will whistle for the Egyptians. They will come like flies from the streams of Egypt. He will also whistle for the Assyrians. They will come from their country like bees.

Isaiah 7:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 7:18

And it shall come to pass in that day
the time when those evil days before spoken of should take place: [that] the Lord shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost
part of the rivers of Egypt;
or flies, as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it; the Egyptians, so called because their country abounded with flies; and because of the multitude of their armies, and the swiftness of their march; this seems to have had its accomplishment when Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt slew Josiah, put his son Jehoahaz, that reigned after him, in bands, placed Eliakim his brother in his stead, and made the land of Judah tributary to him, ( 2 Kings 23:29-35 ) though some think either the Edomites or Philistines, that bordered on Egypt, are meant; who in Ahaz's time invaded Judah, and brought it low, ( 2 Chronicles 28:17-19 ) or else the Ethiopians, that inhabited on the furthermost borders of Egypt, and the rivers of it; who either came up separately against Judah, or served under Nebuchadnezzar; see ( Isaiah 18:1 ) ( 20:1-5 ) ( 37:9 ) ( 2 Kings 24:2 ) : and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria;
the Assyrian army, so called because the country abounded with bees; and because of the number of their armies, their military order and discipline, and their hurtful and mischievous nature. The Targum paraphrases the whole thus,

``and it shall be at that time that the Lord shall call to a people, bands of armies, of mighty men, who are numerous as flies, and shall bring them from the ends of the land of Egypt; and to mighty armies, who are powerful as bees, and shall bring them from the uttermost parts of the land of Assyria:''
hissing or whistling for them denotes the ease with which this should be done, and with what swiftness and readiness those numerous and powerful armies should come; and the allusion is to the calling of bees out of their hives into the fields, and from thence into their hives again, by tinkling of brass, or by some musical sound, in one way or another.

Isaiah 7:18 In-Context

16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”
18 In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.
19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes.
20 In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your heads and private parts, and to cut off your beards also.

Cross References 3

  • 1. ver 20,21; S Isaiah 2:11
  • 2. S Isaiah 5:26
  • 3. Isaiah 13:5
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