BibleWord.ai› Bible› Isaiah› Chapter 20› Verse 4

Isaiah 20:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 20:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
Isaiah 20:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;
2at that time Jehovah spake by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put thy shoe from off thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
3And Jehovah said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia;
4so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
5And they shall be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
6And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?
← Isaiah 20:3Isaiah 20:5 →
← Full Chapter 20 Isaiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, &c.] As beasts are led or driven, being taken prisoners, and carried captive by the king of Assyria, namely Sargon, whoever is intended by him: young and old; without any regard to age, sparing none for their tender years or gray hairs: naked and barefoot; as prisoners of war commonly are, being stripped by their conquerors of their clothes, and having only a few rags given them to cover their nakedness with, and obliged to travel without shoes on their feet: even with [their] buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt; having no clothes on them to cover those parts; or the skirts of their garments…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“buttocks uncovered--BELZONI says that captives are found represented thus on Egyptian monuments (Isa 47:2-3; Nah 3:5, Nah 3:8-9), where as here, Egypt and Ethiopia are mentioned as in alliance.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So shall the king of Assyria - The emphasis here is on the word “so.” As Isaiah has walked naked, that is, stripped off his usual clothing, “so” shall the Egyptians and Ethiopians be led away “stripped” of all their possessions. The Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives - The Egyptians and Ethiopians, or Cushites, were often united in an alliance, and appear to have been when this prophecy was delivered. Thus Nahum 3:8 : Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers. To the shame of Egypt - It shall be a disgrace to them to be subdued, and to be carried captive in so humiliating a manner. It is remarked by Belzoni (‘Operations and Recent…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Uncovered - Having their garments cut off by the middle. Isaiah 20:5”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall: Isa 19:4; Jer 46:26; Eze 30:18 Egyptians: Heb. captivity of Egypt with their: Isa 3:17; Sa2 10:4; Jer 13:22, Jer 13:26; Mic 1:11 shame: Heb. nakedness, Rev 3:18 Isaiah 20:5”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Isaiah 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification