Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the LORD said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, New Living Translation Then the LORD said, “My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign—a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. English Standard Version Then the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Cush, Berean Standard Bible Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, Berean Literal Bible And YHWH said, “As My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a wonder against Egypt and against Cush, King James Bible And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; New King James Version Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, New American Standard Bible Then the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and symbol against Egypt and Cush, NASB 1995 And the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, NASB 1977 And the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, Legacy Standard Bible And Yahweh said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, Amplified Bible And the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has walked stripped and barefoot for three years as a sign and forewarning concerning Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia), Berean Annotated Bible Then the LORD {YHWH} said, “Just as My servant Isaiah (YHWH has saved) has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt (land of bondage) and Cush (the upper Nile region), Christian Standard Bible the LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, Holman Christian Standard Bible the LORD said, “As My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, American Standard Version And 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; Contemporary English Version for three years. Then the LORD said: What Isaiah has done is a warning to Egypt and Ethiopia. English Revised Version And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; GOD'S WORD® Translation Then the LORD said, "My servant Isaiah has gone barefoot and naked for three years as a sign and as an omen to Egypt and Sudan. Good News Translation When Ashdod was captured, the LORD said, "My servant Isaiah has been going around naked and barefoot for three years. This is a sign of what will happen to Egypt and Ethiopia. International Standard Version Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked around naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a warning for Egypt and Ethiopia, NET Bible Later the LORD explained, "In the same way that my servant Isaiah has walked around in undergarments and barefoot for the past three years, as an object lesson and omen pertaining to Egypt and Cush, New Heart English Bible The LORD said, "As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia, Webster's Bible Translation And the LORD said, As my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Cush; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, World English Bible Yahweh said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd YHWH says, “As My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years, a sign and a wonder for Egypt and for Cush, Berean Literal Bible And YHWH said, “As My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a wonder against Egypt and against Cush, Young's Literal Translation And Jehovah saith, 'As My servant Isaiah hath gone naked and barefoot three years, a sign and a wonder for Egypt and for Cush, Smith's Literal Translation And Jehovah will say, As my servant Isaiah went naked and barefoot three years, a sign and miracle upon Egypt and upon Cush: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the Lord said: As my servant Isaias hath walked, naked and barefoot, it shall be a sign and a wonder of three years upon Egypt, and upon Ethiopia, Catholic Public Domain Version And the Lord said: Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot, as a sign and as a portent of three years over Egypt and over Ethiopia, New American Bible Then the LORD said: Just as my servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and portent against Egypt and Ethiopia, New Revised Standard Version Then the LORD said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Ethiopia, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the Lord said, As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot, so shall there be signs and wonders for three years upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And LORD JEHOVAH said: “Just as my Servant Eshaiya has walked naked and barefoot, thus there shall be signs and wonders three years upon Egypt and upon Cush OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the LORD said: 'Like as My servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot to be for three years a sign and a wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia, Brenton Septuagint Translation And the Lord said, As my servant Esaias has walked naked and barefoot three years, there shall be three years for signs and wonders to the Egyptians and Ethiopians; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Sign Against Egypt and Cush…2the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot. 3Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, 4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.… Cross References Then the LORD said, Ezekiel 12:1-3 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. / Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Jeremiah 13:1-3 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” / So I bought a loincloth in accordance with the word of the LORD, and I put it around my waist. / Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: Hosea 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.” “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years Micah 1:8 Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. 2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. Ezekiel 4:4-6 Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. / For I have assigned to you 390 days, according to the number of years of their iniquity. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. / When you have completed these days, lie down again, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. I have assigned to you 40 days, a day for each year. as a sign and omen Isaiah 8:18 Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. Ezekiel 12:6-11 And as they watch, lift your bags to your shoulder and take them out at dusk; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” / So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my bags for exile by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall by hand. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulder as they watched. / And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying, … Jeremiah 19:10-11 Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you, / and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them. against Egypt and Cush, Ezekiel 30:4-5 A sword will come against Egypt, and there will be anguish in Cush when the slain fall in Egypt, its wealth is taken away, and its foundations are torn down. / Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword. Isaiah 19:1-4 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them. / “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. / Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists. … Isaiah 18:1-2 Woe to the land of whirring wings, along the rivers of Cush, / which sends couriers by sea, in papyrus vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people widely feared, to a powerful nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. Isaiah 7:11-14 “Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.” / But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.” / Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well? … Isaiah 37:30 And this will be a sign to you, O Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows on its own, and in the second year what springs from the same. But in the third year you will sow and reap; you will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. Isaiah 8:4 For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 19:20 It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them. Treasury of Scripture And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder on Egypt and on Ethiopia; three Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. Ezekiel 4:5,6 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel… Revelation 11:2,3 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months… a sign Isaiah 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Upon Egypt Isaiah 18:1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: Jump to Previous Barefoot Cush Egypt Ethiopia Isaiah Naked Portent Servant Shoes Sign Stripped Three Token Unclothed Walked WonderJump to Next Barefoot Cush Egypt Ethiopia Isaiah Naked Portent Servant Shoes Sign Stripped Three Token Unclothed Walked WonderIsaiah 20 1. A type prefiguring the shameful captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia.Then the LORD said This phrase indicates divine communication, emphasizing the authority and direct involvement of God in the events described. Throughout the Bible, when the LORD speaks, it signifies the importance and certainty of the message. This is consistent with the prophetic tradition where God directly instructs His prophets. “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe sovereign God of Israel, who communicates His will and purposes through His prophets. 2. Isaiah A major prophet in the Old Testament, called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah and surrounding nations. 3. Egypt A powerful nation in the ancient Near East, often seen as a symbol of worldly power and reliance on human strength rather than God. 4. Cush A region south of Egypt, often associated with Ethiopia, representing another nation that Israel might be tempted to rely on instead of trusting in God. 5. Three Years The period during which Isaiah acted out this prophetic sign, symbolizing the impending judgment and humiliation of Egypt and Cush. Teaching Points Prophetic SymbolismIsaiah's actions serve as a vivid, living parable. God often uses tangible signs to communicate spiritual truths, reminding us to be attentive to His messages in our lives. Reliance on God The warning against Egypt and Cush underscores the danger of relying on worldly powers instead of trusting in God's sovereignty. Believers are encouraged to place their trust in God rather than in human strength or alliances. Obedience in Uncomfortable Situations Isaiah's willingness to obey God's command, even when it involved personal discomfort and potential humiliation, challenges us to consider our own obedience to God's calling, regardless of the cost. Judgment and Hope While the message is one of impending judgment, it also serves as a call to repentance and trust in God, who is ultimately in control of all nations and events. God's Sovereignty Over Nations The prophecy against Egypt and Cush highlights God's authority over all nations, reminding us that He is the ultimate ruler of history and the affairs of men. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 20:3?2. How does Isaiah 20:3 illustrate obedience to God's challenging commands in our lives? 3. What can we learn from Isaiah's actions about trusting God's plan? 4. How does Isaiah 20:3 connect with other instances of prophetic symbolism in Scripture? 5. How can we apply Isaiah's example of faithfulness in our daily walk with God? 6. What does Isaiah 20:3 teach about the cost of discipleship and following God's will? 7. Why did God command Isaiah to walk naked and barefoot for three years in Isaiah 20:3? 8. What is the significance of Isaiah's actions as a sign against Egypt and Cush? 9. How does Isaiah 20:3 challenge our understanding of prophetic symbolism? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 20? 11. How does Isaiah’s prolonged nakedness (Isaiah 20:2–3) align with other biblical commands on decency, and why would God command a prophet to violate modesty for an extended period? 12. If Isaiah truly walked 'naked and barefoot' for three years (Isaiah 20:2-3), why doesn't any external source mention such a shocking act, and how could it have gone unnoticed by contemporaries? 13. Why would God forbid Ezekiel from mourning his wife's death (Ezekiel 24:15-18), and how does this command reconcile with the Bible's portrayal of divine compassion? 14. How does the prophecy of a coalition of nations in Ezekiel 38:5-6 align or conflict with other biblical prophecies of end-time alliances? What Does Isaiah 20:3 Mean Then the LORD said• The verse opens with God Himself speaking, underscoring His authority (Isaiah 1:2; Psalm 33:9). • Every directive comes from the Lord, reminding us that prophecy flows from divine initiative, not human invention (2 Peter 1:21; Exodus 4:12). • Because the words are God-breathed, we can trust the accuracy of what follows (2 Timothy 3:16). Just as My servant Isaiah has gone • God calls Isaiah “My servant,” placing him in the line of obedient messengers like Moses (Joshua 1:2) and David (Psalm 89:20). • A servant’s role is to carry out the master’s will, no matter how unconventional it seems (John 12:26). • Isaiah’s obedience models how faith expresses itself in action (James 2:17). naked and barefoot • The phrase describes a literal state—Isaiah actually laid aside normal dress (Micah 1:8) to become a living illustration. • In the ancient Near East, captives were often stripped and marched barefoot (2 Kings 25:6-7), so Isaiah embodied that humiliation. • God sometimes chooses startling signs to jolt people awake (1 Corinthians 1:27; Ezekiel 24:24). for three years • The lengthy duration shows God’s patience, giving nations ample warning before judgment (2 Peter 3:9). • Three years also conveys completeness, as seen in Jesus’ roughly three-year public ministry (Luke 13:7) and the three-day sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:40). • Day after day, Isaiah’s appearance kept the message in front of everyone—truth doesn’t fade with time (Galatians 6:9). as a sign and omen • Prophetic “sign acts” translate words into visible realities (Jeremiah 13:1-11; Ezekiel 4:1-3). • A sign points to something certain; an omen stresses the coming consequence. Both reveal God’s mercy in warning before He strikes (Amos 3:7). • Like Jesus cleansing the temple as a sign of His authority (John 2:19-22), Isaiah’s act was a living sermon. against Egypt and Cush • Egypt and Cush (modern Sudan/Ethiopia) were regional powers offering political alliances to Judah (Isaiah 30:1-3). • God exposes the folly of trusting human strength; those who lean on worldly power will share its downfall (Isaiah 31:1; Psalm 146:3-5). • History fulfilled the prophecy when Assyria led Egyptians and Cushites away in chains (Nahum 3:8-10; Ezekiel 30:4-5). summary Isaiah 20:3 records God’s deliberate command that the prophet live three years literally naked and barefoot. The shocking visual warned Judah not to rely on Egypt and Cush, for those very nations would be humbled and marched off as captives. Isaiah’s obedience highlights God’s sovereign right to use His servants as living messages, His patience in giving repeated warnings, and His faithfulness to carry out promised judgment. Trusting the Lord, not human alliances, remains the only secure refuge. (3) For a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia.--Apparently Isaiah prophesied in act, but in silence, and did not unfold the meaning of the symbol till the three years came to an end. There are no adequate grounds for limiting his dramatic action to a single day or three days. Egypt and Ethiopia are, as in Isaiah 18, 19, closely connected, both countries being under a king of Ethiopian origin, Sabaco.Verse 3. - My servant Isaiah. Isaiah shares this honorable title, "my servant," with a select few among God's saints - with Abraham (Genesis 26:24), Moses (Numbers 12:7), Caleb (Numbers 14:24), Job (Job 1:8; Job 42:7, 8), Eliakim (Isaiah 22:20), and Zerubbabel (Haggai 2:23). It is a great acknowledgment for the Creator to make to the creature, that he really does him service. Three years. Probably from B.C. 713 to B.C. 711, or during the whole of the time that Philistia, Edom, Moab, and Judah were making representations to the Egyptians and Ethiopians, and endeavoring to obtain their aid (see G. Smith, 'Eponym Canon,' p. 130). It has been proposed, by an arbitrary emendation, to cut down the time to "three days;" but a three days' sign of the kind could not have been expected to have any important effect. The supposed "impropriety" of Isaiah's having "gone naked and barefoot" for three years arises from a misconception of the word "naked." which is not to be taken literally (see the comment on ver. 2). The costume adopted would be extraordinary, especially in one of Isaiah's rank and position; but would not be in any degree "improper." It would be simply that of working men during the greater part of the day (see Exodus 22:26, 27).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then the LORDיְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel said, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka·’ă·šer) Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that My servant עַבְדִּ֥י (‘aḇ·dî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant Isaiah יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ (yə·ša‘·yā·hū) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3470: Isaiah -- 'salvation of Yah', four Israelites has gone הָלַ֛ךְ (hā·laḵ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk naked עָר֣וֹם (‘ā·rō·wm) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6174: Nude, either partially, totally and barefoot וְיָחֵ֑ף (wə·yā·ḥêp̄) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3182: Unsandalled for three שָׁלֹ֤שׁ (šā·lōš) Number - feminine singular Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice years, שָׁנִים֙ (šā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 8141: A year as a sign א֣וֹת (’ō·wṯ) Noun - common singular Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence and omen וּמוֹפֵ֔ת (ū·mō·w·p̄êṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4159: A miracle, a token, omen against עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Egypt מִצְרַ֖יִם (miṣ·ra·yim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa and Cush, כּֽוּשׁ׃ (kūš) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3568: A son of Ham, also his descendants, also a land in the southern Nile Valley Links Isaiah 20:3 NIVIsaiah 20:3 NLT Isaiah 20:3 ESV Isaiah 20:3 NASB Isaiah 20:3 KJV Isaiah 20:3 BibleApps.com Isaiah 20:3 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 20:3 Chinese Bible Isaiah 20:3 French Bible Isaiah 20:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 20:3 Yahweh said As my servant Isaiah has (Isa Isi Is) |
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