Isaiah 20

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 20

1¶ In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

2At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

3And 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;

4So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with [their] buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

5And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

6And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 20 records a prophetic act performed by the prophet Isaiah. Commanded by the LORD, Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign. This act symbolized the future humiliation of Egypt and Ethiopia, who would be led away captive by the King of Assyria, bringing shame upon those who had placed their hope in them.

Medium Summary

In the year Tartan, sent by King Sargon of Assyria, captured Ashdod, the LORD gave a specific command to the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was instructed to remove his sackcloth and shoes, walking naked and barefoot, a command he faithfully obeyed. The LORD then revealed that Isaiah's three-year period of walking in this manner served as a prophetic sign and wonder concerning Egypt and Ethiopia. This symbolic act foretold that the King of Assyria would lead away Egyptian and Ethiopian prisoners and captives, both young and old, in a similar state of nakedness and bare feet, exposing their shame. Consequently, those nations and peoples who had placed their expectation and glory in Egypt and Ethiopia would experience fear and profound shame. The inhabitants of the region, observing this devastation, would lament the loss of their hoped-for allies and question their own means of escape from Assyrian power.

Long Summary

The chapter opens by situating the prophecy within a specific historical context: the year Tartan, a general sent by Sargon, King of Assyria, successfully besieged and captured the Philistine city of Ashdod. During this period, the LORD directly addressed the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, issuing a peculiar and demanding instruction. Isaiah was commanded to remove his sackcloth, which was a garment of mourning or penitence, from his loins and to take off his shoes, thus walking naked and barefoot. The prophet immediately complied with this divine directive, adopting this state of undress. The LORD subsequently clarified the profound significance of Isaiah's actions, explaining that his three years of walking naked and barefoot were intended as a powerful sign and a wonder specifically against the nations of Egypt and Ethiopia. This prophetic pantomime vividly foreshadowed the future fate of these two prominent powers. The LORD declared that just as Isaiah had walked, so too would the King of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives. These captives would include both the young and the old, all stripped of their clothing and footwear, with their buttocks uncovered, thereby bringing immense shame and humiliation upon Egypt. The consequence of this devastating defeat would be widespread fear and shame among those who had placed their trust and expectation in Ethiopia, or who had considered Egypt their glory and source of strength. Finally, the chapter concludes with the anticipated reaction of the inhabitants of "this isle" – likely referring to the people of Judah or the surrounding region. Upon witnessing the downfall of their supposed protectors, they would express despair, acknowledging that their hoped-for refuge and source of help against Assyria had been utterly destroyed, leaving them to question their own prospects for survival and escape.

Core Concepts

  • Prophetic Sign-ActIsaiah's act of walking naked and barefoot for three years was a divinely commanded physical demonstration. It served as a visible, tangible prophecy, conveying a message more powerfully than words alone.
  • Humiliation of Egypt and EthiopiaThe core message of the chapter is the impending defeat and public shaming of these two nations by Assyria. Their people would be led away captive, stripped and exposed, signifying their loss of power and dignity.
  • Assyrian DominanceThe chapter highlights Assyria's military might and its role as God's instrument of judgment. The capture of Ashdod and the prophesied subjugation of Egypt and Ethiopia underscore Assyria's regional supremacy.
  • Misplaced TrustThe fear and shame expressed by those who relied on Egypt and Ethiopia illustrate the folly of placing trust in human alliances rather than in the LORD. Their 'expectation' and 'glory' proved futile.
  • Divine Command and ObedienceIsaiah's immediate and prolonged obedience to the LORD's unusual and personally humiliating command demonstrates the prophet's submission to God's will, even in difficult circumstances.
  • Consequences of AllianceThe chapter implicitly warns Judah (the 'inhabitant of this isle') about the dangers of seeking alliances with powerful nations like Egypt, as their ultimate fate would offer no security.
  • Nakedness as ShameThe repeated mention of captives being led away 'naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered' emphasizes the profound public disgrace and vulnerability associated with this state in ancient Near Eastern culture.