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Isaiah 19:4
And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 46:26
And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

Ezekiel 30:18
At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.

Egyptians.

Isaiah 3:17
Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.

2 Samuel 10:4
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle,even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

Jeremiah 13:22,26
And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered,and thy heels made bare…

shame.

Revelation 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, andthat the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

and the exiles of Cush
Cush, often associated with the region south of Egypt, corresponds to modern-day Sudan. The inclusion of Cush indicates the broad scope of Assyrian conquest. This reflects the interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern politics, where the fate of one nation often impacted its neighbors. The mention of Cush emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Assyrian dominance.

young and old alike
This phrase underscores the totality of the Assyrian victory, affecting all demographics within the conquered regions. It highlights the indiscriminate nature of war and exile, where age and status offer no protection. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's protection and guidance.

naked and barefoot
The imagery of captives being led away naked and barefoot signifies utter humiliation and defeat. In ancient times, stripping captives of their clothing was a common practice to degrade and dehumanize them. This vivid picture serves as a warning of the shame and disgrace that come from relying on human alliances rather than divine support.

with bared buttocks
This detail further emphasizes the humiliation and shame experienced by the captives. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, exposing one's buttocks was considered extremely disgraceful. This imagery is intended to convey the depth of Egypt and Cush's humiliation at the hands of Assyria, serving as a cautionary tale for those who place their trust in worldly powers.

to Egypt’s shame
The ultimate result of the Assyrian conquest is the public disgrace of Egypt. This phrase highlights the theme of divine judgment against nations that oppose God's will or seek to lead His people astray. It serves as a reminder of the sovereignty of God over all nations and the futility of opposing His plans. The shame of Egypt is a testament to the consequences of pride and misplaced trust.

•Isaiah 20 sits in the middle of a cluster of oracles (Isaiah 18–23) that warn surrounding nations not to trust political alliances instead of the LORD.

• In 711 BC (cf.Isaiah 20:1), the Philistine city of Ashdod rebelled against the Assyrian empire. Egypt and Cush (Nubia/Ethiopia) quietly encouraged this uprising, hoping to block Assyria’s advance. Second Kings 18:21 shows Judah itself flirting with the same Egyptian alliance.

• The LORD sent Isaiah to dramatize what would really happen to Egypt and Cush: they would be soundly defeated and publicly humiliated. God’s word is always true and historically reliable; these events occurred when Assyria conquered Egypt’s Delta cities in 701 BC and again in 669 BC (Isaiah 37:9;Nahum 3:8-10).

• “At that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said, ‘Go, take off the sackcloth from your body and remove the sandals from your feet.’ And he did so, going around naked and barefoot” (Isaiah 20:2).

• By literally stripping Isaiah, God provided a living picture of what Assyria would do to Egypt and Cush. Prophets often acted out their messages (Jeremiah 19:1-11;Ezekiel 4:1-3).

• The humiliation was not partial: captives were marched “naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks— to Egypt’s shame” (Isaiah 20:4).Deuteronomy 28:48-49 warns that covenant breakers suffer this very disgrace; here it falls on pagan nations.

• The phrase is literal: prisoners of war in the Ancient Near East were commonly stripped to display complete dominance (2 Samuel 10:4).

• Shame is doubled:

– Physical exposure in public (Genesis 3:7-10)

– Forced exile from homeland (Isaiah 5:13)

• The LORD is declaring that Egypt and Cush—symbols of worldly strength—will be powerless before His sovereign plan (Psalm 33:10-11).

• Judah’s leaders were tempted to rely on Egypt’s cavalry (Isaiah 31:1) instead of the covenant-keeping God.

• When Judah saw Egyptian and Cushite captives paraded through their land on the way to Assyria, they would confess, “Look, this is what has happened to those we hoped would help us” (Isaiah 20:5).

• The prophecy is therefore both a warning and a mercy: God blocks false hopes so His people will trust Him alone (Psalm 20:7).

• God rules the nations. Assyria thinks it acts by its own power, yet it is an instrument in the LORD’s hand (Isaiah 10:5-7).

• Every promise God makes, He keeps—down to the detail of “bared buttocks.” Scripture is precise, true, and trustworthy (Numbers 23:19;Matthew 5:18).

• Human power structures inevitably fall. Only the kingdom of God endures (Daniel 2:44;Hebrews 12:28).

• Beware misplaced confidence. Alliances, economies, and armies can collapse overnight; Christ alone is a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16;1 Peter 2:6).

• Public shame awaits prideful rebellion against God. Conversely, those who humble themselves under His mighty hand will be exalted (James 4:6-10).

• Prophetic warnings are gracious invitations. Respond while there is time (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Isaiah 20:4 foretells a literal, humiliating deportation of Egypt and Cush by the Assyrian king. Through Isaiah’s stark sign act, God exposed the folly of trusting human power instead of His word. The verse underscores Scripture’s accuracy, God’s sovereignty over nations, and the call for His people to place their full confidence in Him alone.