English Standard Version
Isaiah 18:1
1Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush,
Isaiah 18:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
- New International Version (NIV)Woe to the land of whirring wings along the rivers of Cush,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Listen, Ethiopia—land of fluttering sails that lies at the headwaters of the Nile,
Context of Isaiah 18:1
Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush, 2which sends ambassadors by the sea, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide. 3All you inhabitants of the world, you who dwell on the earth, when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! When a trumpet is blown, hear!
Read all of Isaiah 18Isaiah 18:1 word by word
ה֥וֹי אֶ֖רֶץ צִלְצַ֣ל כְּנָפָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְנַֽהֲרֵי־כֽוּשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 18:1
- Isaiah 20:3Then 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,
- Isaiah 30:2who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!
- Isaiah 31:1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!
- Ruth 2:12The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!"
- Psalms 17:8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,
- Psalms 36:7How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
- Psalms 57:1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
- Psalms 61:4Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
- Psalms 63:7for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
- Psalms 91:4He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
- Matthew 23:37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
- 2 Kings 19:9Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, "Behold, he has set out to fight against you." So he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,
- Ezekiel 30:4A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down.
- Zephaniah 2:12You also, O Cushites, shall be slain by my sword.
- Zephaniah 3:10From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering.
Commentaries on Isaiah 18:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Wo to the land - ארץ הוי hoi arets ! This interjection should be translated ho! for it is properly a particle of calling: Ho, land! Attend! Give ear! Shadowing with wings "The winged cymbal" - כנפים צלצל tsiltsal kenaphayim . I adopt this as the most probable of the many interpretations that have been given of these words. It is Bochart's: see Phaleg, 4:2. The Egyptian sistrum is expressed by a periphrasis; the Hebrews had no name for it in their…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Woe to the land - (הוי hôy ). This word, as has been already remarked (the note at Isaiah 17:12), may be a mere interjection or salutation, and would be appropriately rendered by Ho!‘ Or it may be a word denouncing judgment, or wrath, as it is often used in this prophecy (the note at Isaiah 5:8). Shadowing with wings - (כנפים צלצל tsı̂letsal kenāpāı̂ym ). This is one of the most difficult expressions in the whole chapter; and one to which as yet…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1God's care for his people; and the increase of the church. This chapter is one of the most obscure in Scripture, though more of it probably was understood by those for whose use it was first intended, than by us now. Swift messengers are sent by water to a nation marked by Providence, and measured out, trodden under foot. God's people are trampled on; but whoever thinks to swallow them up, finds they are cast down, yet not deserted, not destroyed. All the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Ethiopia was located to the south of Egypt. It marked the southern border of Egypt’s kingdom. At that time, Egypt was ruled by an Ethiopian dynasty (a family line of kings). One of its rulers was Piankhi, also known as Piye.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-7Is 18:1-7. Isaiah announces the overthrow of Sennacherib's hosts and desires the Ethiopian ambassadors, now in Jerusalem, to bring word of it to their own nation; and he calls on the whole world to witness the event (Is 18:3). As Is 17:12-14 announced the presence of the foe, so Is 18:1-7 foretells his overthrow. 1. Woe--The heading in English Version, "God will destroy the Ethiopians," is a mistake arising from the wrong rendering "Woe," whereas the…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 18:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries