Isaiah 18:1

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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,

Context of Isaiah 18:1

Woe, land of whirring wings Which lies beyond the rivers of Cush, 2Which sends messengers by the sea, Even in papyrus vessels on the surface of the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, To a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation Whose land the rivers divide. 3All you who inhabit the world, and live on earth, As soon as a flag is raised on the mountains, you will see it, And as soon as the trumpet is blown, you will hear it.

Isaiah 18:1 word by word

ה֥וֹי אֶ֖רֶץ צִלְצַ֣ל כְּנָפָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעֵ֖בֶר לְנַֽהֲרֵי־כֽוּשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• Woeהוֹיhôy · woe!H1945
• landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• of whirringצִלְצָלtselâtsal · buzzingH6767
• wingsכָּנָףkânâph · wingH3671
• Whichאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• lies beyondמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• lies beyondעֵ֫בֶר‛êber · side: beyondH5676
• the riversנָהָרnâhâr · riverH5104
• Cushכּוּשׁkûsh · CushH3568

Cross-references for Isaiah 18:1

• Isaiah 20:3Then 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,
• Isaiah 30:2Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety 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, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!
• Ruth 2:12May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
• Psalms 17:8Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
• Psalms 36:7How precious is Your mercy, God! And the sons of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
• Psalms 57:1Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by.
• Psalms 61:4Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
• Psalms 63:7For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
• Psalms 91:4He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and wall.
• Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
• 2 Kings 19:9When he heard them say about Tirhakah king of Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,
• Ezekiel 30:4A sword will come upon Egypt, And there will be trembling in Cush; When the slain fall in Egypt, They will take away her wealth, And her foundations will be torn down.
• Zephaniah 2:12“You also, Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword.”
• Zephaniah 3:10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings.

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

• Cush
• Ethiopia

In the dictionaries

• Ethiopia
• Cush
• Summer
• Booth
• Cush (1)
• Ezekiel
• Isaiah
• Locust
• Nile
• River

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