New English Translation
Isaiah 18:4
4For this is what the Lord has told me: “I will wait and watch from my place, like scorching heat produced by the sunlight, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest.”
Isaiah 18:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For thus the Lord said to me: "I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For so the Lord said to me, “I will take My rest, And I will look from My dwelling place Like clear heat in sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
Context of Isaiah 18:4
2that sends messengers by sea, who glide over the water’s surface in boats made of papyrus. Go, you swift messengers, to a nation of tall, smooth-skinned people, to a people that are feared far and wide, to a nation strong and victorious, whose land rivers divide. 3All you who live in the world, who reside on the earth, you will see a signal flag raised on the mountains; you will hear a trumpet being blown. For this is what the Lord has told me: “I will wait and watch from my place, like scorching heat produced by the sunlight, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest.” 5For before the harvest, when the bud has sprouted, and the ripening fruit appears, he will cut off the unproductive shoots with pruning knives; he will prune the tendrils. 6They will all be left for the birds of the hills and the wild animals; the birds will eat them during the summer, and all the wild animals will eat them during the winter.
Read all of Isaiah 18Isaiah 18:4 word by word
כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אֶשְׁקֳטָ֖ה וְאַבִּ֣יטָה בִמְכוֹנִ֑י כְּחֹ֥ם צַח֙ עֲלֵי־א֔וֹר כְּעָ֥ב טַ֖ל בְּחֹ֥ם קָצִֽיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For soכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto me, I will take my restשָׁקַטshâqaţ · to quietH8252
- and I will considerנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
- in my dwelling placeמָכוֹןmâkôn · foundationH4349
- like a clearצַחtsach · dazzlingH6703
- heatחֹםchôm · heatH2527
- upon herbsאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
- like a cloudעָב‛âb · cloudH5645
- of dewטַלţal · dewH2919
- of harvestקָצִירqâtsîyr · harvestH7105
Cross-references for Isaiah 18:4
- Isaiah 26:21For look, the Lord is coming out of the place where he lives, to punish the sin of those who live on the earth. The earth will display the blood shed on it; it will no longer cover up its slain.
- Psalms 132:13Certainly the Lord has chosen Zion; he decided to make it his home.
- Hosea 5:15Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.
- Isaiah 18:7At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord who commands armies, by a people that are tall and smooth-skinned, a people that are feared far and wide, a nation strong and victorious, whose land rivers divide. The tribute will be brought to the place where the Lord who commands armies has chosen to reside, on Mount Zion.
- Isaiah 12:6Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel acts mightily among you!”
- Isaiah 14:32How will they respond to the messengers of this nation? Indeed, the Lord has made Zion secure; the oppressed among his people will find safety in her.
- Isaiah 31:9They will surrender their stronghold because of fear; their officers will be afraid of the Lord’s battle flag.” This is what the Lord says – the one whose fire is in Zion, whose firepot is in Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 46:13I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with my splendor.”
- Joel 3:17You will be convinced that I the Lord am your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy – conquering armies will no longer pass through it.
- 2 Samuel 23:4is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth.
- Psalms 72:6He will descend like rain on the mown grass, like showers that drench the earth.
Commentaries on Isaiah 18:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For so the Lord said unto me "For thus hath Jehovah said unto me" - The subject of the remaining part of this chapter is, that God would comfort and support his own people, though threatened with immediate destruction by the Assyrians; that Sennacherib's great designs and mighty efforts against them should be frustrated; and that his vast expectations should be rendered abortive, when he thought them mature, and just ready to be crowned with success; that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For so the Lord said unto me - So Yahweh has revealed his purpose, that is, to execute punishment on the people who have been described in the previous verses. Their state as there described is that of a fierce people making ready for war, and probably designing an alliance with the enemies of Judea, and marshalling their armies for that purpose. Yahweh here reveals to the prophet that they shall be discomfited, and shows the manner in which it will be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The Lord is untroubled by human activities. He watches quietly from his dwelling place and acts when he chooses (see Psalm 2:1–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. take ... rest ... consider--I will calmly look on and not interpose, while all seems to promise success to the enemy; when figuratively, "the sun's heat" and "the night dews" ripen their "harvest"; but "before" it reaches its maturity I will destroy it (Is 18:5; Ec 8:11, 12). like a clear heat--rather, "at the time of the clear (serene) heat" [Maurer]. upon herbs--answering to "harvest" in the parallel clause. Maurer translates, "in the sunlight" (Job…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 18:4
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
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