Lexical Summary morat: Razor Original Word: מוֹרָט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance peeled From yarat; obstinate, i.e. Independent -- peeled. see HEBREW yarat NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as marat, q.v. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery• מוֹרָט paints the picture of something “polished, smoothed, stripped of roughness.” In Isaiah it is applied to human appearance, evoking the sheen of metal that has been burnished or the skin that has been deliberately shaven. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Isaiah 18:2 – “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth-skinned…” Historical and Cultural Background • The passages set the scene in Cush (Nubia/Ethiopia) during the late eighth century B.C., when that kingdom was asserting influence over Egypt. Prophetic Context in Isaiah 18 • The “land of whirring wings” rallies the Cushite power bloc to send emissaries against Assyria. Isaiah, however, directs attention away from geopolitical maneuvering to divine sovereignty: the LORD will “watch quietly” (Isaiah 18:4) until He acts in judgment. Theological Themes • Universal lordship: Even the remote, formidable Cushites stand under Yahweh’s reign. Practical Ministry Reflection • God already sees and names every culture, even those perceived as distant. Isaiah’s use of מוֹרָט urges believers to recognize God’s prior claim upon the unreached. Related Biblical Parallels • Psalm 68:31 anticipates “Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God,” echoing the tribute motif. Summary Insight מוֹרָט serves as more than an ethnographic adjective; it is a theological signpost. Isaiah boldly employs the image of polished skin to declare that the God of Israel is polishing a people for Himself from every nation—starting, in this oracle, with Cush. Forms and Transliterations וּמוֹרָ֔ט ומורט ū·mō·w·rāṭ umoRat ūmōwrāṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 18:2 HEB: גּוֹי֙ מְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְ וּמוֹרָ֔ט אֶל־ עַ֥ם KJV: scattered and peeled, to a people INT: A nation tall and peeled to A people Isaiah 18:7 2 Occurrences |