Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. New Living Translation that sends ambassadors in swift boats down the river. Go, swift messengers! Take a message to a tall, smooth-skinned people, who are feared far and wide for their conquests and destruction, and whose land is divided by rivers. English Standard Version which 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. Berean Standard Bible which sends couriers by sea, in papyrus vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people widely feared, to a powerful nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. King James Bible That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! New King James Version Which sends ambassadors by sea, Even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying, “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, To a people terrible from their beginning onward, A nation powerful and treading down, Whose land the rivers divide.” New American Standard Bible Which 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. NASB 1995 Which sends envoys 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. NASB 1977 Which sends envoys 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. Legacy Standard Bible Which sends envoys 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. Amplified Bible Which sends ambassadors by the sea, Even in vessels of papyrus on the surface of the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation [of people] tall and smooth (clean shaven), To a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation Whose land the rivers divide. Christian Standard Bible which sends envoys by sea, in reed vessels over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and near, a powerful nation with a strange language, whose land is divided by rivers. Holman Christian Standard Bible sends couriers by sea, in reed vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and near, a powerful nation with a strange language, whose land is divided by rivers. American Standard Version that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide! Contemporary English Version Egypt sends messengers up the Nile River on ships made of reeds. Send them fast to Ethiopia, whose people are tall and have smooth skin. Their land is divided by rivers; they are strong and brutal, feared all over the world. English Revised Version that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward; a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide! GOD'S WORD® Translation It sends messengers by sea in boats made of reeds [skimming] over the surface of the water. Go, swift messengers, to a tall and smooth-skinned people, a people [who are] feared far and near, a strong and aggressive nation, whose land is divided by rivers. Good News Translation From that land ambassadors come down the Nile in boats made of reeds. Go back home, swift messengers! Take a message back to your land divided by rivers, to your strong and powerful nation, to your tall and smooth-skinned people, who are feared all over the world. International Standard Version which sends envoys by the sea, in papyrus boats over the water! Go, swift messengers, to a tall, smooth-skinned nation, to a people feared far and wide, a nation that metes out punishment and oppresses, whose land the rivers divide. Majority Standard Bible which sends couriers by sea, in papyrus vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people widely feared, to a powerful nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. NET Bible that 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. New Heart English Bible that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, "Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation strong and conquering, whose land the rivers divide." Webster's Bible Translation That sendeth embassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation measured by line and trodden down, whose land the rivers have laid waste. World English Bible that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, “Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThat is sending ambassadors by sea, "" Even with implements of reed on the face of the waters—Go, swift messengers, "" To a nation drawn out and peeled, "" To a people fearful from its beginning and onward, "" A nation meeting out by line, and treading down, "" Whose land floods have spoiled. Young's Literal Translation That is sending by sea ambassadors, Even with implements of reed on the face of the waters, -- Go, ye light messengers, Unto a nation drawn out and peeled, Unto a people fearful from its beginning and onwards, A nation meeting out by line, and treading down, Whose land floods have spoiled. Smith's Literal Translation Sending messengers upon the sea, and in vessels of the bulrush upon the face of the waters, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation drawn out and sharpened, to a people to be feared from this, and farther off; a nation of might, of might, and of treading down, of which the rivers divided up its land. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThat sendeth ambassadors by the sea, and in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters. Go, ye swift angels, to a nation rent and torn in pieces: to a terrible people, after which there is no other: to a nation expecting and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled. Catholic Public Domain Version which sends ambassadors by sea and in vessels of papyrus above the waters. Go forth, O swift Angels, to a nation which has been convulsed and torn apart, to a terrible people, after whom there is no other, to a nation apprehensive and downtrodden, whose land the rivers have spoiled. New American Bible Sending ambassadors by sea, in papyrus boats on the waters! Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and bronzed, To a people dreaded near and far, a nation strong and conquering, whose land is washed by rivers. New Revised Standard Version sending ambassadors by the Nile 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. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThat sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, you swift messengers, to a nation who will be plundered and uprooted, to a nation whose strength was within it hitherto; to a people who will be dishonored and trodden down, whose land the rivers have ruined! Peshitta Holy Bible Translated That sends Ambassadors in the Sea and in vessels of papyrus on the face of the waters! The Messengers went quickly to the people who has been plucked and uprooted; to a people whose power belonged to it, and beyond, a people that is despised and downtrodden, for the rivers plundered its land OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, Even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters! Go, ye swift messengers, To a nation tall and of glossy skin, To a people terrible from their beginning onward; A nation that is sturdy and treadeth down, Whose land the rivers divide! Brenton Septuagint Translation He sends messengers by the sea, and paper letters on the water: for swift messengers shall go to a lofty nation, and to a strange and harsh people. Who is beyond it? a nation not looked for, and trodden down. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Message to Cush1Woe to the land of whirring wings, along the rivers of Cush, 2which sends couriers by sea, in papyrus vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people widely feared, to a powerful nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. 3All you people of the world and dwellers of the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it; when a ram’s horn sounds, you will hear it.… Cross References Ezekiel 30:9 On that day messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten Cush out of complacency. Anguish will come upon them on the day of Egypt’s doom. For it is indeed coming. Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering. Psalm 68:31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God. Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil. 2 Chronicles 12:2-4 In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem / with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. / He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Acts 8:27-39 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, / and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. / The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to that chariot and stay by it.” ... Zechariah 10:11 They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart. Isaiah 11:11 On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. Isaiah 20:3-5 Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, / so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. / Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. Isaiah 45:14 This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’” Isaiah 66:19 I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations. Genesis 10:6-7 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. / The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Jeremiah 46:9 Advance, O horses! Race furiously, O chariots! Let the warriors come forth—Cush and Put carrying their shields, men of Lydia drawing the bow. Nahum 3:9 Cush and Egypt were her boundless strength; Put and Libya were her allies. Daniel 11:43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him. Treasury of Scripture That sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes on the waters, saying, Go, you swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning till now; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! sendeth Isaiah 30:2-4 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! … Ezekiel 30:9 In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh. vessels. Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. to a notion Isaiah 18:7 In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion. scattered and peeled. to a people Genesis 10:8,9 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth… 2 Chronicles 12:2-4 And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, … 2 Chronicles 14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Heb. have spoiled. Isaiah 19:5-7 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up… Jump to Previous Ambassadors Awesome Beginning Bulrushes Divide Embassadors Go Hitherto Laid Measured Measures Messengers Meted Nation Onward Papyrus Peeled Rivers Scattered Sea Sends Smooth Spoiled Swift Tall Terrible Treads Trodden Vessels WatersJump to Next Ambassadors Awesome Beginning Bulrushes Divide Embassadors Go Hitherto Laid Measured Measures Messengers Meted Nation Onward Papyrus Peeled Rivers Scattered Sea Sends Smooth Spoiled Swift Tall Terrible Treads Trodden Vessels WatersIsaiah 18 1. God, in care of his people, will destroy the Ethiopians7. An accession thereby shall be made to the church which sends couriers by sea This phrase refers to the nation of Cush, often associated with the region of modern-day Sudan and Ethiopia. The sending of couriers by sea indicates a well-organized and far-reaching communication network, suggesting the importance and influence of this nation. In the ancient world, sea travel was a significant means of communication and trade, highlighting the strategic and economic prowess of Cush. This also reflects the historical context where nations relied on maritime routes for diplomatic and commercial purposes. in papyrus vessels on the waters Go, swift messengers to a people tall and smooth-skinned to a people widely feared to a powerful nation of strange speech whose land is divided by rivers Persons / Places / Events 1. CushRefers to the region south of Egypt, often associated with modern-day Sudan or Ethiopia. In biblical times, Cush was known for its powerful and influential kingdom. 2. Messengers The verse speaks of swift messengers sent by the people of Cush. These messengers are likely envoys or diplomats sent to communicate with other nations. 3. Papyrus Boats The verse mentions vessels of papyrus, which were lightweight boats used for travel on the Nile and other waterways. This indicates the advanced nature of Cushite navigation and trade. 4. Tall and Smooth-skinned People This description is often interpreted as referring to the physical characteristics of the Cushites, known for their height and distinct appearance. 5. A Nation Feared Far and Wide This phrase highlights the reputation of Cush as a formidable and respected power in the ancient world. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over NationsIsaiah 18:2 reminds us that God is aware of and sovereign over all nations, including those that seem distant or powerful. This should encourage believers to trust in God's ultimate plan and authority. The Role of Messengers The swift messengers symbolize the importance of communication and diplomacy. As Christians, we are called to be messengers of the Gospel, carrying the message of Christ with urgency and clarity. Cultural Distinctiveness and God's Plan The description of the Cushites highlights the diversity of God's creation. Every culture and nation has a place in God's redemptive plan, and we should celebrate and respect this diversity within the body of Christ. Reputation and Influence The Cushites were known and feared for their power. As believers, our reputation should be one of love, integrity, and faithfulness, influencing others positively for God's kingdom.(2) That sendeth ambassadors . . .--The words point to the embassies which the Ethiopian king had sent, in the papyrus boats used for the navigation of the Upper Nile, down that river to Hezekiah and other princes, inviting them to join the alliance against Assyria. Go, ye swift messengers . . .--The interpolated "saying" being omitted, the words that follow are as the prophet's address to the messengers, as he sends them back to their own people. Instead of "scattered and peeled, "we are to read tall and polished, as describing the physique which had probably impressed itself on Isaiah's mind. (Comp. the Sabeans as "men of stature" in Isaiah 45:14.) They were terrible then, as they had ever been (i.e., imperious and mighty), a nation that treadeth down its foes. Instead of "meted out and trodden down," they are a nation of command, command (or, perhaps, "strength, strength"). The rivers are literally the affluents of the Nile that intersect and fertilise (not "spoil") the hills and valleys of Nubia. Some commentators, however, though with less probability, accept the Authorised version, and refer the words to Israel, as "scattered and plundered," with its land "spoiled" by the "rivers of invading armies (Isaiah 8:7). Verse 2. - That sendeth ambassadors; rather, perhaps, messengers, as the word is translated in Isaiah 57:9 and Proverbs 25:13. They are sent, apparently, by the king to his own people. By the sea. "The sea" must in this place necessarily mean the Nile, which is called "the sea" in Nahum 3:8 certainly, and probably in Isaiah 19:5. Vessels of papyrus could not possibly have been employed in the very difficult navigation of the Red Sea. Vessels of bulrushes. That some of the boats used upon the Nile were constructed of the papyrus (which is a sort of bulrush) we learn from Herodotus (it. 96), Theophrastus ('Hist. Plant.,' 4:9), Plutarch ('De Isid. et Osir.,' § 18), Pliny (Hist. 'Nat.,' 6:22), and Lucan ('Pharsal.,' 4:136). They are represented occasionally on the Egyptian monuments. Saying. This word is interpolated by our translators, and gives a wrong sense. It is the prophet that addresses the messengers, not the king who sends them. To a nation scattered and peeled; rather, tall and polished, or tall and sleek. The word translated "scattered" means properly "drawn out," and seems to be applied here to the physique of the Ethiopians, whose stature is said to have been remarkable (Herod., 3:20, 114). The other epithet refers to the glossy skin of the people. A people terrible from their beginning hitherto; The Israelites first knew the Ethiopians as soldiers when they formed a part of the army brought by Shishak (Sheshonk I.) against Rehoboam, about B.C. 970 (2 Chronicles 12:3). They had afterwards experience of their vast numbers, when Zerah made his attack upon Asa; but on this occasion they succeeded in defeating them (2 Chronicles 14:9-13). It was not till about two centuries after this that the power of Ethiopia began to be really formidable to Egypt; and the "miserable Cushites," as they had been in the habit of calling them, acquired the preponderating influence in the valley of the Nile, and under Piankhi, Shabak, Shabatek, and Tirhakah (Tahark), reduced Egypt to subjection. Isaiah, perhaps, refers to their rise under Piankhi as "their beginning." A nation meted out and trodden down; rather, a nation of meting out and trampling; i.e. one accustomed to mete out its neighbors' bounds with a measuring-line, and to trample other nations under its feet. Whose land the rivers have spoiled; rather, whose land rivers despoil. The deposit of mud, which fertilizes Egypt, is washed by the rivers from Ethiopia, which is thus continually losing large quantities of rich son. This fact was well known to the Greeks (Herod., 2:12, ad fin.), and there is no reason why Isaiah should not have been acquainted with it.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew which sendsהַשֹּׁלֵ֨חַ (haš·šō·lê·aḥ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out couriers צִירִ֗ים (ṣî·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6735: A hinge, a throe, a herald, erranddoer by sea, בַּיָּ֜ם (bay·yām) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin in papyrus גֹמֶא֮ (ḡō·me) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1573: An absorbent, the bulrush, the papyrus vessels וּבִכְלֵי־ (ū·ḇiḵ·lê-) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the waters. מַיִם֒ (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen Go, לְכ֣וּ ׀ (lə·ḵū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk swift קַלִּ֗ים (qal·lîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 7031: Light, swift, fleet messengers, מַלְאָכִ֣ים (mal·’ā·ḵîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to a people גּוֹי֙ (gō·w) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts tall מְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְ (mə·muš·šāḵ) Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 4900: To draw, drag and smooth-skinned, וּמוֹרָ֔ט (ū·mō·w·rāṭ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 4178: Obstinate, independent to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to a people עַ֥ם (‘am) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock widely מִן־ (min-) Preposition Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of feared, נוֹרָ֖א (nō·w·rā) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten to a powerful קָ֣ו (qāw) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6978: Perhaps might nation גּ֚וֹי (gō·w) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts of strange speech, וּמְבוּסָ֔ה (ū·mə·ḇū·sāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4001: A treading down, subjugation whose land אַרְצֽוֹ׃ (’ar·ṣōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land is divided בָּזְא֥וּ (bā·zə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 958: To divide, cut through by rivers. נְהָרִ֖ים (nə·hā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity Links Isaiah 18:2 NIVIsaiah 18:2 NLT Isaiah 18:2 ESV Isaiah 18:2 NASB Isaiah 18:2 KJV Isaiah 18:2 BibleApps.com Isaiah 18:2 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 18:2 Chinese Bible Isaiah 18:2 French Bible Isaiah 18:2 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 18:2 That sends ambassadors by the sea even (Isa Isi Is) |
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