Isaiah 20:6 And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, 'See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?'"

◄ Isaiah 20:6 ►

New International Version
In that day the people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”

New Living Translation
They will say, ‘If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? We were counting on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.’”

English Standard Version
And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’”

Berean Standard Bible
And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”

King James Bible
And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

New King James Version
And the inhabitant of this territory will say in that day, ‘Surely such is our expectation, wherever we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?’ ”

New American Standard Bible
So the inhabitants of this coastland will say on that day, ‘Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be saved from the king of Assyria; and how are we ourselves to escape?’”

NASB 1995
“So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?’”

NASB 1977
“So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?’”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?’”

Amplified Bible
So the inhabitants of this coastland [the Israelites and their neighbors] will say in that day, ‘Look what has happened to those in whom we hoped and trusted and to whom we fled for help to be spared from the king of Assyria! But we, how will we escape [captivity and exile]?’”

Christian Standard Bible
And the inhabitants of this coastland will say on that day, ‘Look, this is what has happened to those we relied on and fled to for help to rescue us from the king of Assyria! Now, how will we escape? ’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And the inhabitants of this coastland will say on that day, ‘Look, this is what has happened to those we relied on and fled to for help to rescue us from the king of Assyria! Now, how will we escape?’”

American Standard Version
And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?

Contemporary English Version
When this happens, the people who live along the coast will say, "Look what happened to them! We ran to them for safety, hoping they would protect us from the king of Assyria. But now, there is no escape for us."

English Revised Version
And the inhabitant of this coastland shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When that day comes, those who live on this coastland will say, 'Look at what has happened to our hope. We ran [to Egypt] for help to be rescued from the king of Assyria. How can we escape?'"

Good News Translation
When that time comes, the people who live along the coast of Philistia will say, 'Look at what has happened to the people we relied on to protect us from the emperor of Assyria! How will we ever survive?'"

International Standard Version
At that time, the inhabitants of this coastland will say, 'See, this is what has happened to those on whom we counted and relied for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How, then, can we escape?'"

Majority Standard Bible
And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ?See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape???

NET Bible
At that time those who live on this coast will say, 'Look what has happened to our source of hope to whom we fled for help, expecting to be rescued from the king of Assyria! How can we escape now?'"

New Heart English Bible
The inhabitants of this coast land will say in that day, 'Look, this is our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And we, how will we escape?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

World English Bible
The inhabitants of this coast land will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria. And we, how will we escape?’”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and the inhabitant of this island has said in that day—Behold, thus [is] our trust, "" To where we have fled for help, "" To be delivered from the king of Asshur, "" And how do we escape—we?”

Young's Literal Translation
and the inhabitant of this isle hath said in that day -- Lo, thus is our trust, Whither we have fled for help, To be delivered from the king of Asshur, And how do we escape -- we?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he inhabiting this island said in that day, Behold, thus our expectation, where we fled there for help to be delivered from the face of the king of Assur: and how shall we escape?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the inhabitants of this isle shall say in that day: Lo this was our hope, to whom we fled for help, to deliver up from the face of the king of the Assyrians: and how shall we be able to escape?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in that day, the inhabitants of a certain island will say: “Behold, this was our hope, we fled to them for help, to free us from the face of the king of the Assyrians. And now, how will we be able to escape?”

New American Bible
The inhabitants of this coastland shall say on that day, “See what has happened to those we hoped in, to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! What escape is there for us now?”

New Revised Standard Version
In that day the inhabitants of this coastland will say, ‘See, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the inhabitants of this isle shall say on that day, Behold, here is our trust, to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the inhabitants of this island shall say in that day: "Here is our trust where we escaped to be helped and to be saved from before the King of Assyria, and how shall we be saved?"

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day: Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and how shall we escape?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they that dwell in this island shall say in that day, Behold, we trusted to flee to them for help, who could not save themselves from the king of the Assyrians: and how shall we be saved?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Sign Against Egypt and Cush
…5Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’”

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.

2 Kings 18:21
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

Ezekiel 29:6-7
Then all the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD. For you were only a staff of reeds to the house of Israel. / When Israel took hold of you with their hands, you splintered, tearing all their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke, and their backs were wrenched.

Hosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

Isaiah 30:1-3
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade. / But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Isaiah 36:6
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

Jeremiah 2:36-37
How impulsive you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria. / Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”

Lamentations 4:17
All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help. We watched from our towers for a nation that could not save us.

Psalm 146:3
Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.

2 Chronicles 28:16-21
At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria. / The Edomites had again come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. / The Philistines had also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah, capturing and occupying Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages. ...

Isaiah 31:3
But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together.

Isaiah 36:9
For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

Ezekiel 17:15-17
But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’ / ‘As surely as I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who enthroned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. / Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast horde will not help him in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.

Isaiah 7:7-9
But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen. / For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people. / The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”

Treasury of Scripture

And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, where we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

isle.

Job 22:30
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

Jeremiah 47:4
Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

whither

Isaiah 28:17
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Isaiah 30:1-7,15,16
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: …

Isaiah 31:1-3
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! …

and how

1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

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Assyria Coast Coastland Coast-Land Confidence Deliverance Delivered Escape Expectation Fate Fled Flee Help Hope Hoped Inhabitant Inhabitants Isle Relied Salvation Sea Trust Whither

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Isaiah 20

1. A type prefiguring the shameful captivity of Egypt and Ethiopia.

Berean Study Bible

In that day
This phrase often signifies a specific time of divine intervention or judgment in biblical prophecy. In the context of Isaiah, "that day" refers to a future moment when God's plans and purposes will be revealed and fulfilled. The Hebrew root for "day" is "yom," which can mean a literal day or an extended period. Here, it emphasizes the certainty and imminence of God's action. Historically, this points to the time when the prophecy concerning Egypt and Cush (modern-day Ethiopia) would be realized, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nations.

the dwellers of this coastland
The term "dwellers" refers to the inhabitants of a specific region, emphasizing their connection to the land and their shared fate. "Coastland" indicates a geographical area along the sea, likely referring to the regions of Philistia or the broader Mediterranean coast. This highlights the interconnectedness of nations and how the events concerning Egypt and Cush would impact surrounding areas. The Hebrew word "iy" for "coastland" can also mean "island," suggesting isolation or vulnerability, which is significant in the context of impending judgment.

will say
This phrase introduces a response or realization from the people. The Hebrew root "amar" for "say" implies not just speaking but also expressing a deep-seated understanding or acknowledgment. It suggests a moment of clarity or revelation where the people recognize the truth of God's warnings and the futility of their previous reliance on foreign powers.

See, this is what has happened
The word "see" is a call to attention, urging the audience to observe and understand the significance of the events. It is an invitation to witness the fulfillment of prophecy. The phrase "this is what has happened" underscores the reality and completion of God's word. It serves as a testament to the accuracy of prophetic warnings and the inevitability of divine judgment.

to those we relied on
This phrase highlights misplaced trust and dependence. The Hebrew root "batach" for "relied on" conveys a sense of security or confidence. The people had placed their trust in Egypt and Cush for protection and alliance, rather than in God. This serves as a cautionary reminder of the dangers of relying on human strength and alliances instead of divine providence.

to flee to for help
The act of fleeing for help indicates desperation and vulnerability. The Hebrew word "nus" for "flee" suggests a hurried escape or seeking refuge. This reflects the political and military alliances that Judah sought with Egypt and Cush, hoping for deliverance from Assyrian aggression. It underscores the futility of seeking salvation from sources other than God.

from the king of Assyria
The mention of the "king of Assyria" identifies the immediate threat and oppressor. Assyria was a dominant empire known for its military prowess and expansionist policies. Historically, Assyria posed a significant threat to the smaller nations of the Near East, including Judah. This reference serves to contextualize the geopolitical landscape of the time and the pressures faced by the people of Judah.

How then can we escape?
This rhetorical question captures the despair and hopelessness of the people. It reflects a moment of realization that their strategies and alliances have failed. The Hebrew root "malat" for "escape" implies deliverance or being saved. This question points to the ultimate need for divine intervention and the recognition that true deliverance comes only from God. It serves as a call to repentance and a return to faith in God's promises and power.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) The inhabitant of this isle . . .--Better, as elsewhere, coast-land. Here it probably refers to the whole coast of Philistia, which had been foremost in the revolt, and Ph?nicia, Tyre also having joined in it (Annals of Sargon in Lenormant's Anc. Hist., i. 396). Cyprus, the conquest of which Sargon records (Records of the Past, vii. 51), may also be included. The whole sea-board population would find out too late that they could not resist Assyria even with the help of Egypt and Ethiopia.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - The inhabitant of this isle; rather, of this coast (Knobel, Hitzig, Kay); i.e. of Palestine generally, which was a mere strip of coast compared with Egypt and Ethiopia. Sargon speaks of all the four powers who at this time "sought to Egypt," as "dwelling beside the sea" (G. Smith, 'Eponym Canon,' p. 130). Such is our expectation; rather, so hath it gone with our expectation; i.e., with Egypt and Ethiopia.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And on that
הַהוּא֒ (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day
בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

the dwellers
יֹשֵׁ֨ב (yō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of this
הַזֶּה֮ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

coastland
הָאִ֣י (hā·’î)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 339: A habitable spot, dry land, a coast, an island

will say,
וְ֠אָמַר (wə·’ā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘See
הִנֵּה־ (hin·nêh-)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

what has happened
כֹ֣ה (ḵōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

to our source of hope,
מַבָּטֵ֗נוּ (mab·bā·ṭê·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 4007: Something expected, expectation

those to whom
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

we fled
נַ֤סְנוּ (nas·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

for help
לְעֶזְרָ֔ה (lə·‘ez·rāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5833: Help, helper, assistance

and deliverance
לְהִ֨נָּצֵ֔ל (lə·hin·nā·ṣêl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

from
מִפְּנֵ֖י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Assyria!
אַשּׁ֑וּר (’aš·šūr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur

How then
וְאֵ֖יךְ (wə·’êḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

can we
אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ (’ă·nā·ḥə·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

escape?’”
נִמָּלֵ֥ט (nim·mā·lêṭ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 20:6 The inhabitants of this coast land will (Isa Isi Is)