Isaiah 52:4
New International Version
For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.

New Living Translation
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Long ago my people chose to live in Egypt. Now they are oppressed by Assyria.

English Standard Version
For thus says the Lord GOD: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing.

Berean Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

King James Bible
For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

New King James Version
For thus says the Lord GOD: “My people went down at first Into Egypt to dwell there; Then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

New American Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord GOD says: “My people went down to Egypt first to reside there; then the Assyrian oppressed them without reason.

NASB 1995
For thus says the Lord GOD, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to reside there; then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

NASB 1977
For thus says the Lord GOD, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to reside there, then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Legacy Standard Bible
For thus says Lord Yahweh, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there; then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Amplified Bible
For the Lord GOD says this, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there; and [many years later Sennacherib] the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Christian Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to reside there, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord GOD says:” At first My people went down to Egypt to live there, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

American Standard Version
For thus saith the Lord Jehovah, My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without cause.

Contemporary English Version
Long ago you went to Egypt where you lived as foreigners. Then Assyria was cruel to you,

English Revised Version
For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there: and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the Almighty LORD says: In the beginning my people went to Egypt to live there as foreigners. Later the Assyrians oppressed them for no reason.

Good News Translation
When you went to live in Egypt as foreigners, you did so of your own free will; Assyria, however, took you away by force and paid nothing for you.

International Standard Version
For this is what the LORD says: "My people went down long ago into Egypt to live there; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause.

Majority Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ?At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

NET Bible
For this is what the sovereign LORD says: "In the beginning my people went to live temporarily in Egypt; Assyria oppressed them for no good reason.

New Heart English Bible
For thus says the LORD, "My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there, and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Webster's Bible Translation
For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down formerly into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

World English Bible
For the Lord Yahweh says: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there; and the Assyrian has oppressed them without cause.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For thus said Lord YHWH: “My people went down at first "" To Egypt to sojourn there, "" And Asshur—he has oppressed it for nothing.

Young's Literal Translation
For thus said the Lord Jehovah: 'To Egypt My people went down at first to sojourn there, And Asshur -- for nought he hath oppressed it.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said the Lord Jehovah, My people at first went down to Egypt to sojourn there, and Assur oppressed them for nothing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For thus saith the Lord God: My people went down into Egypt at the beginning to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without any cause at all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For thus says the Lord God: My people descended into Egypt, in the beginning, in order to sojourn there. But the Assyrian oppressed them, without any cause at all.

New American Bible
For thus says the Lord GOD: To Egypt long ago my people went down, to sojourn there; Assyria, too, oppressed them for nought.

New Revised Standard Version
For thus says the Lord GOD: Long ago, my people went down into Egypt to reside there as aliens; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For thus says the LORD God: My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian carried them away with violence.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because thus says LORD JEHOVAH, God to Egypt: my people went down at the first to dwell there, and the Assyrian took it by force
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For thus saith the Lord GOD: My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; And the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord, My people went down before to Egypt to sojourn there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Deliverance for Jerusalem
3For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” 4For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause. 5And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.…

Cross References
Exodus 1:8-14
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...

Exodus 3:7-10
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. ...

Exodus 5:1-2
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” / But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

Exodus 6:5-6
Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. / Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

Exodus 12:40-41
Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. / At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt.

Jeremiah 50:33-34
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them. / Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will fervently plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.

Ezekiel 23:5-8
Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors / clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds. / She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted. ...

Ezekiel 23:19-21
Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt / and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions. / So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Acts 7:17-19
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number. / Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt. / He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

Acts 7:34
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

Romans 9:17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. / He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. ...

Revelation 11:8
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.


Treasury of Scripture

For thus said the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

my people

Genesis 46:6
And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

Acts 7:14,15
Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls…

the Assyrian

Isaiah 14:25
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

Isaiah 36:1
Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.

Isaiah 37:1
And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

without

Job 2:3
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Psalm 25:3
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Psalm 69:4
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

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Aforetime Asshur Assyrian Cause Cruel Egypt First Formerly Live Nought Oppressed Reside Sojourn Sovereign Themselves Yoke
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Aforetime Asshur Assyrian Cause Cruel Egypt First Formerly Live Nought Oppressed Reside Sojourn Sovereign Themselves Yoke
Isaiah 52
1. Christ persuades the church to believe his free redemption
7. To receive the ministers thereof
9. To joy in the power thereof
11. And to free themselves from bondage
13. Christ's kingdom shall be exalted














For this is what the Lord GOD says
This phrase introduces a divine declaration, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The Hebrew term for "Lord GOD" is "Adonai Yahweh," which underscores God's supreme power and covenantal relationship with Israel. This introduction sets the stage for a message of both historical reflection and prophetic insight, reminding the audience of God's active role in their history.

At first My people went down to Egypt to reside there
The phrase "went down to Egypt" refers to the historical event of Jacob and his family moving to Egypt during a famine, as recorded in Genesis. The Hebrew word for "reside" (גּוּר, gur) implies a temporary dwelling, highlighting that their stay in Egypt was not meant to be permanent. This reflects God's providential care in using Egypt as a place of refuge and sustenance for His people during a time of need.

then Assyria oppressed them without cause
The mention of Assyria brings to mind the later period of Israel's history when the Assyrian Empire became a dominant force, oppressing the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The phrase "without cause" suggests an unjust and unprovoked aggression, highlighting the suffering of God's people at the hands of foreign powers. This historical context serves as a reminder of the recurring theme of oppression and deliverance in Israel's story, pointing to God's ultimate plan for redemption and justice.

(4) My people went down . . .--Stress is laid on the unprovoked character of the oppression in the case both of Egypt and the Assyrian invaders Sargon and Sennacherib. It is possible that Assyria may be used in its wider sense as including Babylon. If so, the fact tends to the conclusion that the book was written at a time when the kings of Assyria included Babylon in their titles. Probably, however, the prophet refers to the deliverance from the army of Sennacherib as a pledge of the deliverance from Babylon.

Verse 4. - My people went down... into Egypt ... the Assyrian oppressed them. Israel had experienced three captivities. They "went down" voluntarily into Egypt, on invitation, to sojourn, and were there cruelly and unjustly reduced to a servile condition (Exodus 1:13, 14). They (or a great part of them) were violently carried into captivity by the Assyrian kings, Tiglath-Pileser (2 Kings 15:29), Sargon (2 Kings 17:6), and Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13; 'Eponym Canon,' p. 134), who, without cause, grievously "oppressed" them. Now they are suffering under a third captivity in Babylonia. What is to be the Divine action under these circumstances?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this is what
כֹ֤ה (ḵōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

GOD
יְהוִ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

says:
אָמַר֙ (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“At first
בָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה (ḇā·ri·šō·nāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

My people
עַמִּ֥י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

went down
יָֽרַד־ (yā·raḏ-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Egypt
מִצְרַ֛יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

to live,
לָג֣וּר (lā·ḡūr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility

then Assyria
וְאַשּׁ֖וּר (wə·’aš·šūr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 804: Ashshur

oppressed them
עֲשָׁקֽוֹ׃ (‘ă·šā·qōw)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6231: To press upon, oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

without cause.
בְּאֶ֥פֶס (bə·’e·p̄es)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 657: Cessation, an end, no further, the ankle, foot


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 52:4 For thus says the Lord Yahweh My (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 52:3
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