See in Reader
6.5 KiB
Isaiah 18
Isaiah 18:1
Woe to the land of the rustling of wings, which is along the rivers of Cush
Possible meanings of "the rustling of wings" are 1) the boats that have sails are spoken of as having wings. Alternate translation: "Woe to those who live in the land beyond the rivers of Cush, whose many ships look like insects on the water" or 2) the rustling of wings refers to the noise of insects that have wings, perhaps locusts. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 18:2
by the sea
The Nile River was very wide, and people in Egypt and Cush referred to it as "the sea." Alternate translation: "on the great river" or "along the Nile River" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
vessels of papyrus
Papyrus is a tall plant that grows along the side of the Nile River. People bound together papyrus bundles to make boats. Alternate translation: "papyrus boats" or "boats made of reeds" or (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-unknown)
a nation tall and smooth ... a people feared far and near ... a nation strong and trampling down, whose land the rivers divide
These phrases all describe the people of one nation.
a nation tall and smooth
The word "nation" here refers to the people of that nation. Alternate translation: "a nation whose people are tall and have smooth skin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
a people feared far and near
The words "far" and "near" are used together to mean "everywhere." Alternate translation: "a people who are feared everywhere" or "a people that everyone in the earth fears" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)
a nation strong and trampling down
Trampling down represents conquering other nations. Alternate translation: "a nation that is strong and conquers other nations" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the rivers divide
This probably refers to many rivers that flow through the nation so they divide it into different parts.
Isaiah 18:3
Connecting Statement:
Verse 3 tells what the messengers in Isaiah 18:2 must say to the people of the world.
All you inhabitants of the world ... you who live on the earth
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "All you people on the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
when a signal is lifted up on the mountains, look; and when the trumpet is blown, listen
The signal and trumpet were to call people to battle. The commands to look and listen are commands to pay attention and prepare for battle. Alternate translation: "pay attention when the signal is lifted up on the mountains and the trumpet is blown"
when a signal is lifted up on the mountains, look
The signal was a flag used to call people to battle. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "pay attention when you see the battle flag on the mountains" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
when the trumpet is blown, listen
The trumpets were used to call people to battle. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "pay attention when you hear the sound of the battle trumpets" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 18:4
General Information:
God uses a parable about a farmer in a vineyard in order to describe how he will punish a certain nation. That nation is either Ethiopia or Ethiopia's enemy.
This is what Yahweh said to me
"Yahweh said to me." Here the word "me" refers to Isaiah.
I will quietly observe from my home
What God will observe can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "I will quietly observe that nation from my home" or "From my home, I will quietly watch what the people of that nation do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
like the simmering heat in sunshine, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest
These phrases show how quietly God will watch the nation. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Isaiah 18:5
Before the harvest
This is a harvest of grapes. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "Before the grape harvest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
when the blossoming is over
It can be stated clearly that this refers to blossoms on grape vines. Alternate translation: "when flowers have finished growing on the grape vines" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
he will cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks
Yahweh will cut off the branches before the grapes can ripen. Alternate translation: "Yahweh will cut off the branches with knives before their produce fruit" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
pruning hooks
A pruning hook is a knife that people use to cut branches off of vines or other plants.
he will cut down and take away the spreading branches
Yahweh will throw away the branches in judgment.
Isaiah 18:6
They will be left together
God seems to change from telling the parable to speaking more directly about the nation. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "Those who are killed will be left together" or "Like branches that are cut off and thrown away, the bodies of those who are killed will be left on the ground" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
The birds will summer on them
"The birds will eat them during the summer." The word "birds" refers to birds that eat the flesh of dead bodies.
all the animals of the earth
"all kinds of wild animals"
will winter on them
"will eat them in the winter"
Isaiah 18:7
a people tall and smooth ... a people feared far and near ... a nation strong and trampling down, whose land the rivers divide
These phrases all describe the people of one nation. See how you translated these phrases in Isaiah 18:2.
a people tall and smooth
"a people who are tall and have smooth skin"
a people feared far and near
The words "far" and "near" are used together to mean "everywhere." Alternate translation: "a people who are feared everywhere" or "a people that everyone in the earth fears" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)
a nation strong and trampling down
Trampling down represents conquering other nations. Alternate translation: "a nation that is strong and conquers other nations" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
to the place of the name of Yahweh of hosts, to Mount Zion
The word "name" refers to Yahweh. Alternate translation: "to Mount Zion, where Yahweh of hosts dwells" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)