Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
Parallel translations
- WEB Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;
- BSB Woe to the land of whirring wings, along the rivers of Cush,
- NKJV Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia,
- NASB Woe, land of whirring wings Which lies beyond the rivers of Cush,
- NLT Listen, Ethiopia—land of fluttering sails that lies at the headwaters of the Nile,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
This oracle addresses a land of whirring wings beyond the rivers of Ethiopia. It introduces a message concerning the distant nation of Cush.
Overview
Isaiah turns to a far-off land, identified with Cush (the region of ancient Ethiopia/Nubia), described by the buzzing of insects or rustling of wings along its rivers. The oracle shows God's concern reaching even to remote nations. It prepares for a message about the futility of human alliances and the certainty of God's rule over all peoples.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Zeph 3:10From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
- 2 Kgs 19:9And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,
- Ezek 30:4–5And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.
- Zeph 2:12Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
- Ps 63:7Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
- Isa 30:2–3That 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!
- Isa 20:3–6And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;
- Ruth 2:12The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
- Ps 17:8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
- Ps 36:7How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
- Ps 61:4I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
- Matt 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
- Ps 91:4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
- Ps 57:1Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
- Ezek 30:9In 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.
- Isa 31:1Woe 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!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 18:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.