Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing 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;
- KJV Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
- BSB Woe to the land of whirring wings, along the rivers of Cush,
- 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 Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.
- 2 Kgs 19:9When he heard it said of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,
- Ezek 30:4–5A sword shall come on Egypt, and anguish 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 2:12You Cushites also, you will be killed by my sword.
- Ps 63:7For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
- Isa 30:2–3who set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked my advice; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!
- Isa 20:3–6Yahweh said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia,
- Ruth 2:12May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
- Ps 17:8Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
- Ps 36:7How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
- Ps 61:4I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.
- Matt 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
- Ps 91:4He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
- Ps 57:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
- Ezek 30:9In that day messengers will go out from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid; and there shall be anguish on them, as in the day of Egypt; for, behold, it comes.
- Isa 31:1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek Yahweh!
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.