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Read Isaiah 18 in modern English — World English Bible (7 verses)

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1 Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;

2 that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, “Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!”

3 All you inhabitants of the world, and you dwellers on the earth, when a banner is lifted up on the mountains, look! When the trumpet is blown, listen!

4 For Yahweh said to me, “I will be still, and I will see in my dwelling place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

5 For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and he will cut down and take away the spreading branches.

6 They will be left together for the ravenous birds of the mountains, and for the animals of the earth. The ravenous birds will summer on them, and all the animals of the earth will winter on them.

7 In that time, a present will be brought to Yahweh of Armies from a people tall and smooth, even from a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Yahweh of Armies, Mount Zion.

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Study tools for Isaiah 18

Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Isaiah 18. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.

Isaiah 18 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 1 Early-Church citation.

Hebrew interlinear — Isaiah 18:1–7 (124 words)
1
  1. ה֥וֹיhôyhowy: oh!H1945
  2. אֶ֖רֶץʾereṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  3. צִלְצַ֣לṣilṣaltslatsal: a clatter; (abstractly) whirring (of wings)H6767
  4. כְּנָפָ֑יִםkĕnāpāyimkanaph: an edge or extremityH3671
  5. אֲשֶׁ֥רʾăšeraher: who, which, what, that; (as adverb) when, where, howH834
  6. מֵעֵ֖בֶרmēʿēber`eber: (properly) a region acrossH5676
  7. לְנַֽהֲרֵיlĕnahărênahar: a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.)H5104
  8. כֽוּשׁ׃kûšKuwsh: Cush (or Ethiopia), the name of a son of Ham, and of his territoryH3568
2
  1. הַשֹּׁלֵ֨חַhaššōlēaḥshalach: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)H7971
  2. בַּיָּ֜םbayyāmyam: a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterH3220
  3. צִירִ֗יםṣîrîmtsiyr: a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure)H6735
  4. וּבִכְלֵיûbiklêkliy: something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)H3627
  5. גֹמֶא֮gōmeʾgome': (properly) an absorbent, i.e. the bulrush (from its porosity)H1573
  6. עַלʿal`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  7. פְּנֵיpĕnêpaniym: the face (as the part that turns); (with prepositional prefix, as a preposition) before, etc.H6440
  8. מַיִם֒mayimmayim: water; (figuratively) juiceH4325
  9. לְכ֣וּ׀lĕkûhalak: a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)H1980
  10. מַלְאָכִ֣יםmalʾākîmmal'ak: a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)H4397
  11. קַלִּ֗יםqallîmqal: light; (by implication) rapid (also adverbial)H7031
  12. אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  13. גּוֹי֙gôygowy: a foreign nation; (hence) a GentileH1471
  14. מְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְmĕmuššākmashak: to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march...H4900
  15. וּמוֹרָ֔טûmôrāṭmowrat: obstinate, i.e. independentH4178
  16. אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  17. עַ֥םʿam`am: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel)H5971
  18. נוֹרָ֖אnôrāʾyare': to fear; morally, to revereH3372
  19. מִןminmin: (properly) a part of; (hence, prepositionally) from or out of (in many senses)H4480
  20. ה֣וּאhûʾhuw': (the third person pronoun singular) he, she, or it (only expressed when emphatic or without a verb)H1931
  21. וָהָ֑לְאָהwāhālĕʾâhalah: to the distance, i.e. far away; (of time) thus farH1973
  22. גּ֚וֹיgôygowy: a foreign nation; (hence) a GentileH1471
  23. קַוqǎw
  24. קָ֣וqāwqav-qav: stalwartH6978
  25. וּמְבוּסָ֔הûmĕbûsâmbuwcah: a tramplingH4001
  26. אֲשֶׁרʾăšeraher: who, which, what, that; (as adverb) when, where, howH834
  27. בָּזְא֥וּbozʾûbaza': probably to cleaveH958
  28. נְהָרִ֖יםnĕhārîmnahar: a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.)H5104
  29. אַרְצֽוֹ׃ʾarṣôerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
3
  1. כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  2. יֹשְׁבֵ֥יyōšĕbêyashab: (properly) to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet)H3427
  3. תֵבֵ֖לtēbēltebel: the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited)H8398
  4. וְשֹׁ֣כְנֵיwĕšōkĕnêshakan: to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)H7931
  5. אָ֑רֶץʾāreṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  6. כִּנְשֹׂאkinśōʾnasa': to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows)H5375
  7. נֵ֤סnēsnec: a flag; (also) a sailH5251
  8. הָרִים֙hārîmhar: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)H2022
  9. תִּרְא֔וּtirʾûra'ah: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and...H7200
  10. וְכִתְקֹ֥עַwĕkitqōaʿtaqa`: to clatter, i.e. slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument)H8628
  11. שׁוֹפָ֖רšôpārshowphar: a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved hornH7782
  12. תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃tišmāʿûshama`: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcH8085
4
  1. כִּי֩kiykiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. כֹ֨הkōkoh: (properly) like this; (by implication, of manner) thus (or so)H3541
  3. אָמַ֤רʾāmaramar: to say (used with great latitude)H559
  4. יְהוָה֙yĕhwāhYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  5. אֵלַ֔יʾēlayel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  6. אֶשְׁקֳוטָ֖הʾešqŏwṭâshaqat: to repose (usually figurative)H8252
  7. וְאַבִּ֣יטָהwĕʾabbîṭânabat: to scan, i.e. look intently at; (by implication) to regard with pleasure, favor or careH5027
  8. בִמְכוֹנִ֑יbimkônîmakown: (properly) a fixture, i.e. a basis; (generally) a placeH4349
  9. כְּחֹ֥םkĕḥōmchom: heatH2527
  10. צַח֙ṣaḥtsach: dazzling, i.e. sunny, bright, (figuratively) evidentH6703
  11. עֲלֵיʿălê`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  12. א֔וֹרʾôrowr: illumination; (concretely) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)H216
  13. כְּעָ֥בkĕʿāb`ab: (properly) an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chron. 4H5645
  14. טַ֖לṭaltal: dew (as covering vegetation)H2919
  15. בְּחֹ֥םbĕḥōmchom: heatH2527
  16. קָצִֽיר׃qāṣîrqatsiyr: severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figurativelyH7105
5
  1. כִּֽיkîkiy: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)H3588
  2. לִפְנֵ֤יlipnêpaniym: the face (as the part that turns); (with prepositional prefix, as a preposition) before, etc.H6440
  3. קָצִיר֙qāṣîrqatsiyr: severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figurativelyH7105
  4. כְּתָםkĕtāmtamam: to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive (as follows)H8552
  5. פֶּ֔רַחperaḥperach: a calyx (natural or artificial); (generally) bloomH6525
  6. וּבֹ֥סֶרûbōserbocer: sour grapeH1155
  7. גֹּמֵ֖לgōmēlgamal: to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requiteH1580
  8. יִֽהְיֶ֣הyihĕyehayah: to exist; to be or becomeH1961
  9. נִצָּ֑הniṣṣânitstsah: a blossomH5328
  10. וְכָרַ֤תwĕkāratkarath: to cut (off, down or asunder); (by implication) to destroy or consumeH3772
  11. הַזַּלְזַלִּים֙hazzalzallîmzalzal: tremulous, i.e. a twigH2150
  12. בַּמַּזְמֵר֔וֹתbammazmērôtmazmerah: a pruning-knifeH4211
  13. וְאֶתwĕʾeteth: (properly) self; (generally) used to point out the object of a verb (or preposition) more definitelyH853
  14. הַנְּטִישׁ֖וֹתhannĕṭîšôtntiyshah: a tendril (as an offshoot)H5189
  15. הֵסִ֥ירhēsîrcuwr: to turn off (literal or figurative)H5493
  16. הֵתַֽז׃hētaztazaz: to lop offH8456
6
  1. יֵעָזְב֤וּyēʿozbû`azab: to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etcH5800
  2. יַחְדָּו֙yaḥdāwyachad: (properly) a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedlyH3162
  3. לְעֵ֣יטlĕʿêṭ`ayit: a hawk or other bird of preyH5861
  4. הָרִ֔יםhārîmhar: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)H2022
  5. וּֽלְבֶהֱמַ֖תûlĕbehĕmatbhemah: (properly) a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)H929
  6. הָאָ֑רֶץhāʾāreṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  7. וְקָ֤ץwĕqāṣquwts: to spend the harvest seasonH6972
  8. עָלָיו֙ʿālāyw`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  9. הָעַ֔יִטhāʿayiṭ`ayit: a hawk or other bird of preyH5861
  10. וְכָלwĕkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
  11. בֶּהֱמַ֥תbehĕmatbhemah: (properly) a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)H929
  12. הָאָ֖רֶץhāʾāreṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  13. עָלָ֥יוʿālāyw`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
  14. תֶּחֱרָֽף׃teḥĕrāpcharaph.: to pull off; (by implication) to expose (as by stripping)H2778
7
  1. בָּעֵת֩bāʿēt`eth: time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etcH6256
  2. הַהִ֨יאhahîʾhuw': (the third person pronoun singular) he, she, or it (only expressed when emphatic or without a verb)H1931
  3. יֽוּבַלyûbalyabal: (properly) to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)H2986
  4. שַׁ֜יšayshay: a gift (as available)H7862
  5. לַיהוָ֣הlayhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  6. צְבָא֗וֹתṣĕbāʾôttsaba': a mass of persons; (figuratively) a mass of thingsH6635
  7. עַ֚םʿam`am: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel)H5971
  8. מְמֻשָּׁ֣ךְmĕmuššākmashak: to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march...H4900
  9. וּמוֹרָ֔טûmôrāṭmowrat: obstinate, i.e. independentH4178
  10. וּמֵעַ֥םûmēʿam`am: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel)H5971
  11. נוֹרָ֖אnôrāʾyare': to fear; morally, to revereH3372
  12. מִןminmin: (properly) a part of; (hence, prepositionally) from or out of (in many senses)H4480
  13. ה֣וּאhûʾhuw': (the third person pronoun singular) he, she, or it (only expressed when emphatic or without a verb)H1931
  14. וָהָ֑לְאָהwāhālĕʾâhalah: to the distance, i.e. far away; (of time) thus farH1973
  15. גּ֣וֹי׀gôygowy: a foreign nation; (hence) a GentileH1471
  16. קַוqǎw
  17. קָ֣וqāwqav-qav: stalwartH6978
  18. וּמְבוּסָ֗הûmĕbûsâmbuwcah: a tramplingH4001
  19. אֲשֶׁ֨רʾăšeraher: who, which, what, that; (as adverb) when, where, howH834
  20. בָּזְא֤וּbozʾûbaza': probably to cleaveH958
  21. נְהָרִים֙nĕhārîmnahar: a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.)H5104
  22. אַרְצ֔וֹʾarṣôerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
  23. אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
  24. מְק֛וֹםmĕqômmaqowm: (properly) a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific)H4725
  25. שֵׁםšēmshem: an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individualityH8034
  26. יְהוָ֥הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
  27. צְבָא֖וֹתṣĕbāʾôttsaba': a mass of persons; (figuratively) a mass of thingsH6635
  28. הַרharhar: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)H2022
  29. צִיּֽוֹן׃ṣiyyônTsiyown: Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of JerusalemH6726

View the full Hebrew interlinear for Isaiah 18 →

Strong's words in Isaiah 18 (6)
Strong's H776 — אֶ֖רֶץ (ʾereṣ)
erets (eh'-rets) n-f. 1. the earth (at large, or partitively a land) [from an unused root probably meaning to be firm] KJV: X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.. Appears 6 times in Isaiah 18.
Strong's H1471 — גּוֹי֙ (gôy)
gowy (go'-ee) (rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}) n-m. 1. a foreign nation 2. (hence) a Gentile 3. (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts [apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing)] KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people. See also: H1465. Appears 3 times in Isaiah 18.
Strong's H2022 — הָרִים֙ (hārîm)
har (har) n-m. 1. a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) [a shortened form of H2042] KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), X promotion. Root(s): H2042. Appears 3 times in Isaiah 18.
Strong's H3068 — יְהוָה֙ (yĕhwāh)
Yhovah (yeh-ho-vaw') n/p. 1. (the) self-Existent or Eternal 2. Jehovah, Jewish national name of God [from H1961] KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Root(s): H1961 Compare: H3050, H3069. Appears 3 times in Isaiah 18.
Strong's H5104 — לְנַֽהֲרֵי (lĕnahărê)
nahar (naw-hawr') n-m. 1. a stream (including the sea 2. expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.) 3. (figuratively) prosperity [from H5102] KJV: flood, river. Root(s): H5102. Appears 3 times in Isaiah 18.
Strong's H5971 — עַ֥ם (ʿam)
`am (am) n-m. 1. a people (as a congregated unit) 2. specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel) 3. hence (collectively) troops or attendants 4. (figuratively) a flock [from H6004] KJV: folk, men, nation, people. Root(s): H6004. Appears 3 times in Isaiah 18.

Browse the full Strong's concordance →

“The word of Isaiah: “Woe to the wings of the vessels of the land, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: (woe to him) who sends sureties by the sea, and letters of papyrus [on the water; for nimble messengers will go] to a nation anxious and expectant, and a people strange and bitter...”

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