Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that those who placed their hope ("expectation") in Ethiopia and their boast ("glory") in Egypt would be left utterly dismayed and ashamed when these nations were utterly defeated. It's a powerful reminder that our ultimate security and confidence should never be placed in worldly powers, but solely in God.
Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is commanded to walk naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia, powerful nations that many in Judah were looking to for protection from the Assyrian empire. This vivid, humiliating act demonstrates that these supposed saviors will themselves be captured and disgraced by the Assyrians. The passage culminates with the people of Judah realizing the futility and shame of trusting in these earthly powers instead of God.
Why does Isaiah use two powerful words – dismayed and ashamed – to describe the reaction to Egypt and Cush's defeat? It's not just about losing a battle; it's about a deep-seated betrayal of trust.
The verse paints a stark picture of disappointment. The people of Judah (and likely their allies) had placed their 'hope' in Ethiopia and their 'boast' in Egypt. These weren't just political alliances; they were profound expressions of where their security and pride lay.
The Two-Fold Emotion
What did it mean for Ethiopia to be their 'hope' and Egypt their 'boast'? These weren't casual relationships; they represented deep-seated beliefs about security and status.
The specific terms used – 'hope' for Ethiopia and 'boast' for Egypt – highlight different dimensions of misplaced trust.
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Hope Deferred, Boast Demolished
When both these powers are defeated and led away captive, it signifies the utter collapse of Judah's security and pride. Their 'expectation' is crushed, and their 'glory' is turned to deepest shame.
Understand the original words
chathath · Hebrew Verb
A state of being startled, terrified, or overwhelmed by the sudden collapse of false security or the reality of divine judgment.
bush · Hebrew Verb/Noun
A feeling of humiliation, disappointment, and loss of honor resulting from the failure of misplaced trust or the exposure of one's sin.
This prophecy unfolds during a period of intense Assyrian military pressure on the region. Judah, facing the might of Assyria, considers alliances with Egypt and Ethiopia, but Isaiah warns that these powerful nations will ultimately be captured and shamed by the Assyrians, leaving Judah utterly exposed.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This event heightens the anxiety in the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 713 BC— this verse
Tartan attacks Ashdod
Sargon II of Assyria sends his commander Tartan to conquer Philistine cities. Ashdod is besieged and captured, posing a direct threat to Judah.
c. 711 BC
Assyrian Campaign in Philistia
Following the capture of Ashdod, Assyrian forces continue their military actions in the region, increasing pressure on Judah and its neighbors.
c. 705-681 BC
Reign of Sennacherib
Sennacherib succeeds Sargon II and continues Assyrian expansion. He later campaigns against Judah, though Jerusalem is miraculously spared.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's warning, highlighting how relying on Egypt for help leads to shame and confusion, just as it did for those who trusted in them in Isaiah's time.
Psalm 146:3-5This psalm speaks against putting trust in human rulers or nations (like Ethiopia and Egypt) for salvation, emphasizing that true hope and help are found only in the Lord, aligning with the core message of Isaiah 20:5.
Isaiah 30:2-3This passage is a direct parallel where Isaiah condemns Judah for seeking refuge and strength in Egypt, calling their reliance a 'shame to them,' which is the very outcome described in chapter 20.
Jeremiah 46:17This verse describes the defeat of Egypt and its inhabitants, underscoring the futility of relying on Egypt for aid and the shame that would come upon those who boasted in them, mirroring the prophecy in Isaiah 20.
barnesIsaiah 20:5: "And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory."
And they shall be afraid - The Jews, or the party or faction among the Jews, that were expecting aid from allied Ethiopia and Egypt. When they shall see them vanquished, they shall apprehend a similar danger to themselves; and they shall be ashamed that they ever confided in a people so little able to aid them, instead of trusting in the arm of God. Egypt their glory - Their boast, as if…
cambridgeIsaiah 20:5: "And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory."
5, 6 . The effect which the sight of these miserable gangs of captives will produce on the inhabitants of Palestine. This is the real motive of the prophecy. Hezekiah probably took the warning. they shall be afraid ] R.V. better: dismayed . The subject is indefinite—“men.”
The verse highlights that those who placed their hope ("expectation") in Ethiopia and their boast ("glory") in Egypt would be left utterly dismayed and ashamed when these nations were utterly defeated. It's a powerful reminder that our ultimate security and confidence should never be placed in worldly powers, but solely in God.
The prophet Isaiah is commanded to walk naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia, powerful nations that many in Judah were looking to for protection from the Assyrian empire. This vivid, humiliating act demonstrates that these supposed saviors will themselves be captured and disgraced by the Assyrians. The passage culminates with the people of Judah realizing the futility and shame of trusting in these earthly powers instead of God.
The prophet Isaiah is commanded to walk naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia, powerful nations that many in Judah were looking to for protection from the Assyrian empire. This vivid, humiliating act demonstrates that these supposed saviors will themselves be captured and disgraced by the Assyrians. The passage culminates with the people of Judah realizing the futility and shame of trusting in these earthly powers instead of God.
"Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast." — The verse highlights that those who placed their hope ("expectation") in Ethiopia and their boast ("glory") in Egypt would be left utterly dismayed and ashamed when these nations were utterly defeate…
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Last reviewed October 2026