Catholic Commentary on Isaiah 20

“Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush.” (Isaiah 20:3)

The Sign against Egypt and Cush

The LORD commands Isaiah to take off the sackcloth from his body and the sandals from his feet, and he does so, going naked and barefoot for three years. Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush, so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared, to Egypt's shame. Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame. And the coastlands who looked to Egypt for help will say: if this is what has happened to those we relied on, where can we flee for help?

The Catechism identifies the prophetic sign-actions of Isaiah as bodily proclamations of the divine word, the prophet's body becoming the medium of the message (CCC 702).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, where can we flee for help? The question asked in dismay when political alliances fail has only one answer: to the LORD, who is not Egypt, not Cush, not Assyria. Every human power trusted as the final refuge will eventually be stripped and marched away. Trust the one who cannot be stripped.

Prayer

Lord God, every political alliance we trust instead of you will disappoint us. Be our only ultimate refuge. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

20
A Sign against Egypt and Cush
1 Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it, 2 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.”
 
And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
 
3 Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush,* 20:3 That is, the upper Nile region; similarly in verses 4 and 5 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks-to Egypt’s shame.
 
5 Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed. 6 And on that day the dwellers of this coastland will say, ‘See what has happened to our source of hope, those to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?’ ”

*20:3 20:3 That is, the upper Nile region; similarly in verses 4 and 5

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