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Isaiah 20 · a question people ask

Why would the LORD tell his prophet to do this?

In the text

The chapter gives the LORD's reason, and gives it at once. Isaiah walked "for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia" (20:3), "so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia" (20:4). Among the senses of mofet, wonder, Brown-Driver-Briggs lists "sign or token of future event" (tap wonder). Isaiah had been a sign before: "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel" (8:18). The LORD says the same of another prophet, Ezekiel, with the same word, mofet, which the WEB there gives as sign: "for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 12:6), and "Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you" (Ezekiel 24:24). The chapter gives no word from Isaiah about the command, only "He did so" (20:2), and these notes don't give the sign any meaning beyond what 20:3-6 says.

The verses

“at that time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loosen the sackcloth from off your waist, and take your sandals from off your feet.” He did so, walking naked and barefoot. The LORD said, “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia, so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.”
Isaiah 20:2-4 · World English Bible
“Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion.”
Isaiah 8:18 · World English Bible
“In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.””
Ezekiel 12:6 · World English Bible
“Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”’””
Ezekiel 24:24 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 20

Isaiah 20: A sign and a wonder

The same Hebrew words, "naked and barefoot", are said of Isaiah's walk and of the captives of Egypt and Ethiopia, joined by the LORD's As … so (20:3-4). And "where we fled for help" (20:6) is said with the verb and word of an earlier question in the book: "To whom will you flee for help?" (10:3).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions