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Selected Verse: Isaiah 18:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 18:3	Strong Concordance	All ye inhabitants [03427] of the world [08398], and dwellers [07931] on the earth [0776], see [07200] ye, when he lifteth up [05375] an ensign [05251] on the mountains [02022]; and when he bloweth [08628] a trumpet [07782], hear [08085] ye.
	King James	All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
see ye . . . hear ye--rather, "ye shall see . . . shall hear." Call to the whole earth to be witnesses of what Jehovah ("He") is about to do. He will "lift up an ensign," calling the Assyrian motley hosts together (Isa 5:26) on "the mountains" round Jerusalem, to their own destruction. This (the eighteenth chapter) declares the coming overthrow of those armies whose presence is announced in Isa 17:12-13. The same motive, which led Hezekiah to seek aid from Egypt, led him to accept gladly the Ethiopian Tirhakah's aid (Isa 36:6; Isa 37:9). Ethiopia, Egypt, and Judea were probably leagued together against the common enemy, 713 B.C. See notes on the twenty-second chapter, where a difference of tone (as referring to a different period) as to Ethiopia is observable. HORSLEY takes the "ensign" to be the cross, and the "trumpet" the Gospel trumpet, which shall be sounded more loudly in the last days.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

see ye . . . hear ye--rather, "ye shall see . . . shall hear." Call to the whole earth to be witnesses of what Jehovah ("He") is about to do. He will "lift up an ensign," calling the Assyrian motley hosts together (Isa 5:26) on "the mountains" round Jerusalem, to their own destruction. This (the eighteenth chapter) declares the coming overthrow of those armies whose presence is announced in Isa 17:12-13. The same motive, which led Hezekiah to seek aid from Egypt, led him to accept gladly the Ethiopian Tirhakah's aid (Isa 36:6; Isa 37:9). Ethiopia, Egypt, and Judea were probably leagued together against the common enemy, 713 B.C. See notes on the twenty-second chapter, where a difference of tone (as referring to a different period) as to Ethiopia is observable. HORSLEY takes the "ensign" to be the cross, and the "trumpet" the Gospel trumpet, which shall be sounded more loudly in the last days.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
All ye inhabitants of the world - These are to be regarded as the words of the prophet summoning all nations to attend to that which was about to occur. Grotius, however, and some others, suppose that they are the words of the Ethiopians. The meaning is, that the events which are here predicted would be of so public a nature as to attract the attention of all the world. When he - Vitringa supposes that this means the Assyrians lifting up a standard on the mountains of Judea. But the better interpretation is that which refers it to the people of Nubia, mustering their forces for war. 'All nations behold when that people collects an army; sounds the trumpet for war; and arrays its military forces for battle. See then the judgments that God will inflict on them - their discomfiture Isa 18:4-7, and their turning to Yahweh, and sending an offering to him Isa 18:7.' According to this interpretation, it will refer to the people making preparation for battle; and perhaps it may mean that they were preparing to join the enemies of Judea - "not improbably preparing to join the forces of Sennacherib, and to invade Judea." For this purpose it may have been that the messengers were sent to negotiate the terms of alliance with Sennacherib; and the object of the prophecy is, to assure the Jews that this people, as well as Sennacherib, would be discomfited, and that they would yet bring an offering to God Isa 18:7. Lifteth up an ensign - A military standard (see the note at Isa 5:26). And when he bloweth a trumpet - Also a signal for an army to assemble (see the note at Isa 13:2).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
When - When God shall gather together the nations, as it were by the lifting up of an ensign, or by the sound of a trumpet, to execute his judgments upon this people.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
When he lifteth up an ensign "When the standard is lifted up" - I take God to be the Agent in this verse; and that by the standard and the trumpet are meant the meteors, the thunder, the lightning, the storm, earthquake, and tempest, by which Sennacherib's army shall be destroyed, or by which at least the destruction of it shall be accompanied; as it is described in Isa 10:16, Isa 10:17; Isa 29:6, and Isa 30:30, Isa 30:31. See also Psa 76:1-12 (note), and the title of it, according to the Septuagint, Vulgate and Aethiopic. They are called, by a bold metaphor, the standard lifted up, and the trumpet sounded. The latter is used by Homer, I think with great force, in his introduction to the battle of the gods; though I find it has disgusted some of the minor critics: - Βραχε δ' ευρεια χθων, Αμφι δε σαλπιγζεν μεγας ουρανος. Il. 21:388. "Heaven in loud thunders bids the trumpet sound, And wide beneath them groans the rending ground." Pope

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⁹ And he heard [08085] say [0559] concerning Tirhakah [08640] king [04428] of Ethiopia [03568], He is come forth [03318] to make war [03898] with thee. And when he heard [08085] it, he sent [07971] messengers [04397] to Hezekiah [02396], saying [0559],

⁶ Lo, thou trustest [0982] in the staff [04938] of this broken [07533] reed [07070], on Egypt [04714]; whereon if a man [0376] lean [05564], it will go [0935] into his hand [03709], and pierce [05344] it: so is Pharaoh [06547] king [04428] of Egypt [04714] to all that trust [0982] in him.

¹² Woe [01945] to the multitude [01995] of many [07227] people [05971], which make a noise [01993] like the noise [01993] of the seas [03220]; and to the rushing [07588] of nations [03816], that make a rushing like the rushing [07582] of mighty [03524] waters [04325]!
¹³ The nations [03816] shall rush [07582] like the rushing [07588] of many [07227] waters [04325]: but God shall rebuke [01605] them, and they shall flee [05127] far off [04801], and shall be chased [07291] as the chaff [04671] of the mountains [02022] before [06440] the wind [07307], and like a rolling thing [01534] before [06440] the whirlwind [05492].

²⁶ And he will lift up [05375] an ensign [05251] to the nations [01471] from far [07350], and will hiss [08319] unto them from the end [07097] of the earth [0776]: and, behold, they shall come [0935] with speed [04120] swiftly [07031]:

² Lift ye up [05375] a banner [05251] upon the high [08192] mountain [02022], exalt [07311] the voice [06963] unto them, shake [05130] the hand [03027], that they may go [0935] into the gates [06607] of the nobles [05081].

⁷ In that time [06256] shall the present [07862] be brought [02986] unto the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] of a people [05971] scattered [04900] and peeled [04178], and from a people [05971] terrible [03372] from their beginning hitherto [01973]; a nation [01471] meted out [06978] and trodden under foot [04001], whose land [0776] the rivers [05104] have spoiled [0958], to the place [04725] of the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], the mount [02022] Zion [06726].

⁴ For so [03541] the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, I will take my rest [08252], and I will consider [05027] in my dwelling place [04349] like a clear [06703] heat [02527] upon herbs [0216], and like a cloud [05645] of dew [02919] in the heat [02527] of harvest [07105].
⁵ For afore [06440] the harvest [07105], when the bud [06525] is perfect [08552], and the sour grape [01155] is ripening [01580] in the flower [05328], he shall both cut off [03772] the sprigs [02150] with pruning hooks [04211], and take away [05493] and cut down [08456] the branches [05189].
⁶ They shall be left [05800] together [03162] unto the fowls [05861] of the mountains [02022], and to the beasts [0929] of the earth [0776]: and the fowls [05861] shall summer [06972] upon them, and all the beasts [0929] of the earth [0776] shall winter [02778] upon them.
⁷ In that time [06256] shall the present [07862] be brought [02986] unto the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] of a people [05971] scattered [04900] and peeled [04178], and from a people [05971] terrible [03372] from their beginning hitherto [01973]; a nation [01471] meted out [06978] and trodden under foot [04001], whose land [0776] the rivers [05104] have spoiled [0958], to the place [04725] of the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], the mount [02022] Zion [06726].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329] on Neginoth [05058], A Psalm [04210] or Song [07892] of Asaph [0623]. In Judah [03063] is God [0430] known [03045]: his name [08034] is great [01419] in Israel [03478].
² In Salem [08004] also is his tabernacle [05520], and his dwelling place [04585] in Zion [06726].
³ There brake [07665] he the arrows [07565] of the bow [07198], the shield [04043], and the sword [02719], and the battle [04421]. Selah [05542].
⁴ Thou art more glorious [0215] and excellent [0117] than the mountains [02042] of prey [02964].
⁵ The stouthearted [047] [03820] are spoiled [07997], they have slept [05123] their sleep [08142]: and none of the men [0582] of might [02428] have found [04672] their hands [03027].
⁶ At thy rebuke [01606], O God [0430] of Jacob [03290], both the chariot [07393] and horse [05483] are cast into a dead sleep [07290].
⁷ Thou, even thou, art to be feared [03372]: and who may stand [05975] in thy sight [06440] when [0227] once thou art angry [0639]?
⁸ Thou didst cause judgment [01779] to be heard [08085] from heaven [08064]; the earth [0776] feared [03372], and was still [08252],
⁹ When God [0430] arose [06965] to judgment [04941], to save [03467] all the meek [06035] of the earth [0776]. Selah [05542].
¹⁰ Surely the wrath [02534] of man [0120] shall praise [03034] thee: the remainder [07611] of wrath [02534] shalt thou restrain [02296].
¹¹ Vow [05087], and pay [07999] unto the LORD [03068] your God [0430]: let all that be round about [05439] him bring [02986] presents [07862] unto him that ought to be feared [04172].
¹² He shall cut off [01219] the spirit [07307] of princes [05057]: he is terrible [03372] to the kings [04428] of the earth [0776].

³¹ For through the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] shall the Assyrian [0804] be beaten down [02865], which smote [05221] with a rod [07626].

³⁰ And the LORD [03068] shall cause his glorious [01935] voice [06963] to be heard [08085], and shall shew [07200] the lighting down [05183] of his arm [02220], with the indignation [02197] of his anger [0639], and with the flame [03851] of a devouring [0398] fire [0784], with scattering [05311], and tempest [02230], and hailstones [068] [01259].

⁶ Thou shalt be visited [06485] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] with thunder [07482], and with earthquake [07494], and great [01419] noise [06963], with storm [05492] and tempest [05591], and the flame [03851] of devouring [0398] fire [0784].

¹⁷ And the light [0216] of Israel [03478] shall be for a fire [0784], and his Holy One [06918] for a flame [03852]: and it shall burn [01197] and devour [0398] his thorns [07898] and his briers [08068] in one [0259] day [03117];

¹⁶ Therefore shall the Lord [0113], the Lord [0136] [03068] of hosts [06635], send [07971] among his fat ones [04924] leanness [07332]; and under his glory [03519] he shall kindle [03344] a burning [03350] like the burning of a fire [0784].