Book of Isaiah - Chapter 20 - Verse 5

In this verse from the book of Isaiah, the prophet foretells the downfall and humiliation of two powerful nations, Ethiopia and Egypt. The mention of Ethiopia as their "expectation" and Egypt as their "glory" suggests that these nations were once sources of pride and strength for the people mentioned. However, the prophecy says that they will eventually become sources of fear and shame. This could be interpreted as a warning against placing one's trust and confidence in earthly powers and glory, as they are subject to change and decay. Instead, the verse urges readers to put their faith in God, who is eternal and unchanging. It serves as a reminder that worldly possessions and achievements are temporary, and true security and honor can only be found in God.

Upon exploring the theological interpretation of the verse, "And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory," it is important to understand the historical context in which it was written. The prophet Isaiah uses these words to convey a message of warning to the people of Israel, cautioning them against putting their trust in earthly powers such as Ethiopia and Egypt. In this verse, Ethiopia symbolizes their hope or expectation, while Egypt represents their pride and glory. The prophet is emphasizing the futility of relying on human strength and power, as opposed to trusting in God alone. By delving into word studies, we can see that "afraid" signifies a sense of fear or dread, while "ashamed" carries the connotation of humiliation or disappointment. Therefore, in this verse, the people are warned that ultimately, their reliance on worldly nations will only lead to fear and shame, whereas true security and honor can only be found in trusting in God.