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Good News Translation

Isaiah 19:9

Those who make linen cloth will be in despair;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Egypt;   Nile;   War;   Weaving;   Thompson Chain Reference - Arts and Crafts;   Flax;   Weaving;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Egypt;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Fish, Fisher;   Nets;   Nile;   Tirhakah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Craft workers;   Nile;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Linen;   Weaving, Weavers;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Flax;   Nile;   Weaving;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Flax;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Spinning and Weaving;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Net-Work;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Egypt;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Cord;   Flax,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Flax;   Silk;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Confound;   Fine;   Flax;   Linen;   Network;   Trade;   Weaving;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Egypt;   Spinning;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Those who work with flax will be dismayed;those combing it and weaving linen will turn pale.
Hebrew Names Version
Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, shall be confounded.
King James Version
Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.
English Standard Version
The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton.
New American Standard Bible
Moreover, the manufacturers of linen made from combed flax And the weavers of white cloth will be utterly dejected.
New Century Version
All the people who make cloth from flax will be sad, and those who weave linen will lose hope.
Amplified Bible
Moreover, those who make linen from combed flax And those who weave white cloth will be ashamed.
World English Bible
Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, shall be confounded.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Moreouer, they that worke in flaxe of diuers sortes, shall be confounded, and they that weaue nettes.
Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, the manufacturers of linen made from combed flaxAnd the weavers of white cloth will be ashamed.
Berean Standard Bible
Those who work with flax will be dismayed, and the weavers of fine linen will turn pale.
Contemporary English Version
None of the cloth makers will know what to do, and they will turn pale.
Complete Jewish Bible
The linen-workers will be in despair, along with the weavers of white cotton;
Darby Translation
And they that work in fine flax, and they that weave white stuffs shall be ashamed.
Easy-to-Read Version
Those who make cloth from flax, who weave it into linen, will all be sad.
George Lamsa Translation
Moreover those who work in cotton, and those who comb cotton and weave with joy, shall be confounded.
Lexham English Bible
And the workers of combed flax will be ashamed, and those who weave white linen.
Literal Translation
And the workers in fine flax, and the weavers of white cloth are ashamed.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Soch as laboure vpon flax & sylcke, shal come to pouerte, & they also that weeue fyne workes.
American Standard Version
Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be confounded.
Bible in Basic English
And all the workers in linen thread, and those who make cotton cloth, will be put to shame.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave cotton, shall be ashamed.
King James Version (1611)
Moreouer they that worke in fine flaxe, and they that weaue net-works shall be confounded.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Moreouer, they that worke in flaxe and make fine workes, shalbe confounded, and so shall they that weaue open workes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And shame shall come upon them that work fine flax, and them that make fine linen.
English Revised Version
Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be ashamed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thei schulen be schent, that wrouyten flex, foldynge and ordeynynge sutil thingis.
Update Bible Version
Moreover those that work in combed flax shall be confounded, and the weavers shall grow pale.
Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave net-works shall be confounded.
New English Translation
Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed; those who weave will turn pale.
New King James Version
Moreover those who work in fine flax And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed;
New Living Translation
There will be no flax for the harvesters, no thread for the weavers.
New Life Bible
Those who make linen and white cloth will be very troubled.
New Revised Standard
The workers in flax will be in despair, and the carders and those at the loom will grow pale.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then shall turn pale The workers in combed flax, - and The weavers of white linen;
Douay-Rheims Bible
They shall be confounded that wrought in flax, combing and weaving fine linen.
Revised Standard Version
The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton.
Young's Literal Translation
And ashamed have been makers of fine flax, And weavers of net-works.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Moreover, the manufacturers of linen made from combed flax And the weavers of white cloth will be utterly dejected.

Contextual Overview

1 This is a message about Egypt. The Lord is coming to Egypt, riding swiftly on a cloud. The Egyptian idols tremble before him, and the people of Egypt lose their courage. 2 The Lord says, "I will stir up civil war in Egypt and turn brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor. Rival cities will fight each other, and rival kings will struggle for power. 3 I am going to frustrate the plans of the Egyptians and destroy their morale. They will ask their idols to help them, and they will go and consult mediums and ask the spirits of the dead for advice. 4 I will hand the Egyptians over to a tyrant, to a cruel king who will rule them. I, the Lord Almighty, have spoken." 5 The water will be low in the Nile, and the river will gradually dry up. 6 The channels of the river will stink as they slowly go dry. Reeds and rushes will wither, 7 and all the crops planted along the banks of the Nile will dry up and be blown away. 8 Everyone who earns a living by fishing in the Nile will groan and cry; their hooks and their nets will be useless. 9 Those who make linen cloth will be in despair; 10 weavers and skilled workers will be broken and depressed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

work: 1 Kings 10:28, Proverbs 7:16, Ezekiel 27:7, net works, or, white works

Cross-References

Genesis 11:6
and he said, "Now then, these are all one people and they speak one language; this is just the beginning of what they are going to do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want!
Genesis 13:12
Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled among the cities in the valley and camped near Sodom,
Genesis 19:7
He said to them, "Friends, I beg you, don't do such a wicked thing!
Genesis 19:8
Look, I have two daughters who are still virgins. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do whatever you want with them. But don't do anything to these men; they are guests in my house, and I must protect them."
Genesis 19:19
You have done me a great favor and saved my life. But the hills are too far away; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die before I get there.
Genesis 19:22
Hurry! Run! I can't do anything until you get there." Because Lot called it small, the town was named Zoar.
Genesis 19:26
But Lot's wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:28
He looked down at Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley and saw smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a huge furnace.
Exodus 2:14
The man answered, "Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me just as you killed that Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and said to himself, "People have found out what I have done."
1 Samuel 2:16
If the person answered, "Let us do what is right and burn the fat first; then take what you want," the priest's servant would say, "No! Give it to me now! If you don't, I will have to take it by force!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Moreover they that work in fine flax,.... Of which they made fine linen cloth, and yarn, and was much wore by the Egyptians, and was the commodity of the country, and for which other nations traded with them, 1 Kings 10:28 but now would have no flax to work, that being withered and gone which was sown by the sides of the brooks, Isaiah 19:7 and no linen cloth or yarn to sell, and consequently in great confusion and distress, as they are here represented l. The Targum renders the whole verse thus,

"they shall be confounded which work flax, which they comb, and of it weave nets;''

and so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it, not of persons that wrought in flax, to make yarn or linen of it; but who combed it, to make nets of it, as follows:

and they that weave networks shall be confounded: because they would have no sale for their nets, the fishermen having no use for them, the rivers being dried up. The word for "networks" signifies "holes", because nets are made with holes large enough to let the water through, and so small that the fishes may not get out. Some render the word "white works" m, white linen, white cloth, of which white garments are made, such as nobles and princes formerly wore; hence, in the Hebrew language, they are called by a name of the same root and signification; but the former sense seems best.

l שריקות is by us rendered "fine"; and so, Ben Melech says, in the Arabic language the best and finest linen is called אלשרק; and so says Kimchi in Sepher Shorash.; with which Schindler agrees, Arab. אלשרק, sericum or "muslin"; but it is a question whether this is of so early a date, and especially not fit to make nets of. De Dieu and Bochart think it denotes the colour of the linen, which was yellow, that being the best; but others render it "combed". m ואורגים חורי "et textores alborum operum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Moreover - In addition to the calamities that will come upon the fishermen, the drying up of the river will affect all who are supported by that which the overflowing of its waters produced.

They that work in short flax - Egypt was celebrated anciently for producing flax in large quantities, and of a superior quality (see Exodus 9:31; 1 Kings 10:28). The fine linen of Egypt which was manufactured from this is celebrated in Scripture Proverbs 7:16; Ezekiel 27:7. The Egyptians had early carried the art of manufacturing linen to a great degree of perfection. As early as the exode of the Hebrews, we find that the art was known by which stuffs made of linen or other materials were curiously worked and embroidered. ‘And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine-twined linen, made with needlework’ (Exodus 26:36; compare Exodus 27:16; Exodus 36:37). So Ezekiel 27:7 : ‘Fine linen, with broidered work from Egypt.’ So also Martial refers to embroidery with the needle in Egypt:

Haec tibi Memphitis tellus dat munera; victa est

Pectine Niliaco jam Babylonis acus.

Martial, xiv. Ep. 50.

In regard to the “fineness” of the linen which was produced and made in Egypt, we may introduce a statement made by Pliny when speaking of the “nets” which were made there. ‘So delicate,’ says he, ‘were some of them, that they would pass through a man’s ring, and a single person could carry a sufficient number of them to surround a whole wood. Julius Lupus, who died while governor of Egypt, had some of those nets, each string of which consisted of 150 threads; a fact perfectly surprising to those who are not aware that the Rhodians preserve to this day, in the temple of Minerva, the remains of a linen corslet, presented to them by Amasis, king of Egypt, whose threads are composed each of 365 fibres.’ (Pliny, xix. 1.) Herodotus also mentions this corslet (iii. 47), and also another presented by Amasis to the Lacedemonians, which had been carried off by the Samians: ‘It was of linen, ornamented with numerous figures of animals, worked in gold and cotton.

Each thread of the corslet was worthy of admiration. For though very fine, every one was composed of 360 other threads, all distinct; the quality being similar to that dedicated to Minerva at Lindus, by the same monarch.’ Pliny (xix. 1) mentions four kinds of linen that were particularly celebrated in Egypt - the Tanitic, the Pelusiac, the Butine, and the tentyritic. He also says that the quantity of flax cultivated in Egypt was accounted for, by their exporting linen to Arabia and India. It is now known, also, that the cloth used for enveloping the dead, and which is now found in abundance on the mummies, was “linen.” This fact was long doubted, and it was until recently supposed by many that the cloth was made of cotton. This fact that it is linen was settled beyond dispute by some accurate experiments made by Dr. Ure, Mr. Bauer, and Mr. Thompson, with the aid of powerful microscopes.

It was found that linen fibres uniformly present a cylindrical form, transparent, and articulated, or jointed like a cane, while the fibres of cotton have the appearance of a flat ribbon, with a hem or border at the edge. In the mummy cloths, it was found, without exception, that the fibres were linen. Vast quantities of linen must, therefore, have been used. The linen of the mummy cloths is generally coarse. The warp usually contains about 90 threads in the inch; the woof about 44. Occasionally, however, very fine linen cloth is found, showing the skill with which the manufacture was executed. Sir John G. Wilkinson observes, that a piece of linen in his possession from Egypt had 540 (or 270 double) threads in one inch in the warp. Some of the cambric which is now manufactured has but 160 threads in the inch in the warp, and 140 in the woof. It is to be remembered, also, that the linen in Egypt was spun by hand, and without the aid of machinery (see, on this whole subject, Wilkinson’s “Ancient Egyptians,” vol. iii. pp. 113-142. Ed. Lond. 1837). The word rendered ‘fine’ here denotes, according to Gesenius, “combed or hatchelled.” The word ‘fine,’ however, expresses the idea with sufficient accuracy. Fine linen was used for clothing; but was so expensive that it was worn chiefly by the rich and by princes Luke 16:19.

They that weave networks - Margin, ‘White-works.’ According to Gesenius the word הורי hôrây means “white linen” - that which is fully bleached. The word הוד hôd means “a hole or cavern,” but is not applied to cloth. The parallelism seems rather to require that the word should mean ‘white,’ or that which would correspond to ‘fine,’ or valuable; and it is not known that the Egyptians had the art of working lace from linen. Saadias supposes that “nets” are meant, as being made with holes or meshes; but it is evident that a finer work is intended than that.

Shall be confounded - Hebrew, ‘Shall be ashamed.’ That is, they shall be thrown out of employment, and not know what to do.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 19:9. They that work in fine flax — פשתים שריקות pishtim sericoth, heckled flax, i.e., flax dressed on the heckle, or comb used for that purpose. The Vulgate uses the word pectentes, combing.

They that weave networks shall be confounded - And confounden schul ben that wrogten flax, plattinge and wevynge sotel thingis. - Old MS. Bible.


 
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