King James Version

Isaiah 52:4

For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

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Hebrew

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כִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…כֹ֤הkhoalsoכֹּהadverb — “also”H3541properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) nowalso, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder.אָמַר֙amarsayאָמַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “say”, a completed actionH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…אֲדֹנָ֣יadonayLordאֲדֹנָיnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “Lord”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH136the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)(my) Lord.יְהוִ֔הyehviGodיְהֹוִהnoun, proper name — “God”H3069{YHWH}God.מִצְרַ֛יִםmitsrayimEgyptמִצְרַיִםnoun, proper name — “Egypt”H4714Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower EgyptEgypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.יָֽרַדyaradbring downיָרַדverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “bring down”, a completed actionH3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)[idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take…עַמִּ֥יamipeopleעַםnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “people”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.בָרִֽאשֹׁנָ֖הvarishonahin firstרִאשׁוֹןpreposition, with the article, adjective, adjective, feminine, singular, absolute — “in first”, the ordinary formH7223first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.לָג֣וּרlagurto fearגּוּרpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to fear”, the to-form of the verbH1481properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather forhostility (as afraid)abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in awe, (be) stranger, [idiom] surely.שָׁ֑םshamthereשָׁםadverb — “there”H8033there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thencein it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither.וְאַשּׁ֖וּרveashurand Assyriaאַשּׁוּרconjunction, noun, proper name — “and Assyria”H804Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empireAsshur, Assur, Assyria, Assyrians. See H838 (אָשֻׁר).בְּאֶ֥פֶסbeefesin ankleאֶפֶסpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “in ankle”, the ordinary formH657cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or footankle, but (only), end, howbeit, less than nothing, nevertheless (where), no, none (beside), not (any, -withstanding), thing of nought, save(-ing), there, uttermost part, want, without (cause).עֲשָׁקֽוֹashaqvodefraudעָשַׁקverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “defraud”, a completed actionH6231to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflowget deceitfully, deceive, defraud, drink up, (use) oppress(-ion), -or), do violence (wrong).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For thus saith the Lord GOD: My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

For thus saith the Lord Jehovah, My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without cause.

Young’s Literal Translation

For thus said the Lord Jehovah: 'To Egypt My people went down at first to sojourn there, And Asshur — for nought he hath oppressed it.

World English Bible

For the Lord Yahweh says: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there; and the Assyrian has oppressed them without cause.

Darby Translation

For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and Assyria oppressed them without cause;

Douay-Rheims

For thus saith the Lord God: My people went down into Egypt at the beginning to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without any cause at all.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For thus saith the Lord GOD: My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Thus saith the Lord, My people went down before to Egypt to sojourn there; and were carried away forcibly to the Assyrians.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Οὕτως λέγει Κύριος, εἰς Αἴγυπτον κατέβη ὁ λαός μου τὸ πρότερον παροικῆσαι ἐκεῖ, καὶ εἰς Ἀσσυρίους βίᾳ ἤχθησαν.