For the Hebrew particle translated Ah, see the comments on 1.4. Here it introduces a Woe Oracle, a message about punishment. It expresses both judgment and sadness.

Land of whirring wings describes the country addressed in this oracle. But what does the phrase whirring wings mean? For some commentators it refers to flying insects since Cush/Ethiopia (or, Egypt) was infested with them (see Deut 28.42, where Revised Standard Version has “locust” for the Hebrew word rendered whirring). Contemporary English Version follows this interpretation by rendering land of whirring wings as “the country of Egypt, swarming with insects” (similarly New American Bible). New Jerusalem Bible is more explicit with “Land of the whirring locust.” The Hebrew word for whirring refers basically to a beetle and its extended meaning is “boat.” The Septuagint expresses the extended meaning by saying “land of the boats of wings.” The boat’s wings are its sails. Revised English Bible follows the Septuagint with “a land of sailing ships” (similarly Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Translators may choose “beetles/insects” or “boats,” but it would be helpful to place the alternative in a footnote.

Which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: For Ethiopia see the introductory comments on 18.1-7. The rivers of Ethiopia refers to the Upper Nile River and its tributaries. Most versions render the Hebrew preposition here as beyond. If the nation here is beyond Cush/Ethiopia, then it is either upstream toward Central Africa, or downstream toward the Mediterranean Sea. The first possibility would refer to a location outside the world known to Israel at that time. The second possibility would refer to Egypt (so Contemporary English Version). New International Version and Bible en français courant render the preposition as “along,” which identifies the nation here as Cush/Ethiopia. For this whole verse Bible en français courant has “Ah, that land of winged boats, along the rivers of Ethiopia.”

Translation suggestions for this verse are:

• Alas for the land of winged beetles out beyond the rivers of Cush!

• Woe to the land buzzing with flying beetles across the rivers of Cush!

• Oh, you land of sailing ships, on the rivers of Ethiopia!

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .