Interesting variation in the translation of these verses.
King James
The traditional English translation is clear and straightforward.
And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
Naked and barefoot, so no clothes. Then the buttocks would be uncovered, wouldn't they. So why the "even with..."?
Revised
The Revised is pretty much the same.
And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia; So shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
New English Bible
And the much-reviled New English is even clearer, it just states that their buttocks will be exposed, as you would expect if they were naked.
The LORD said, My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a warning to Egypt and Cush; just so shall the king of Assyria lead the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush naked and barefoot, their buttocks shamefully exposed, young and old alike.
NET Bible (New English Translation)
But cross the Atlantic, and the idea of nakedness is so horrific that surely it can't be put into the Bible for all to see. Children might see it and ask embarrassing questions! So now the naked are wearing "undergarments". Special undergarments of course, that leave the buttocks exposed. I expect they will set up a factory to make them, and keep them ready to humiliate the Egyptians when the opportunity arrives.
Later the Lord explained, “In the same way that my servant Isaiah has walked around in undergarments and barefoot for the past three years, as an object lesson and omen pertaining to Egypt and Cush, "so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, both young and old. They will be in undergarments and barefoot, with the buttocks exposed; the Egyptians will be publicly humiliated".
New International Reader's Version
And worse, this one can't bring itself even to mention buttocks, we get "backside" instead. I'm surprised they didn't prefer "sit-upon" and perhaps "unmentionables" instead of underwear.
After Ashdod was captured, the Lord said, "My servant Isaiah has gone around barefoot for three years. He has not worn anything but his underwear. He is a sign and reminder to Egypt and Cush about what will happen to them. "The king of Assyria will lead prisoners away from Egypt and Cush. Young people and old people alike will be taken away. Like Isaiah, they will be barefoot. They will not be wearing anything but their underwear. And their backsides will be bare. So the Egyptians will be put to shame.
They all use barefoot. Luckily Isaiah didn't want to eat at McDonalds.
2012-05-10