Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 20:2

2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the saccloth from off thy loins , and put off thy shoe from thy foot: And he did so, walking naked and bare-foot .

Ungird it and put it off; the Antecedent put for the Consequent, which is very usual, as hath been often noted. God would sometimes have his Prophets to add to their Word a visible Sign, to awaken Peoples Minds to a more serious Consideration of the Matters proposed to them.

Either, 1. his course and hairy Garment, which the Prophets used to wear, 2 Kings 1. 8. Zech. 13. 4. as many understand it. But that is expressed by another Word in the places quoted, and never, to my knowledge, by this Word: Or 2. his mournful Habit, which was commonly made of Saccloth, and which he wore in token of his hearty grief for the great Calamities which were already come upon Israel, and were either come or coming upon Iudah.

Upon which the upper Garments were commonly girt, 1 Kings 20. 32. 2 Kings 9. 1.

Not wholly naked, which had been indecent and scandalous, and withal very dangerous, at least to do so for three years, as he did, v. 3. but without his upper Garment, as slaves and prisoners used to do, whose posture he was to represent, v. 4. And so the word naked is used, 1 Sam. 19. 24. 2 Sam. 6. 20. Ioh. 21. 7. Thus also men are said to be naked when they are ill-clothed, as Iob 22. 6. Mat 25. 36. 1 Cor. 4. 11. Iames 2. 15.

After the manner of Mourners, 2 Sam. 15. 30. and Captives, Ier. 2. 25.

Marginal references: Heb. by the hand of Isaiah.; Mich. 1. 8, 11.