Isaiah 19:10

10 And the makers of twisted thread will be crushed, and those who ... will be sad in heart.

Isaiah 19:10 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 19:10

And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof
Meaning either the persons that work in flax, or in making nets; who shall be disappointed in their views, expectations, and designs, in bringing them to a good market, since there will be no buyers. The word for "purposes" signifies foundations, as in ( Psalms 11:3 ) and may design dams and banks, that are made to keep in the water, which shall be broken down, and be of no service to answer the end; but Kimchi observes, that the word in the Talmudic language signifies "nets", as it does ^F14; and this seems to be most agreeable to the context; and then the words may be rendered, "and its nets shall be broken" ^F15; shall lie and rot for want of use:

all that make sluices [and] ponds for fish;
or, "all that make an enclosure of ponds of soul" ^F16; or for delight and pleasure; that is, not only such shall be broken in their purposes, ashamed and confounded, and be dispirited, mourn and lament, whose business and employment it is to catch fish, or make nets for that end, and get their livelihood thereby; but even such who enclose a confluence of water, and make fishponds in their fields and gardens for their pleasure, will be disappointed; for their waters there will be dried up, and the fish die, as well as in the common rivers. The Septuagint version renders it, "and all they that make zythum shall grieve"; "zythum" was a sort of malt liquor of the ancients; and the word for "sluices" is of affinity with a word that is often used for strong drink; and so the Syriac version here,

``and all they shall be humbled that make strong drink, for the drink of the soul;''

or for men to drink for pleasure.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 124. 2. Bava Kama, fol. 117. 1.
F15 "Et erunt retia ejus contrita", Pagninus, Montanus.
F16 (vpn ymga rkv yvwe lk) "omnes facientes clausuram stagnorum animae", Montanus.

Isaiah 19:10 In-Context

8 The fishermen will be sad, and all those who put fishing-lines into the Nile will be full of grief, and those whose nets are stretched out on the waters will have sorrow in their hearts.

9 And all the workers in linen thread, and those who make cotton cloth, will be put to shame.

10 And the makers of twisted thread will be crushed, and those who ... will be sad in heart.

11 The chiefs of Zoan are completely foolish; the wisest guides of Pharaoh have become like beasts: how do you say to Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the offspring of early kings?

12 Where, then, are your wise men? let them make clear to you, let them give you knowledge of the purpose of the Lord of armies for Egypt.