Isaiah 19:6-16

6 And [the] rivers will become foul-smelling; the branches of the Nile of Egypt will become little and dry up; reed and rush will wither.
7 Bare places by [the] Nile will be dried up, by the edge of [the] Nile and all the sown land of [the] Nile; it will be driven about, and {it will be no more}.
8 And the fishers will mourn, and all of those who cast fishhooks in the Nile will lament, and those who spread out fishing nets on [the] {surface} of [the] water will languish.
9 And [the] workers of combed flax will be ashamed, and those who weave white linen.
10 And her weavers will be crushed; all [the] {hired workers} [will be] grieved of heart.
11 Surely the princes of Zoan [are] foolish; the wise of the counselors of Pharaoh [give] senseless counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I myself [am] a son of sages, a {descendant} of ancient kings"?
12 Where [are] your sages then? Now, let them tell you, and let them know what Yahweh of hosts has planned against Egypt.
13 The princes of Zoan have become foolish; the princes of Memphis are deceived; the leaders of her tribes have led Egypt astray.
14 Yahweh has mixed a spirit of confusion into her midst, and they have caused Egypt to stagger in all of its doings, as {when a drunkard staggers} in his vomit.
15 And {there will be nothing for Egypt to do}, head or tail, palm branch or reed.

The Future Blessing of Egypt, Assyria, and Egypt

16 On that day, Egypt will be like women, and will tremble and be afraid before the waving hand of Yahweh of hosts that he [is] waving against it.

Isaiah 19:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 19

This chapter contains prophecies of various calamities that should come upon Egypt in a short time, and of the conversion of many of them to Christ in Gospel times. The calamities are many; the Lord's coming unto them, which their gods cannot prevent, nor stand before, nor save them, and at which the hearts of the Egyptians are dispirited, Isa 19:1 civil wars among themselves, Isa 19:2 want of counsel, which sends them to idols and wizards, but in vain, Isa 19:3 subjection to a cruel lord, Isa 19:4 drying up of their rivers and waters, so that the paper reeds wither, and fishes die; and hence no business for fishermen, nor for workers in flax, or weavers of nets, Isa 19:5-10,15 the stupidity of their princes and wise counsellors, given up by the Lord to a perverse spirit, so that they concerted wrong measures, and deceived the people, Isa 19:11-14 a general consternation among them, because of the hand and counsel of the Lord; and because of the Lord's people, the Jews, who were a terror to them, Isa 19:16,17 and then follows the prophecy of their conversion in later times, which is signified by their speaking the language of Canaan, and swearing to the Lord, Isa 19:18 by their erecting an altar, and a pillar to the Lord, which should be a sign and witness to him; and by their crying to him, and his sending them a Saviour, and a great one, Isa 19:19,20 by his being known unto them, by their offering sacrifice to him, and by his smiting and healing them Isa 19:21,22 and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of that harmony, and agreement, and fellowship, that shall be between Jew and Gentile, between Egypt, Assyria, and Israel; and that the blessing of God should be upon them all, Isa 19:23-25.

Footnotes 8

  • [a]. Literally "there is none of it"
  • [b]. Hebrew "fishhook"
  • [c]. Hebrew "net"
  • [d]. Literally "face"
  • [e]. Literally "workers of wage"
  • [f]. Literally "son"
  • [g]. Literally "the staggering of a drunkard"
  • [h]. Literally "not it will be for Egypt a deed which he can do"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.