Isaiah 19:1-6

Message to Egypt

1 The 1oracle concerning 2Egypt. Behold, the LORD is 3riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The 4idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the 5heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
2 "So I will incite Egyptians against Egyptians; And they will 6each fight against his brother and each against his neighbor, City against city and kingdom against kingdom.
3 "Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them; And I will confound their strategy, So that 7they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead And to mediums and spiritists.
4 "Moreover, I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a 8cruel master, And a mighty king will rule over them," declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
5 9The waters from the sea will dry up, And the river will be parched and dry.
6 The 10canals will emit a stench, The 11streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up; 12The reeds and rushes will rot away.

Isaiah 19:1-6 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.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Isaiah 13:1
  • 2. Joel 3:19
  • 3. Psalms 18:9, 10; Psalms 104:3; Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:7
  • 4. Exodus 12:12; Jeremiah 43:12; Jeremiah 44:8
  • 5. Joshua 2:11; Isaiah 13:7
  • 6. Judges 7:22; 1 Samuel 14:20; 2 Chronicles 20:23; Matthew 10:21, 36
  • 7. 1 Chronicles 10:13; Isaiah 8:19; Daniel 2:2
  • 8. Isaiah 20:4; Jeremiah 46:26; Ezekiel 29:19
  • 9. Isaiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:36; Ezekiel 30:12
  • 10. Exodus 7:18
  • 11. Isaiah 37:25
  • 12. Exodus 2:3; Job 8:11; Isaiah 15:6

Footnotes 6

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