Isaiah 19:20-25

20 It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because * of oppressors, and He will send them a ¹Savior and a ²Champion, and He will deliver them.

21 Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with ³sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.

22 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but ⁴healing; so they will ⁵return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.

23 In that day there will be a ⁶highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will ⁷worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,

25 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed is ⁸Egypt My people, and Assyria ⁹the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."

Isaiah 19:20-25 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

• 1. Isaiah 43:3, 11; Isaiah 45:15, 21; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16; Isaiah 63:8
• 2. Isaiah 49:25
• 3. Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 60:7; Zechariah 14:16-18
• 4. Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 30:26; Isaiah 57:18; Hebrews 12:11
• 5. Isaiah 27:13; Isaiah 45:14; Hosea 14:1
• 6. Isaiah 11:16; Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 49:11; Isaiah 62:10
• 7. Isaiah 27:13
• 8. Isaiah 45:14
• 9. Psalms 100:3; Isaiah 29:23; Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 64:8; Ephesians 2:10

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "Mighty One"