Isaiah 19:8-18

8 The fishermen shall lament, and all those who cast angle into the Nile shall mourn, and those who spread nets on the waters shall languish.
9 Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave white cloth, shall be confounded.
10 The pillars [of Mitzrayim] shall be broken in pieces; all those who work for hire [shall be] grieved in soul.
11 The princes of Tzo`an are utterly foolish; the counsel of the wisest counselors of Par`oh is become brutish: how do you say to Par`oh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
12 Where then are your wise men? and let them tell you now; and let them know what the LORD of Hosts has purposed concerning Mitzrayim.
13 The princes of Tzo`an are become fools, the princes of Mof are deceived; they have caused Mitzrayim to go astray, who are the corner-stone of her tribes.
14 The LORD has mixed a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Mitzrayim to go astray in every work of it, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 Neither shall there be for Mitzrayim any work, which head or tail, palm-branch or rush, may do.
16 In that day shall the Mitzrim be like women; and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of Hosts, which he shakes over them.
17 The land of Yehudah shall become a terror to Mitzrayim; everyone to whom mention is made of it shall be afraid, because of the purpose of the LORD of Hosts, which he purposes against it.
18 In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Mitzrayim that speak the language of Kana`an, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.

Isaiah 19:8-18 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.