Isaiah 19:23

23 In that day a way shall be from Egypt into Assyrians, and Egyptians shall serve Assur; and Assur shall enter into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyrians. (On that day there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians shall go to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall go to Assyria, and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.)

Isaiah 19:23 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 19:23

In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to
Assyria
It signifies that there should be peace between them, all hostilities should cease, free trade and commerce with each other should be opened, and nothing should hinder communion with one another; which some think had some show of accomplishment in the times of Psammiticus; but it chiefly refers to Gospel times, and to the Christian communion between one nation and another, that receive the Gospel, though before implacable enemies, as the Egyptians and Assyrians were:

and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into
Assyria:
which is expressive of entire concord and harmony between them, such as was among the first Christians:

and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians;
that is, the Lord, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it; they shall both serve the Lord with one shoulder and consent, unite in prayer to the Lord, in hearing the word, and attending on other ordinances. Some render it, "the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrians" F7; not as being their lords and masters in a servile way, but by love, as saints do or should serve one another, doing all kind offices of love to each other; see ( Galatians 5:13 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 (rwva ta Myrum wdbew) "et serviet Aegyptius Assyrio", Cocceius; "et servient Aegyptii ipsi Assur", Montanus.

Isaiah 19:23 In-Context

21 And the Lord shall be known of Egypt, and Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day; and they shall worship him in sacrifices and gifts, and they shall make vows to the Lord, and they shall pay. (And the Lord shall make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians shall acknowledge the Lord on that day; and they shall worship him with sacrifices and gifts, and they shall make vows to the Lord, and they shall pay them.)
22 And the Lord shall smite Egypt with a wound, and (then) shall make it whole; and [the] Egyptians shall turn again to the Lord, and he shall be pleased in them, and he shall make them whole. (And the Lord shall strike Egypt with a wound, and then shall make it whole; and the Egyptians shall return to the Lord, and he shall be pleased with them, and he shall make them whole.)
23 In that day a way shall be from Egypt into Assyrians, and Egyptians shall serve Assur; and Assur shall enter into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyrians. (On that day there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians shall go to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall go to Assyria, and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.)
24 In that day Israel shall be the third to Egypt and to Assur, the blessing in the middle of [the] earth; (On that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt and Assyria, and shall be a blessing in the middle of the world;)
25 whom the Lord of hosts blessed, saying, Blessed be my people of Egypt, and the work of mine hands be to Assyrians; but mine heritage be to Israel. (whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be my peoples of Egypt, and of Assyria, the work of my hands; and my inheritance Israel, yea, my possession.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.