Isaiah 19

Prophecy Against Egypt

1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. References Lord: Exodus 12:12, Joshua 2:11, Ezekiel 30:13. References Egypt: Joel 3:19. Parallel theme: Isaiah 13:1, Deuteronomy 33:26, Psalms 104:3, Jeremiah 50:2, 51:44, Revelation 1:7 +5

2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdomKingdom: מַלְכוּת (Malkhut). The Hebrew malkhut (מַלְכוּת) denotes kingdom or royal rule—the realm and reign of a king. God's kingdom represents His sovereign rule over all creation. against kingdom. Kingdom: Matthew 12:25. Parallel theme: Isaiah 9:21, Judges 7:22, 1 Samuel 14:20, Ezekiel 38:21, Matthew 10:21, 10:36 +2

3 And the spiritSpirit: רוּחַ (Ruach). The Hebrew ruach (רוּחַ) means spirit, wind, or breath—invisible but powerful. It describes both the Holy Spirit and the human spirit. God's Spirit gives life and empowers His people. of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. Spirit: Isaiah 8:19, 1 Chronicles 10:13. Parallel theme: Daniel 2:2

4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. Kingdom: Isaiah 20:4, Jeremiah 46:26, Ezekiel 29:19

5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 51:36, Ezekiel 30:12

6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. Parallel theme: Isaiah 37:25

7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. Parallel theme: Numbers 11:5, Ezekiel 47:10, Habakkuk 1:15

9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. Parallel theme: Proverbs 7:16, Ezekiel 27:7

10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? Parallel theme: Isaiah 30:4, Numbers 13:22, 1 Kings 4:30, Psalms 78:12, 78:43, Acts 7:22

12 Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 1:20

13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. References Egypt: Jeremiah 46:14, 46:19, Ezekiel 30:13. Parallel theme: Isaiah 19:11, Jeremiah 2:16, Zechariah 10:4

14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spiritSpirit: רוּחַ (Ruach). The Hebrew ruach (רוּחַ) means spirit, wind, or breath—invisible but powerful. It describes both the Holy Spirit and the human spirit. God's Spirit gives life and empowers His people. in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit. References Lord: Jeremiah 25:27. Parallel theme: Job 12:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it. References Lord: Isaiah 11:15, Zechariah 2:9. Parallel theme: Isaiah 10:32, Jeremiah 50:37, 51:30, Nahum 3:13

17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. of hosts, which he hath determined against it. References Lord: Isaiah 14:24. Parallel theme: Daniel 4:35

18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. References Lord: Isaiah 11:11, 19:21, Jeremiah 12:16, Zephaniah 3:9, Zechariah 2:11

19 In that day shall there be an altarAltar: מִזְבֵּחַ (Mizbeach). The Hebrew mizbeach (מִזְבֵּחַ) means altar—from the root 'to slaughter.' Altars were places where sacrifices were offered to God, pointing forward to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. Sacrifice: Exodus 24:4, Joshua 22:10, 22:26. Parallel theme: Genesis 28:18

20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. Salvation: Luke 2:11, Titus 2:13. Parallel theme: Psalms 50:15

21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrificeSacrifice: זֶבַח (Zevach). The Hebrew zevach (זֶבַח) denotes a sacrifice or offering—an animal slaughtered for worship. Old Testament sacrifices foreshadowed Christ, 'the Lamb of God' (John 1:29). and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. References Lord: Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14. Sacrifice: Malachi 1:11

22 And the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. References Lord: Hosea 14:1. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 32:39, Hebrews 12:11

23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. References Egypt: Isaiah 11:16

24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Sin: Isaiah 65:8, Genesis 12:2

25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. References Lord: Deuteronomy 32:9, Psalms 138:8. References Israel: Isaiah 29:23. Blessing: Isaiah 61:9, 65:23, Numbers 6:24, 6:27, Psalms 115:15. Parallel theme: Isaiah 60:21, Hosea 2:23 +5