Isaiah 19 Prophecy of Egypt's Future Judgment
Isaiah 19 presents a prophecy concerning Egypt, detailing both impending judgment and a future conversion to the Lord. The chapter opens with a declaration of divine intervention: "The burden of Egypt. Beholde, the Lord rideth vpon a swift cloude, and shall come into Egypt, and the idoles of Egypt shall be moued at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the middes of her" (Isaiah 19:1 Geneva1599). This initial verse sets a tone of divine judgment, indicating that Egypt's idols will be powerless before God's arrival, causing widespread fear and dismay [1].
The prophecy outlines a series of calamities that will befall Egypt. These include internal strife, where "Egyptians against Egyptians" will fight, leading to civil unrest with "city against city, And kingdom against kingdom" [8]. This internal conflict will be accompanied by a loss of wisdom and counsel, leading the Egyptians to seek guidance from idols and sorcerers in vain [8, 9]. The land will also suffer economic hardship, with its resources depleted and its rivers drying up [9]. The nation will become weak, compared to women, trembling at the hand of the Lord [4]. These judgments are intended to make Egypt "know that I am the LORD," as similarly stated in Ezekiel's prophecies against Egypt [5].
Despite these severe judgments, Isaiah 19 also foretells a future transformation for Egypt. The prophecy indicates that suffering will lead to repentance [10]. In "that day," there will be "An altar unto Yahweh, in the midst of the land of Egypt,—And a pillar near the boundary thereof unto Yahweh" [3]. This suggests a future where Egypt will worship the Lord. Furthermore, the passage states, "For they will make outcry unto Yahweh, because of oppressors, That he would send them a saviour—and a great one Then will he deliver them" [2]. This points to a time when Egypt will turn to God in distress and receive deliverance. Some interpretations suggest that this refers to a future conversion where Egypt, along with Assyria and Israel, will be united in a common faith, overcoming their historical animosities [10]. The "five cities" mentioned in the prophecy are understood to mean several cities in Lower Egypt that will be converted [10].
The book of Isaiah, generally, contains prophecies against various nations, often referred to as "burdens" [6]. This particular "burden" against Egypt highlights God's sovereignty over all nations, demonstrating His power to judge and His capacity to bring about repentance and worship even from those who were once His adversaries [7].
Sources
- Isaiah “Isaiah 19:1 (Geneva1599) — The burden of Egypt. Beholde, the Lord rideth vpon a swift cloude, and shall come into Egypt, and the idoles of Egypt shall be moued at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the middes of her.”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 19:20 (Rotherham) — And it shall become a sign and a witness unto Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt,—For they will make outcry unto Yahweh, because of oppressors, That he would send them a saviour—and a great one Then will he deliver them.”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 19:19 (Rotherham) — In that day, shall there be An altar unto Yahweh, in the midst of the land of Egypt,—And a pillar near the boundary thereof unto Yahweh;”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 19:16 (Rotherham) — In that day, shall Egypt be like unto women,—And shall start and tremble because of the brandishing of the hand of Yahweh of hosts, which he is about to brandish over it.”
- Ezekiel “Ezekiel 30:19 (BSB) — So I will execute judgment on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.””
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Isaiah, Book Of — I. Chapters 1-5 contain Isaiah's prophecies in the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham, foretelling that the present prosperity of Judah should be destroyed, and that Israel should be brought to desolation. In chs. 6, 7 he announces the birth of the child Immanuel, which in ch. 9 is more positively predicted. Chs. 9-12 contain additional prophecies against Israel, chs. (Isaiah 10:5-12) (6) being the most highly-wrought passages in the whole book. Chs. 13-23 contain chiefly a collection of utterances, each of which is styled a "burden," fore-telling the doom ”
- Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 14:9: 14:9 the Lord will be king: Zechariah envisions the ultimate fulfillment of many psalms (see Pss 47–48, 93, 97-99). • there will be one Lord: This promise reaffirms Israel’s creed (Deut 6:4) and signals a final end of all idolatry.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 39.1: CHAPTER 19 1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; And the idols of Egypt shall be moved before his face, And the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of her. 2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians; Then shall they fight every one against his brother, Every one against his neighbour; City against city, And kingdom against kingdom. 3 And the spoil of Egypt shall be emptied in the midst of her, And I will destroy her counsel, Even though they seek to the idols, to the magicians, ”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 19 (introduction): 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”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 19:18: In that day, &c.--Suffering shall lead to repentance. Struck with "terror" and "afraid" (Isa 19:17) because of Jehovah's judgments, Egypt shall be converted to Him: nay, even Assyria shall join in serving Him; so that Israel, Assyria, and Egypt, once mutual foes, shall be bound together by the tie of a common faith as one people. So a similar issue from other prophecies (Isa 18:7; Isa 23:18). five cities--that is, several cities, as in Isa 17:6; Isa 30:17; Gen 43:34; Lev 26:8. Rather, five definite cities of Lower Egypt (Isa 19:11, Isa 19:13; Isa 30”