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Isaiah 19:16
ESV In that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them.
NIV In that day the Egyptians will become weaklings. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the Lord Almighty raises against them.
NASB On that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in great fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of armies, which He is going to wave over them.
CSB On that day Egypt will be like women and will tremble with fear because of the threatening hand of the Lord of Armies when he raises it against them.
NLT In that day the Egyptians will be as weak as women. They will cower in fear beneath the upraised fist of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
KJV 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.
NKJV In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it.

What does Isaiah 19:16 mean?

The narrative of this chapter suddenly transitions from a prophecy against Egypt (Isaiah 19:1) to a prediction of the far future. Isaiah switches to talking about the latter days—sometimes called the "end times"—when the Lord will defeat Israel's enemies and the unite the world by ruling over all from His throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1–5; Revelation 20:1–4).

When that future day comes, the Egyptians will be terrified by the obvious power of God. This will not be inspired by Judah as some military superpower. It will be due to the power of the Lord made obvious on earth. As Egypt trembled before the Lord during the time of Moses (Exodus 10:7; 12:33), she will once again recognize the power of Israel's God to destroy her. That Egypt becomes "like women" uses a warlike context. In that culture, women were not combatants; the implication is that the entire nation will be utterly helpless against what has happened.

Once again, Isaiah wants the people of Judah to understand that they do not need Egypt to keep them safe from those who threaten them. When the day of the Lord comes, it will be Egypt who cowers in fear before the Lord and His people.
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