Isaiah 19:16 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

Isaiah 19:16–25 presents a sudden change in tone. It follows an oracle of judgment against Egypt with a promise of future blessing from the Lord. This seems to take place during the kingdom of the Messiah on earth (Isaiah 2:1–5; Revelation 20:1–4). Egypt will fear the Lord and repent and worship Him alone. God will bless them, rescue them, and call them His people. Egypt will become peaceful allies with Assyria, and the Assyrians will worship the Lord, as well. Together, Egypt, Assyria, and Israel will bless the earth and be blessed by the Lord.

Isaiah's oracle describes the Lord's coming judgment on Egypt. The idols will fear when God arrives, and the people will turn on each other. A fierce king will conquer them. The Nile River will dry up, leaving many destitute. The advisors serving Egypt's leaders will be revealed as confused fools. Far in the future, Egypt will recognize Israel's God and repent, turning to worship the Lord. Assyria will join in that worship, blessing the earth along with Egypt and Israel.

Isaiah 19 introduces the next oracle against the nations of the earth. The Lord has been showing His people not to put their trust and hope in the foreign nations or their gods. They are to trust in Him alone to save them. The Lord's arrival in Egypt reveals the worthlessness of idols and spiritists. The terrified people will turn on each other. They will become destitute when the Nile dries up and the wise are shown to be foolish. In the far future, Egypt will worship the Lord and be blessed by Him.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).