Isaiah 19:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians. Everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the purpose that the Lord of hosts has purposed against them.

NIV: And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the Lord Almighty is planning against them.

NASB: The land of Judah will become a cause of shame to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in great fear because of the plan of the Lord of armies which He is making against them.

CSB: The land of Judah will terrify Egypt; whenever Judah is mentioned, Egypt will tremble because of what the Lord of Armies has planned against it.

NLT: Just to speak the name of Israel will terrorize them, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has laid out his plans against them.

KJV: 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 Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

NKJV: And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it.

Some in Judah thought they had found an answer to the threat of destruction from the Assyrians or the Babylonians. They considered making an alliance with Egypt, their powerful neighbors to the south. With Egypt on their side, they believed they might hold out against those powerful enemies. Yet the Lord does not want His people to put their trust in other nations or false gods of those cultures. He wants His people to trust in Him alone to save them. God has proven repeatedly that He is able to save them. Isaiah's oracle (Isaiah 19:1) has shown just how weak Egypt will be when the Lord decides to bring judgment upon them (Isaiah 19:16). Why would Judah trust in such a vulnerable people or their gods? Why would they trust in a false god who has never protected them?

Now Isaiah points forward to the future, likely the beginning of Christ the Messiah's reign on earth (Isaiah 2:1–5; Revelation 20:1–4). At this time, the Egyptians will tremble before the Lord. Judah will be the source of Egypt's terror in those days, not Assyria or the Babylonians. Everyone in Egypt will understand that they are under the threat of Israel's God, the Lord of hosts. It is His plans against them that will bring them to their knees.

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).