Isaiah 19:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.

NIV: In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border.

NASB: On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a memorial stone to the Lord beside its border.

CSB: On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord near her border.

NLT: In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the heart of Egypt, and there will be a monument to the Lord at its border.

KJV: In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.

NKJV: In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.

In a distant future, Egypt will turn to the Lord God of Israel (Isaiah 19:18). After being filled with dread over what the Lord could do to them, the people of Egypt will repent and swear allegiance to the Lord. The God of Israel will become the God of Egypt (Isaiah 19:16–17). This description must be pointing toward the kingdom of the Messiah, who will rule over all the nations from His throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1–5; Revelation 20:1–4). Egypt will be one of those nations. The people will abandon their former gods and even build an altar and a pillar to the Lord in their land. In other words, their commitment to Israel's God, in the form of the Messiah, will be open and public for all the world to see.

Once more, Isaiah wants Judah to hold on to courageous trust in the Lord during their difficult season. They are to look forward to the day when all the earth will share their trust in the Messiah King of Israel.

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).

Accessed 5/4/2024 8:00:58 PM