Isaiah 19

An Oracle Concerning Egypt

1 An a oracle concerning b Egypt.
Behold, the Lord c is riding on a swift cloud
and comes to Egypt;
and d the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence,
and the heart of the Egyptians will e melt within them.
2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians,
f and they will fight, each against another
and each against his neighbor,
city against city, kingdom against kingdom;
3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out,
and I will confound 1 their g counsel;
and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers,
and h the mediums and the necromancers;
4 and I will give over the Egyptians
into the hand of i a hard master,
and a fierce king will rule over them,
declares the Lord God of hosts.

5 And the waters of the sea will be dried up,
and the river will be dry and parched,
6 and its canals will become foul,
and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up,
reeds and rushes will rot away.
7 There will be bare places by the Nile,
on the brink of the Nile,
and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched,
will be driven away, and will be no more.
8 The j fishermen will mourn and lament,
all who cast a hook in the Nile;
and they will languish
who spread nets on the water.
9 The workers in k combed flax will be in despair,
and the weavers of white cotton.
10 Those who are the l pillars of the land will be crushed,
and all who m work for pay will be grieved.

11 The princes of n Zoan are utterly foolish;
the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel.
How can you say to Pharaoh,
"I am a son of the wise,
a son of ancient kings"?
12 Where then are your o wise men?
Let them tell you
that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
13 The princes of n Zoan have become fools,
and the princes of p Memphis are deluded;
those who are the q cornerstones of her tribes
have made Egypt stagger.
14 The Lord has mingled within her r a spirit of confusion,
and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds,
s as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 And there will be nothing for Egypt
that t head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do.

Egypt, Assyria, Israel Blessed

16 In that day the Egyptians will be u like women, and v tremble with fear before the hand that the Lord of hosts shakes over them. 17 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.

18 w In that day there will be x five cities in the land of Egypt that y speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction. 2

19 In that day there will be an z altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a a pillar to the Lord at its border. 20 a It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, b he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. 21 c And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day d and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. 22 e And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.

23 f In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, g and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

24 In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, h a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt i my people, and Assyria j the work of my hands, and k Israel my inheritance."

  1. Cross References
    Isaiah 13:1
    The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
  2. Cross References
    Joel 3:19
    Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
    Jeremiah 46:13 - 26
    The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
    Ezekiel 29:1 - 31:2
    In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:
    Ezekiel 31:18 - 32:32
    "Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below. You shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword. "This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord God."
  3. Cross References
    Psalms 18:10 - 11
    He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
    Psalms 104:3
    He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind.
    Matthew 26:64
    Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.
    Revelation 1:7
    Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 12:12
    For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.
    1 Samuel 5:3
    And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.
    Jeremiah 43:12
    I shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away captive. And he shall clean the land of Egypt as a shepherd cleans his cloak of vermin, and he shall go away from there in peace.
    Jeremiah 50:2
    "Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: 'Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.'
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 13:7
    Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt.
    Joshua 2:11
    And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 7:22
    When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:11
    The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?
  8. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:19
    And when they say to you, "Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter," should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 20:4
    So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the nakedness of Egypt.
    Jeremiah 46:26
    I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord.
    Ezekiel 29:19
    Therefore thus says the Lord God : Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 11:5
    We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
  11. Cross References
    Ezekiel 27:7
    Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail, serving as your banner; blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was your awning.
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 2:9
    And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
  13. Cross References
    Jeremiah 46:21
    Even her hired soldiers in her midst are like fattened calves; yes, they have turned and fled together; they did not stand, for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:4
    For though his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes.
    Numbers 13:22
    They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. ( Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
    Psalms 78:43
    When he performed his signs in Egypt and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
  15. Cross References
    1 Kings 4:30
    So that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.
    Acts 7:22
    And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
  16. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:11
    The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?
  17. Cross References
    Jeremiah 2:16
    Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have...
    Jeremiah 44:1
    The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all t...
    Jeremiah 46:14
    "Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proc...
    Jeremiah 46:19
    Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabit...
    Ezekiel 30:13
    Thus says the Lord God : "I will destroy the id...
    Ezekiel 30:16
    And I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium shall be...
  18. Cross References
    Zechariah 10:4
    From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler - all of them together.
  19. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:22
    And the Lord said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 24:20
    The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.
    Isaiah 29:9
    Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind! Be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not with strong drink!
  21. Cross References
    Isaiah 9:14
    So the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day -
  22. Cross References
    Jeremiah 50:37
    A sword against her horses and against her chariots, and against all the foreign troops in her midst, that they may become women! A sword against all her treasures, that they may be plundered!
    Jeremiah 51:30
    The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting; they remain in their strongholds; their strength has failed; they have become women; her dwellings are on fire; her bars are broken.
    Nahum 3:13
    Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars.
  23. Cross References
    Isaiah 10:32
    This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
  24. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:21
    And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them.
  25. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:17
    A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.
    2 Kings 7:13
    And one of his servants said, "Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.
  26. Cross References
    Zephaniah 3:9
    For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
  27. Cross References
    2 Kings 5:17
    Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules' load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 28:18
    So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
  29. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:19
    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.
  30. Cross References
    Obadiah 1:21
    Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord 's.
  31. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:25
    Whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.
  32. Cross References
    Zechariah 14:16 - 18
    Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.
    Isaiah 2:2
    It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.
  33. Cross References
    Jeremiah 46:25 - 26
    The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: "Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him.
  34. Cross References
    Isaiah 11:16
    And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that remains of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.
  35. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:18
    In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.
    Isaiah 19:21
    And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them.
    Zephaniah 3:9
    For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord.
  36. Cross References
    Genesis 12:2 - 3
    And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
  37. Cross References
    Hosea 2:23
    And I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'
  38. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:23
    For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
  39. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:9
    But the Lord 's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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