Isaiah 19:1 kjv
The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
Isaiah 19:1 nkjv
The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.
Isaiah 19:1 niv
A prophecy against Egypt: See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
Isaiah 19:1 esv
An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
Isaiah 19:1 nlt
This message came to me concerning Egypt: Look! The LORD is advancing against Egypt,
riding on a swift cloud.
The idols of Egypt tremble.
The hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
Isaiah 19 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 19:2 | I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; each against his neighbor | Isa 3:5, Jer 50:36 |
| Isaiah 19:3 | The spirit of Egypt will be emptied from within | Isa 30:1, Judg 9:23 |
| Isaiah 19:4 | I will give the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master | Ex 1:13-14, Judg 10:7 |
| Isaiah 19:5 | The waters of the Nile will fail | Ex 7:18, Num 18:15 |
| Isaiah 19:7 | The papyrus reeds and sedge by the Nile will dry up | Isa 18:2, Job 8:11 |
| Isaiah 19:8 | The fishermen will lament | Ezk 26:5, Hab 1:15 |
| Isaiah 19:9 | Those who work with fine flax and weavers will be ashamed | Isa 23:7, Jer 10:14 |
| Isaiah 19:10 | Egypt's foundations will be broken | Ps 11:3, Ps 82:5 |
| Isaiah 19:11 | The wise counselors of Pharaoh will give bad advice | Isa 9:15, Jer 8:9 |
| Isaiah 19:13 | The princes of Zoan have become fools | Jer 2:16, 2 Sam 5:6 |
| Isaiah 19:14 | The LORD has poured into her a spirit of dizziness | Ps 107:27, Isa 29:9 |
| Isaiah 19:15 | No work will be done in Egypt | Ex 5:4-5, Deut 28:33 |
| Isaiah 19:16 | Egypt will become like women | Jer 51:30, Nah 3:13 |
| Isaiah 19:17 | The land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt | Jer 44:11, Zech 12:8 |
| Isaiah 19:18 | Five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan | Gen 11:1, Acts 2:4 |
| Isaiah 19:19 | An altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt | Isa 18:7, Zech 14:20 |
| Isaiah 19:20 | A sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt | Ex 13:9, Isa 55:3 |
| Isaiah 19:21 | The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt | Ex 14:4, Ps 48:10 |
| Isaiah 19:22 | The LORD will smite Egypt with a stroke and then heal it | Hos 6:1, Jer 30:17 |
| Isaiah 19:23 | There will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria | Isa 11:16, Jer 3:18 |
| Isaiah 19:24 | Israel will be a third with Egypt and Assyria | Isa 11:10, Hos 3:5 |
| Isaiah 19:25 | Blessed is my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria | Eph 2:10, Ps 149:2 |
| Matthew 12:41-42 | The Queen of the South...greater than Jonah...greater than Solomon | |
| Acts 7:34, 36, 40 | Moses with Israel delivered from Egypt and oppression | |
| Romans 11:25-27 | All Israel will be saved, out of Zion shall come the Deliverer |
Isaiah 19 verses
Isaiah 19 1 Meaning
This verse announces God's judgment upon Egypt, portraying it as a powerful and swift descent. The imagery emphasizes the sudden and overwhelming nature of divine wrath that will afflict the land.
Isaiah 19 1 Context
Isaiah chapter 19 is a prophecy of judgment and future restoration concerning Egypt. The immediate historical context involves the geopolitical landscape of the 8th century BCE, where Assyria was a dominant empire, often influencing or threatening nations like Egypt and Judah. This chapter, like others in Isaiah, interweaves immediate historical relevance with prophetic glimpses of a future, broader salvation that includes Gentiles. The prophecy against Egypt is a significant element of Isaiah's oracle concerning the nations, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all peoples and His ultimate plan for redemption.
Isaiah 19 1 Word Analysis
- מַשָּׂא (masah): Burden. This word introduces the oracle, signifying a message of weight, judgment, or prophecy that carries significant divine authority and consequence.
- מִצְרָיִם (Mitzrayim): Egypt. Refers to the nation of Egypt, its people, and its land, particularly in its historical context with the Nile River as its lifeblood.
- וּבָא (u-va): and will come. This is a consecutive perfect indicating a future event, a consequence of God's action or will.
- בָּ֣א (ba): coming. Here it signifies rapid movement and imminent arrival.
- בְּעָלָ֑ב (be'alap): upon. Indicates the direction and target of the coming judgment.
- אֹתָהּ (otah): her. Feminine pronoun referring back to Egypt.
- קַל (qal): swift, light. This adjective modifies "coming," emphasizing the speed and ease with which the judgment will overtake Egypt. It implies no difficulty for God.
- וּרָכָב (u-rakhav): and will ride. Implies God actively moving to bring judgment, like a warrior on a chariot.
- עָלָ֤יו (alayv): upon him/it. Refers back to Egypt, reinforcing the direction of God's action.
- עֲנָנֵי־קֹדֶשׁ (ananai-qodesh): The holy clouds. This phrase is often interpreted in conjunction with divine appearance or judgment. Some scholars see "holy" as implying the purity and divine authority of the clouds associated with God's manifestation or movement in judgment, distinct from mere meteorological phenomena. Others view it as indicating clouds driven by God's holy will, bringing a divine verdict. This contrasts with pagan weather gods.
Word Group Analysis
- "A burden against Egypt" (מַשָּׂא מִצְרָיִם - masah Mitzrayim): This opening phrase sets the tone for a severe prophetic judgment. It's not just news, but a pronouncement of divine weight.
- "The LORD is riding on a swift cloud" (יְהוָ֤ה יִרְכַּב֙ עַל־עָב֙ קַ֔ל - Yahweh yirkaav al-'av qal): This is a powerful anthropomorphism. God is depicted as actively and rapidly advancing to execute judgment. The "swift cloud" is not merely a means of travel but symbolizes divine presence, power, and imminence, similar to how clouds sometimes manifest God's glory or judgment (e.g., Exodus 13:21, Psalm 18:11-12). The "light/swift" aspect emphasizes the ease and rapidity of God's execution of judgment against a formidable nation.
Isaiah 19 1 Bonus Section
The imagery of God "riding on a swift cloud" connects with the concept of theophany, God revealing His presence and power. In other prophetic passages, like Psalm 18:9-12, God descends on a cloud or cherishes darkness under His feet. Here, the emphasis is on His rapid movement to enact judgment, akin to a military advance. This portrayal differentiates the God of Israel from pagan deities who were often associated with controlling the weather; instead, Yahweh controls the forces of nature for His sovereign purposes, bringing justice and judgment. The "holy cloud" phrasing also subtly distinguishes this divine manifestation from the potentially chaotic or impure celestial phenomena associated with other cultures.
Isaiah 19 1 Commentary
Isaiah 19:1 serves as the powerful introduction to the judgment against Egypt. The oracle begins with "A burden against Egypt," immediately establishing that what follows is a divine pronouncement of significant consequence. The imagery of "the LORD riding on a swift cloud" is striking. It portrays God as an active agent moving with incredible speed and authority. The cloud signifies divine presence and power, often associated with judgment or theophany in the Old Testament. The "swiftness" suggests the rapid and overwhelming nature of the judgment that will come upon Egypt, leaving them unprepared and unable to resist. This is not a distant threat, but an imminent, divinely orchestrated event that will destabilize the very foundations of Egypt's power and pride, especially its reliance on the Nile.