Isaiah 19 10

Isaiah 19:10 kjv

And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

Isaiah 19:10 nkjv

And its foundations will be broken. All who make wages will be troubled of soul.

Isaiah 19:10 niv

The workers in cloth will be dejected, and all the wage earners will be sick at heart.

Isaiah 19:10 esv

Those who are the pillars of the land will be crushed, and all who work for pay will be grieved.

Isaiah 19:10 nlt

They will be in despair,
and all the workers will be sick at heart.

Isaiah 19 verses

Isaiah 19 10 meaning

Isaiah 19:10 describes a profound collapse within Egypt, specifically highlighting the destruction of its fundamental support systems and the widespread despair of its labor force. The "pillars" represent the nation's economic, societal, and physical infrastructure—such as the dikes and canals crucial for agriculture, or key industries like linen production and fishing, which were previously mentioned in the chapter. With these vital structures dismantled, all who rely on them for their livelihood—the wage earners and laborers—will experience deep spiritual and emotional distress. This verse portrays a divinely ordained economic and social catastrophe leading to national despondency.

Isaiah 19 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 19 is an "oracle concerning Egypt," delivered during a time when Judah was often tempted to seek alliance with Egypt against the rising power of Assyria. The chapter opens with a depiction of God riding on a swift cloud, coming to Egypt to strike it, leading to the collapse of its idols and internal civil strife. Verses 5-9 specifically describe the drying up of the Nile River—Egypt's lifeline—and the subsequent ruin of its agricultural, fishing, and linen industries, which were central to its economy. Verse 10 directly follows this detailed description of industrial collapse. It functions as a summary of the broad socio-economic impact: the underlying national structures ("pillars") that support these industries will be utterly destroyed, and the human cost will be borne by the common laborers who depended on them for survival, leading to their profound anguish. The overarching theme is God's judgment against Egypt's pride and its role as an untrustworthy human power, yet it ultimately leads to Egypt turning to the Lord in the distant future.

Isaiah 19 10 Word analysis

• וְהָיוּ (v'hayu): "And they will be" or "And it shall be." This is the future form of the verb "to be," indicating a definite and certain future event. It carries the weight of prophecy and divine decree.
• שָׁתֹתֶיהָ (shatoteyha): "Her pillars," "her foundations." This term, derived from shît (to set, place), refers metaphorically to the fundamental structures or support systems of a nation or society. In the context of Egypt, following verses describing the Nile's ruin, these "pillars" likely refer to essential infrastructure like irrigation systems, dikes, dams, and the industries (fishing, linen) built upon them, which formed the very economic bedrock of Egypt.
• מֻכָּאוֹת (mukkah'ot): "Crushed," "smashed," "struck down," "smitten." This is a passive participle from the root nakah (to strike, smite, beat). It signifies a violent and decisive destruction, implying an act of judgment that renders these foundations useless. It's not a gradual erosion but a definitive strike.
• וְכָל (v'chol): "And all." This word emphasizes the comprehensive and universal nature of the subsequent suffering, leaving no group exempt among the specified class.
• עֹשֵׂי שֶׂכֶר (osei sekher): "Those who work for hire," "wage earners." Osei (from asah, to do/make) combined with sekher (wages, hire). This phrase specifically identifies the laboring class—the common workers, artisans, and farmers—whose daily sustenance depends on the healthy functioning of the nation's economy and infrastructure. They represent the broad populace most vulnerable to economic disruption.
• אֻמְלְלוּ (uml'lu): "Will be grieved," "will be withered," "languish," "faint." From the verb amal (to wither, droop), this word vividly describes deep emotional and spiritual despondency, loss of vital energy, and utter despair, extending beyond mere physical hardship.
• נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh): "Soul," "life," "inner being." Coupled with uml'lu, "grieved in soul" indicates that the suffering is not just external or economic; it penetrates to the very core of their being, leading to profound internal anguish, loss of hope, and spiritual fatigue.

Words-group by words-group analysis data

• "And the pillars of Egypt will be crushed": This phrase predicts a systemic dismantling of Egypt's foundational strengths. These "pillars" are not just symbolic; they refer to the crucial material and administrative structures that sustained its economic prosperity and societal order. Their crushing signifies the complete breakdown of national capacity and the inability of human systems to stand against divine judgment.
• "All who work for hire will be grieved in soul": This highlights the widespread human impact of the national collapse. It singles out the laboring class, often the most vulnerable segment of society, indicating that the judgment directly affects their means of living and penetrates to their deepest emotional and spiritual well-being. The "grief in soul" speaks to a complete loss of hope and vitality, more profound than mere unemployment or poverty.

Isaiah 19 10 Bonus section

The broader context of Isaiah 19 is unique in that while it foretells judgment upon Egypt, it also includes a prophecy of future restoration and conversion, where Egypt will turn to the Lord (Isa 19:16-25). Verse 10, therefore, describes the intense preparatory purification—a humbling—that precedes this future spiritual awakening. The targeting of Egypt's "pillars" and its "hired workers" specifically emphasizes that the judgment is holistic, striking at the very fabric of society from its most prominent features down to its most basic working components. This dismantling of their reliance on their natural resources and human enterprise prepares them to rely solely on God. This serves as a warning not only to ancient Egypt but also to any nation or individual placing ultimate trust in their economic stability, infrastructure, or human endeavors rather than in the divine Providence.

Isaiah 19 10 Commentary

Isaiah 19:10 succinctly delivers the devastating consequence of divine judgment upon Egypt. It moves from the systemic (the "pillars") to the personal (the "hired workers"), illustrating the all-encompassing nature of God's wrath when a nation trusts in its own strength and wealth over Him. The "pillars" encompass the advanced agricultural infrastructure sustained by the Nile, the intricate textile industry, and the fishing economy mentioned previously in the chapter. These elements represented Egypt's self-sufficiency and the objects of its pride. Their crushing is God's dismantling of Egypt's power and its idolatrous trust in creation over the Creator. The "hired workers," representing the common populace, bear the immediate and deepest brunt of this collapse, not merely losing their income but suffering a profound, soul-deep despair (nefesh). This dual destruction—of the physical/economic infrastructure and the spiritual/emotional state of its people—emphasizes the thoroughness of God's judgment, intended to humble Egypt and eventually lead it towards seeking the true God (as later verses in the chapter suggest).