Isaiah 19 2

Isaiah 19:2 kjv

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

Isaiah 19:2 nkjv

"I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

Isaiah 19:2 niv

"I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian? brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.

Isaiah 19:2 esv

And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom;

Isaiah 19:2 nlt

"I will make Egyptian fight against Egyptian ?
brother against brother,
neighbor against neighbor,
city against city,
province against province.

Isaiah 19 verses

Isaiah 19 2 meaning

This verse prophesies that the Lord Himself will actively instigate internal conflict and civil strife within Egypt. This judgment will manifest as Egyptians fighting against their own countrymen, escalating from personal and familial disputes (brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor) to wider societal and political divisions (city against city, kingdom against kingdom), ultimately leading to national chaos and collapse from within. It highlights divine sovereignty in bringing judgment through the disintegration of societal order.

Isaiah 19 2 Context

Isaiah 19 opens with a declaration, "The Burden of Egypt," signifying a prophecy of divine judgment. This chapter details a comprehensive downfall of Egypt, addressing its false gods, wisdom, economy, and military. Verse 2 specifically describes the immediate societal collapse and civil war that will precede or accompany further judgments. During Isaiah's time (8th century BCE), Egypt was a significant power, albeit often fragmented politically and prone to internal strife. Judah frequently looked to Egypt for help against the Assyrian empire, a reliance Isaiah vehemently condemned (Isa 30-31). The prophecy of internal breakdown serves as a stark counterpoint to Egypt's perceived strength and an indirect polemic against nations relying on human might rather than divine protection. The chapter ultimately ends with a promise of future blessing and conversion for Egypt and Assyria, revealing God's overarching redemptive plan even amid judgment.

Isaiah 19 2 Word analysis

• And I will stir up (וְהֵסַכְתִּי – vəhesakhti): From the Hebrew root sakhakh, used in the Hiphil stem, which denotes causation. It signifies that God actively, intentionally, and sovereignly initiates or incites this strife. It's not a passive observation but a divine decree, emphasizing God's direct agency in orchestrating Egypt's internal conflict. This underlines that the chaos is not random but a precise instrument of judgment.
• Egyptians against Egyptians (מִצְרִים בְּמִצְרִים – Mitzrayim bəMitzrayim): The repetition of "Egyptians" (which itself is dual/plural, highlighting the entire nation) emphasizes the internecine nature of the conflict. The prepositions "against" (implied by bə when used in conflict) underscore the direct opposition. This phrase specifies that the enemy will come from within the nation itself.
• and they shall fight (וְנִלְחֲמוּ – vənilkhămū): From the verb lâḥam, meaning to wage war, fight, or battle. This denotes literal armed conflict, not mere disagreement, indicating the severity of the internal division.
• every one against his brother (אִישׁ בְּאָחִיו – ish bə’akhiv): "Brother" (אח – akh) signifies the closest familial or kinship bond. This phrase emphasizes a deeply personal, relational, and tragic level of conflict, striking at the very heart of societal cohesion, destroying trust among those who should be united.
• and every one against his neighbour (וְאִישׁ בְּרֵעֵהוּ – və’ish bərē‘ēhū): "Neighbor" (רע – rea‘) extends the conflict beyond immediate family to wider community relations. It speaks to a breakdown of civil order and social peace, where common interaction becomes hostile.
• city against city (עִיר בְּעִיר – ‘ir bə‘ir): This signifies conflict between localized populations, perhaps between different regions, principalities, or competing urban centers. It points to a broader geographical and political fragmentation within the nation.
• and kingdom against kingdom (וּמַמְלָכָה בְּמַמְלָכָה – ūmamlakha bəmamlakha): "Kingdom" (מַמְלָכָה – mamlakha*) denotes a larger political or dynastic entity. This final escalation indicates grand-scale civil war, where different factions or dynasties within Egypt contend for power, leading to a complete political unraveling of the state. The repetition throughout underscores the escalating and pervasive nature of the judgment.

• "I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians": This phrase introduces the central theme of divinely ordained internal division. It posits God as the active agent, revealing His control over the political destinies of nations, even those seemingly strong and stable. The very name 'Egyptians against Egyptians' highlights the unique and devastating nature of this judgment—enemies within, far more insidious than external threats.
• "brother against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom": This is a powerful literary and prophetic progression, illustrating the comprehensive breakdown of societal and political order. It begins at the most intimate level of human relationship (brother), expands to community (neighbor), then to regional centers (city), and finally to the highest levels of governance (kingdom). This escalating sequence emphasizes the thoroughness of God's judgment, leaving no part of the nation untouched by discord and conflict.

Isaiah 19 2 Bonus section

This prophecy holds relevance beyond ancient Egypt. It illustrates a principle frequently seen in Scripture: when God judges a nation, one of the most effective instruments is to allow internal divisions and self-inflicted chaos. This subverts the nation's own power from within, making it vulnerable and ineffective. The reference to "kingdom against kingdom" here could relate to the fragmented nature of Egyptian rule at various points, with multiple "kingdoms" or powerful nomes (regions) vying for control, such as during the Ethiopian rule (25th Dynasty) over local princes, or later during the Ptolemaic period with its frequent dynastic disputes and civil wars. The prophecy serves as a universal warning against human arrogance and reliance on temporal strength, reinforcing God's ultimate authority over all world affairs.

Isaiah 19 2 Commentary

Isaiah 19:2 provides a chilling prophetic snapshot of a nation unraveling from within, an internal chaos directly attributed to God's orchestrating hand. This judgment highlights Egypt's perceived strength, wisdom, and self-reliance as fundamentally flawed when set against the sovereignty of the Lord. The verse is not merely descriptive; it's prescriptive in showing divine justice for pride and idolatry, shattering the illusion of stability for those who reject Him. The escalating levels of strife—from personal to national—underscore the totality of the impending judgment, a powerful reminder that internal discord, even more than external enemies, can utterly devastate a nation when it falls under God's righteous judgment. It signifies that reliance on human structures or military might apart from God ultimately leads to self-destruction. This principle can be seen spiritually: a household, church, or organization divided against itself cannot stand, especially if its divisions stem from turning away from divine order and truth.