Isaiah 19 5

Isaiah 19:5 kjv

And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.

Isaiah 19:5 nkjv

The waters will fail from the sea, And the river will be wasted and dried up.

Isaiah 19:5 niv

The waters of the river will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry.

Isaiah 19:5 esv

And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched,

Isaiah 19:5 nlt

The waters of the Nile will fail to rise and flood the fields.
The riverbed will be parched and dry.

Isaiah 19 verses

Isaiah 19 5 meaning

Isaiah 19:5 describes a profound and devastating judgment upon Egypt, characterized by the complete failure of its vital water sources. The verse specifically declares that the waters from the "sea" (likely referring to the major branches of the Nile and associated wetlands) will cease, and the primary "river" (undoubtedly the Nile itself) will become parched and dry. This imagery depicts a catastrophic environmental collapse, leading to an immediate and widespread societal breakdown for a civilization utterly dependent on these water bodies for agriculture, transport, and daily life. It signifies a divine withdrawal of sustenance, portending famine, economic ruin, and desolation for Egypt.

Isaiah 19 5 Context

Isaiah chapter 19 is a prophetic "burden" concerning Egypt, foretelling a period of divine judgment, political instability, and national desolation, eventually leading to a spiritual transformation and an alliance with God's people. The opening verses (19:1-4) describe God's intervention, leading to civil war, idol worship, and oppressive rulers. Verse 5 fits into this unfolding judgment, describing the fundamental ecological and economic ruin that will befall Egypt. Egypt was entirely dependent on the annual flooding of the Nile River for its agriculture, drinking water, transportation, and indeed, its very existence as a flourishing civilization. Without the Nile's waters, Egypt was simply uninhabitable desert. Therefore, the drying of the "sea" (referring to the Nile's branches, canals, and lakes) and the "river" (the Nile itself) signifies not merely an inconvenience, but a complete obliteration of the nation's lifeblood, culture, and power. This context also indirectly polemicizes against Egypt's many deities associated with the Nile's fertility, like Hapi, the god of the Nile flood, showing their powerlessness before the LORD.

Isaiah 19 5 Word analysis

• The waters (מַיִם - mayim): This Hebrew term is general for "water" but in the context of Egypt, it profoundly refers to the vast interconnected water system of the Nile River. This includes its main channels, deltaic branches, lakes, marshes, and an extensive network of irrigation canals that were the literal arteries of Egyptian life. The word carries a deep significance beyond mere liquid; it is life itself for Egypt.
• will fail (נִקַּח - niqqach): Derived from the root לָקַח (laqach), meaning "to take, seize, fetch." In the Nifal (passive) stem here, it means "to be taken away, to cease, to disappear, to fail." It implies an active removal or cessation, not just a gradual natural depletion, pointing to a divine agent at work. The water is being "taken away" or "withdrawn" deliberately.
• from the sea (מִיָּם - miyamm): The word יָם (yam) literally means "sea." For Egypt, it refers to large bodies of water. This could specifically refer to the Mediterranean Sea along the Nile Delta, the major deltaic branches of the Nile that were sometimes referred to as "seas" due to their width and expanse, or even large lakes like Lake Manzala or Lake Qārūn that were fed by the Nile. Its inclusion emphasizes the widespread nature of the water loss, impacting coastal areas and large inland basins.
• and the river (וְנָהָר - wenâhâr): This clearly identifies the Nile River as the primary target of this drying. The definite article ("the river") underscores its unique and singular importance to Egypt. It is the core source of their prosperity, making its failure an ultimate catastrophe.
• will be parched (יֶחֱרַב - yecherav): From the root חָרַב (charab), meaning "to be dry, to lie in ruins, to be devastated." This word vividly portrays intense dryness leading to utter desolation. It speaks of ground cracking, vegetation withering, and a landscape becoming barren and desolate, turning fruitful land into a wasteland.
• and dry (וְיָבֵשׁ - w^eyâbêsh): From the root יָבֵשׁ (yabesh), meaning "to be dry, withered, ashamed." This word acts as a reinforcing parallel to "parched," intensifying the image of complete desiccation. It conveys a sense of absolute barrenness, reflecting not just a lack of moisture but a profound absence of life. It can also metaphorically imply shame or disgrace, which aligns with Egypt's pride being humbled.

Words-group analysis:

• "The waters will fail from the sea" and "the river will be parched and dry": These two phrases form a striking synonymous parallelism, a common poetic device in Hebrew literature. Both convey the same core message – the desiccation of Egypt's water supply – but use different imagery and emphasize different aspects to intensify the impact. "Waters failing from the sea" highlights the broad, vast sources being depleted, while "river parched and dry" focuses on the principal life-giving artery. The combination creates a totalizing image of water loss, from the great expanse to the main flow, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the coming judgment. The dual description ensures no ambiguity in the scope of the calamity, targeting both the broad system and the specific source essential for life.

Isaiah 19 5 Bonus section

• The drying of Egypt's waters, especially the Nile, would render obsolete its entire civilization structure, which was built around the river's annual inundation and managed irrigation systems. The immense architectural and cultural achievements of Egypt were entirely predicated on the Nile's reliable flow. This prophecy effectively removes that foundational pillar.
• The terms "sea" and "river" when dried also carry symbolic weight in prophetic literature, often representing power, nations, or obstacles. Here, their drying suggests a significant diminishing of Egypt's national power and prestige in the eyes of the world.
• This specific judgment directly confronts Egyptian pagan beliefs. Gods like Osiris (associated with the Nile's fertility and resurrection), Ra (sun god whose warmth paradoxically needed the Nile), and Hapi (the Nile flood deity itself) would be proven powerless. The cessation of the Nile's waters would be the ultimate demonstration that their gods could not protect them, contrasting sharply with the LORD's power over all creation.
• While severe droughts have historically occurred, the prophetic language suggests an extraordinary and supernaturally intensified event, driven by God's decree. This is not merely a natural phenomenon but a specific act of divine judgment.
• The judgment described here serves as a powerful reminder of God's capacity to both sustain and to destroy, highlighting that true security and sustenance come only from Him.

Isaiah 19 5 Commentary

Isaiah 19:5 delivers a potent declaration of divine judgment upon Egypt, striking at the very foundation of its existence. For Egypt, the Nile was not merely a river; it was its god, Hapi, the source of all fertility, prosperity, and national pride. The prophecy that its waters would "fail from the sea" and the "river will be parched and dry" is a direct challenge to this idolatry and a testament to the LORD's absolute sovereignty over creation. This drying signifies a total reversal of the natural order that had sustained Egypt for millennia. It implies an agricultural collapse due to lack of irrigation, an economic breakdown affecting fishing, transport, and trade, and ultimately, a demographic catastrophe through famine and disease. The imagery conveys not a mere temporary shortage but a profound, almost supernatural, desiccation designed to bring the proud nation to its knees. This specific judgment, impacting its lifeline, is far more devastating than a military defeat alone, highlighting God's meticulous and thorough hand in judgment. The vulnerability of human reliance on natural resources without acknowledging the divine provider is laid bare, foreshadowing the complete unravelling of a society that places its trust in created things over the Creator.