Isaiah 19 6

Isaiah 19:6 kjv

And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.

Isaiah 19:6 nkjv

The rivers will turn foul; The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up; The reeds and rushes will wither.

Isaiah 19:6 niv

The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. The reeds and rushes will wither,

Isaiah 19:6 esv

and its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away.

Isaiah 19:6 nlt

The canals of the Nile will dry up,
and the streams of Egypt will stink
with rotting reeds and rushes.

Isaiah 19 verses

Isaiah 19 6 meaning

Isaiah 19:6 prophesies a severe divine judgment upon Egypt, declaring that its life-giving rivers and streams, particularly the Nile branches and canals, will become foul, wasted, and completely dried up. This catastrophic event will result in the wilting and death of the water-dependent flora like reeds and flags, signifying a complete ecological and economic devastation for the nation. The verse vividly portrays the destruction of Egypt's most vital resource, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty even over the greatest empires and their natural strengths.

Isaiah 19 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 19 presents a prophetic "burden" concerning Egypt, detailing God's severe judgment upon the nation before a surprising promise of future blessing. Verses 1-15 outline a period of intense crisis for Egypt, including civil strife, incompetent leadership, and the collapse of its economic and agricultural foundations. Verse 6 specifically focuses on the destruction of Egypt's most critical resource: the Nile River system. Historically, ancient Egypt was entirely dependent on the Nile's annual inundation for its agriculture, drinking water, transportation, and construction materials. The river was revered, and its consistent flow was perceived as a divine guarantee of national prosperity and survival. The prophecy in Isaiah 19:6, therefore, constitutes a direct assault on Egypt's lifeblood, symbolizing the total undermining of its strength, pride, and perceived invincibility, often rooted in its reliance on its natural resources and perhaps, its own deities associated with the Nile. This judgment serves as a polemic, exposing the futility of trusting in worldly power or natural blessings when separated from the Creator.

Isaiah 19 6 Word analysis

• And the rivers shall stink (וְנָזְח֤וּ הַֽנְהָרֹ֔ת wᵉnāzḥū hannəhārōt)
  • וְנָזְח֤וּ (wᵉnāzḥū): From the Hebrew root זוּחַ (zuaḥ), which can mean to draw back, recoil, withdraw, but also to be offensive, loathsome, or to stink. Here, it conveys more than just receding water; it implies the foulness and putrefaction that accompanies stagnant or dying water systems. This evokes a strong sensory image of decay, disease, and an uninhabitable environment. The active state implies the Nile, their source of life, turning into a source of disgust and death.
  • הַֽנְהָרֹ֔ת (hannəhārōt): Refers to "the rivers," typically the plural form used contextually to describe the Nile and its major branches or network of canals in Egypt, which were collectively seen as their primary water source.
• the streams of Egypt shall be wasted and dried up (וְדָלְל֥וּ וְחָֽרְב֛וּ יֹאֲרֵ֥י מָצ֖וֹר wᵉdālᵉlū wᵉḥārᵉbū yō’ărē māṣōr)
  • וְדָלְל֥וּ (wᵉdālᵉlū): From דָלַל (dalal), meaning to languish, become weak, faint, or to ebb away. This suggests a gradual, debilitating reduction in water flow, leading to exhaustion of the water source.
  • וְחָֽרְב֛וּ (wᵉḥārᵉbū): From חָרֵב (ḥarēb), meaning to be dry, desolate, laid waste, utterly barren. This implies a complete and severe drying, resulting in total desolation. The pairing of these two verbs ("wasted" and "dried up") intensifies the description, highlighting a thorough and complete destruction of the water system, from weakening to utter desolation.
  • יֹאֲרֵ֥י (yō’ărē): "Streams," specifically referring to the artificial channels, canals, and natural branches of the Nile that distributed its water throughout the land. This underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment, affecting even the man-made extensions of their water system.
  • מָצ֖וֹר (māṣōr): A poetic or ancient name for Egypt. Its inclusion specifies the target of this prophecy, clearly indicating the devastating impact on the entire Egyptian land.
• the reeds and flags shall wither (קָנֶ֥ה וָס֖וּף קָמֵֽל qāneh wāṣūp qāmēl)
  • קָנֶ֥ה (qāneh): "Reed" or "cane." A common plant of the Nile, used extensively in ancient Egypt for papyrus, construction, baskets, and writing implements.
  • וָס֖וּף (wāṣūp): "Flags" or "rushes." Another type of marsh plant abundant in wetlands and along riverbanks, similar to sedge or bulrushes. These plants were critical to Egypt's economy and daily life.
  • קָמֵֽל (qāmēl): "Shall wither" or "fade away." This is the inevitable natural consequence of the complete drying up of the water sources. It visually depicts the environmental decay and the loss of essential resources and industries dependent on these plants.

Words-group analysis:

• "the rivers shall stink; the streams of Egypt shall be wasted and dried up": This powerful pairing describes a dual fate for Egypt's waters: they become putrid and also completely disappear. The sequence from "stink" to "wasted and dried up" implies a progression from severe pollution to utter desolation, leading to an environment that is both noxious and barren. This points to immediate public health crises and long-term agricultural collapse.
• "the reeds and flags shall wither": This phrase details the direct, visible outcome of the water's destruction. The perishing of water-dependent vegetation is a clear indicator of widespread ecological and economic disaster, as these plants provided raw materials for key Egyptian industries.

Isaiah 19 6 Bonus section

• The Nile's desolation prophesied here echoes the plagues inflicted upon Egypt during the Exodus (Ex 7:18-21), where the waters turned to blood, rendering them unusable and leading to the death of fish. This highlights a recurring pattern in God's interaction with Egypt: targeting their strengths to demonstrate His power.
• This specific judgment not only implied physical suffering but also a significant psychological blow. For a nation that glorified its river, its transformation into a source of stench and desolation would have been deeply demoralizing, challenging their worldview and sense of security.
• The destruction of these water-dependent plants would have had a cascading effect on Egyptian industries beyond just farming, impacting papyrus production, basket weaving, and even their ability to construct reed boats for local transport.
• Despite this severe judgment, the broader context of Isaiah 19 ultimately points to a future where a remnant of Egypt will turn to the LORD (Isa 19:21-22), and Egypt will even be part of God's blessing alongside Israel and Assyria (Isa 19:24-25). This shows that God's judgment is often preparatory for ultimate redemption and revelation of His glory to all nations.

Isaiah 19 6 Commentary

Isaiah 19:6 paints a stark picture of God's direct judgment against Egypt by attacking the very heart of its existence: the Nile River system. By declaring that its waters will become foul and completely dry, God targets not only the physical landscape but also the economic, social, and spiritual foundations of the nation. The stench signals disease and a polluted environment, rendering it uninhabitable, while the drying up ensures agricultural ruin, famine, and the collapse of all industries dependent on the river. The withering of reeds and flags further visualizes this widespread ecological devastation and economic paralysis. This prophecy profoundly challenged Egypt's perceived self-sufficiency and its reliance on the Nile as a god-given provider, demonstrating that ultimate control over life's essentials resides solely with the LORD. It's a testament to divine sovereignty over all natural and human strengths.