Isaiah 19 7

Isaiah 19:7 kjv

The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.

Isaiah 19:7 nkjv

The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, And everything sown by the River, Will wither, be driven away, and be no more.

Isaiah 19:7 niv

also the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.

Isaiah 19:7 esv

There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile, and all that is sown by the Nile will be parched, will be driven away, and will be no more.

Isaiah 19:7 nlt

All the greenery along the riverbank
and all the crops along the river
will dry up and blow away.

Isaiah 19 verses

Isaiah 19 7 meaning

Isaiah 19:7 describes the catastrophic ecological and economic ruin that will befall Egypt. Specifically, it foretells that the critical vegetation growing alongside the Nile River – papyrus and reeds – will dry up, be swept away, and cease to exist. This signifies a profound judgment, as these plants were vital for Egypt's agriculture, economy, and everyday life, symbolizing the impending desolation of their once-prosperous land due to divine intervention.

Isaiah 19 7 Context

Isaiah 19:7 is part of a prophetic oracle (mas´śa', burden or pronouncement) against Egypt, found in Isaiah 19:1-25. The chapter begins with God's descent to Egypt, leading to the collapse of its idolatry, internal strife, and economic ruin. This particular verse highlights a key aspect of Egypt's vulnerability: its absolute dependence on the Nile River and its fertile banks. Historically, the Nile was Egypt's lifeline, providing water for irrigation, fish, transportation, and nurturing the essential vegetation like papyrus and reeds.

The prophetic word, given during the time when Judah was often tempted to form alliances with Egypt against the formidable Assyrian empire, serves multiple purposes. It is a warning to Judah not to trust in human power (like Egypt's) but in the Lord. For Egypt, it predicts a future where their self-sufficiency and the perceived reliability of the Nile (and thus, their gods associated with it, such as Hapi, the god of the Nile flood) would prove futile against the sovereign power of the God of Israel. The drying up of the papyrus and reeds, therefore, is not merely an economic disaster but a direct polemic against Egypt's deeply ingrained religious and cultural belief in the unassailable stability of their land due to the Nile. It undercuts their source of national pride and survival, pointing to a power greater than their river-gods or their own wisdom.

Isaiah 19 7 Word analysis

• The papyrus (הַגֹּמֶא / ha-gome):
  • גֹּמֶא (gome) refers specifically to the papyrus plant (Cyperus papyrus), a towering, swamp-dwelling sedge.
  • Significance: Papyrus was economically crucial for ancient Egypt. It was used to make writing material (papyrus scrolls), mats, ropes, sandals, clothing, and lightweight boats. Its desolation implies a profound loss of raw materials vital to their industry and daily life, including communication and transportation.
  • This word, when mentioned, often evokes the quintessential image of the Egyptian landscape and their unique civilization.
• reeds (קָנֶה / qaneh in some other contexts; here implies agmon) and reeds (אֶגְמוֹן / ʼagmon):
  • The KJV/NKJV uses "flags" and "reeds" which encompasses the idea of גֹּמֶא and אֶגְמוֹן. Modern translations often just use "papyrus" and "reeds".
  • אֶגְמוֹן (ʼagmon) refers to rushes, reeds, or a marsh plant. It is a more general term for common aquatic plants that grow in marshy areas.
  • Significance: These plants provided shelter for wildlife, some food sources, and basic construction materials. Their disappearance denotes an ecological collapse and the loss of minor but widespread resources, affecting the lower echelons of society as well.
• by the Nile (עַל־הַיְאֹר / ʾal-ha-ye'or):
  • יְאֹר (ye'or) is the specific Hebrew word for the Nile River.
  • Significance: The phrase directly links the plants' demise to the Nile itself, emphasizing that the very source of Egypt's prosperity is now associated with its downfall. The Nile was seen as divine by Egyptians, so its degradation challenges this deeply held belief.
• or by the water (עַל־פִּי־מַיִם / ʾal-pī-mayim):
  • Literally "on the mouth of waters" or "at the edge of waters," referring to any other waterways, canals, or marshlands connected to the Nile's system.
  • Significance: This phrase expands the scope beyond just the main Nile river to its tributaries, deltas, and floodplains. It implies that the destruction will be widespread across Egypt's entire irrigated and water-dependent landscape, indicating a total rather than localized catastrophe.
• will wither (וְהֹבִישׁ / ve-hovish):
  • From the root יָבֵשׁ (yabesh), meaning to dry up, wither, or be ashamed. Here, it denotes physical decay.
  • Significance: The withering signifies a loss of life, freshness, and usefulness. It indicates a slow, irreversible decline caused by a lack of sustenance. It's a natural process but accelerated and magnified by divine judgment.
• be driven away (נִדָּף / niddaph):
  • From the root נָדַף (nadaph), meaning to be driven away, scattered, or dispersed, often by wind.
  • Significance: This suggests not only drying up but a subsequent removal. The withered plants will not just lie there but will be carried off or utterly vanish, indicating complete obliteration. It might imply wind action or the physical disintegration of the plants after drying.
• and be no more (אֵינֶנּוּ / ênennu):
  • אֵין (ên) means "there is not," "nothing," or "no longer."
  • Significance: This is a powerful statement of absolute cessation and permanent disappearance. It emphasizes the completeness of the destruction. It underlines that these vital resources will be entirely removed from Egypt's landscape, eliminating their availability and their very presence as a natural feature.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The papyrus and reeds": This coupling emphasizes the total destruction of Egypt's distinctive aquatic vegetation, from the major, economically critical papyrus to the common reeds. It encompasses the raw materials for their high culture and basic survival.
• "by the Nile, or by the water": This expansion indicates the widespread nature of the disaster. It is not limited to the main river but affects all its associated canals, marshes, and bodies of water, which collectively formed the basis of Egypt's agrarian society. This covers all aspects of the irrigated lands.
• "will wither, be driven away, and be no more": This triplet describes a comprehensive process of destruction. First, a slow decay (wither), followed by complete dispersal and removal (be driven away), culminating in utter annihilation (be no more). It underscores the severity and finality of God's judgment against Egypt's environmental and economic foundations. This sequence reflects progressive stages of irreversible decline.

Isaiah 19 7 Bonus section

The destruction of papyrus and reeds held symbolic significance beyond mere economic loss. In ancient Egyptian cosmology, the fertile banks of the Nile were intrinsically linked to creation myths and the stability of their ordered cosmos. The presence of lush vegetation symbolized life, growth, and divine favor. Therefore, their prophetic demise not only attacked the material well-being of Egypt but also its spiritual and conceptual underpinnings, effectively undermining their perceived cosmic order and the power of their pantheon of gods. This prophecy serves as a powerful polemic against any nation's self-sufficiency or trust in human ingenuity, rather than in the divine providence of the true God, Yahweh.

Isaiah 19 7 Commentary

Isaiah 19:7 vividly portrays the ecological and economic catastrophe awaiting Egypt, directly linking it to divine judgment. The drying up and disappearance of papyrus and reeds along the Nile are profoundly significant. These plants were the very sinews of Egypt's ancient economy, providing building materials, food sources, and the raw material for writing, which enabled their civilization to flourish. Their eradication signals a fundamental undoing of Egypt's prosperity and its unique way of life. This desolation represents God's sovereignty over nature and nations, humbling Egypt by striking at the perceived divine source of its vitality – the Nile itself. The verse powerfully demonstrates that reliance on natural resources or national might apart from God leads to ruin, showcasing that God alone controls the flow of prosperity and the stability of kingdoms. It's a stark reminder that even the most enduring earthly foundations are fragile before the Lord's decrees.