Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 19:16
In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.
16. like unto women ] timid and faint-hearted (Nah 3:13).
be afraid ] Better, tremble, as R.V. the shaking (or “swinging”) of the hand which he shaketh ] i.e. the repeated blows with which he smites them, cf. Isa 30:32, Isa 10:32, Isa 11:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16, 17. The terror of Jehovah on the Egyptians. There is an allusion to the effect of the plagues in the time of the Exodus. See Exo 10:7; Exo 11:3; Exo 12:33; Exo 12:36. Then, as in this prophecy, the people of God became an object of fear to their enemies, through the strokes of Jehovah’s hand.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In that day shall Egypt be like unto women – Timid; fearful; alarmed. The Hebrews often, by this comparison, express great fear and consternation Jer 51:30; Nah 3:13.
Because of the shaking of the hand – The shaking of the hand is an indication of threatening or punishment (note, Isa 10:32; Isa 11:15).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. Shall Egypt be – “The Egyptians shall be”] yihyu, they shall be, plural, MS. Bodl. Septuagint, and Chaldee. This is not proposed as an emendation, for either form is proper.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Like unto women; feeble and fearful, as it follows.
Because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts; because they shall perceive that they do not fight with men only, but with the Lord of hosts, who now lifts up his hand against them, as he did against their forefathers, Exo 14, the very remembrance whereof is very terrible to them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. like . . . womentimid andhelpless (Jer 51:30; Nah 3:13).
shaking of . . . handHisjudgments by means of the invaders (Isa 10:5;Isa 10:32; Isa 11:15).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
In that day shall Egypt be like unto women,…. Weak and feeble, as the Targum; fearful and timorous, even their military force; and devoid of wisdom, even their princes and nobles:
and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it: which the Lord may be said to do, when he lifts up his rod, and holds it over a people, and threatens them with ruin and destruction; perhaps this may refer to what was done in Judea by Sennacherib’s army, which was an intimation to the Egyptians that their turn was next; and if the shaking of the Lord’s hand over a people is so terrible, what must the weight of it be? Some think there is an allusion to Moses’s shaking his rod over the Red sea when the Egyptians were drowned, in which the hand or power of the Lord was so visibly seen, and which now might be called to mind. Ben Melech observes, that when one man calls to another, he waves his hand to him to come to him; so here it is as if the Lord waved with his hand to the enemy to come and fight against Egypt, which caused fear and dread.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The result of all these plagues, which were coming upon Egypt, would be fear of Jehovah and of the people of Jehovah. “In that day will the Egyptians become like women, and tremble and be alarmed at the swinging of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which He sets in motion against it. And the land of Judah becomes a shuddering for Egypt; as often as they mention this against Egypt, it is alarmed, because of the decree of Jehovah of hosts, that He suspendeth over it.” The swinging ( tenuphah ) of the hand (Isa 30:32) points back to the foregoing judgments, which have fallen upon Egypt blow after blow. These humiliations make the Egyptians as soft and timid as women ( tert. compar., not as in Isa 13:7-8; Isa 21:3-4). And the sacred soil of Judah ( ‘ adamah , as in Isa 14:1-2; Isa 32:13), which Egypt has so often made the scene of war, throws them into giddiness, into agitation at the sight of terrors, whenever it is mentioned ( , cf., 1Sa 2:13, lit., “whoever,” equivalent to “as often as any one,” Ewald, 337, 3, f; is written according to the Aramaean form, with Aleph for He, like ) in Num 11:20, in Ezek. 37:31, compare , Eze 36:5, and similar in form to in Isa 4:5).
The author of the plagues is well known to them, their faith in the idols is shaken, and the desire arises in their heart to avert fresh plagues by presents to Jehovah.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
16. In that day shall Egypt be like women. He again repeats what he had formerly said, that the Egyptians will have nothing that is manly. Some think that he alludes to an effeminate custom, on account of which the ancient historians censured the Egyptians, namely, that, by inverting the order of things, women appeared in public and transacted the affairs of state, and men performed the occupations of women. It is possible that the Prophet may have had this in his eye, but when I take a more careful view of the whole passage, this conjecture cannot be admitted; for here he threatens a judgment of God, which will hold up men to astonishment. If he were speaking of an ordinary custom, this would not apply to the matter in hand, for he does not charge the hearts of the Egyptians with being effeminate, but, on the contrary, threatens that they shall be struck with such dread that in no respect will they differ from women. The Egyptians not only thought that they were able to maintain war, but attacked without provocation, and gave aid to other nations. We see that heathen writers relate many of the exploits of the Egyptians, and expatiate largely on their praises; and, therefore, although the Egyptians were feeble and effeminate in comparison with other nations, yet they wished to retain the praise and renown of warlike men.
Because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts. (39) The sudden change which is now effected is a striking display of the judgment of heaven, and therefore he adds, that the shaking of the hand of God will be the cause of the terror. By these words he shews that this war will be entirely carried on by the Lord, and therefore that the Egyptians cannot stand against it, because they have not to do with men. What Isaiah declares concerning Egypt ought to be likewise applied to other nations; for if wars arise and insurrections spring up, we ought to acknowledge it to be a judgment of God when men lose courage and are overwhelmed with terror. We see how the most warlike nations give way, and shew themselves to be less courageous than women, and are vanquished without any preparations of war, whenever the Lord strikes their minds with dread.
(39) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3.
EGYPT
TEXT: Isa. 19:16-25
16
In that day shall the Egyptians be like unto women; and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shaketh over them.
17
And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt; every one to whom mention is made thereof shall be afraid, because of the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, which he purposeth against it.
18
In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Jehovah of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.
19
In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to Jehovah.
20
And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto Jehovah because of oppressors, and he will send them a savior, and a defender, and he will deliver them.
21
And Jehovah shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day; yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and oblation, and shall vow a vow unto Jehovah, and shall perform it.
22
And Jehovah will smite Egypt, smiting and healing; and they shall return unto Jehovah, and he will be entreated of them, and will heal them.
23
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.
24
In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;
25
for that Jehovah of hosts hath blessed them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
QUERIES
a.
What is the language of Canaan and why would the Egyptians speak it?
b.
In what way would the Egyptians worship Jehovah?
c.
Why does Isaiah predict that Assyria and Egypt and Israel will someday be united?
PARAPHRASE
When Jehovah culminates His judgment upon Egypt she will be humbled. Her great and powerful men will be as timid as women and be afraid at the evident hand of the Lord in her judgment. Just the mention of the name Judah will remind Egypt of Judahs God and cause Egypt to remember that Judahs God keeps His word. In the day that Egypt is brought to such a humble relationship to the God of Judah great portions of the people of Egypt will speak the language of faith and allegiance to Jehovah. Some portions of the people, however, will remain in rebellion against Jehovah and thus destined for destruction. In that day Jehovah shall be worshiped in Egypts midst and a sign of His presence there will be manifested. He will make a witness to His presence there as He defends and delivers those oppressed Egyptians which have become His through a savior He will send them. God will make Himself known to the Egyptians and they shall know Him in that day. Indeed, they will worship Jehovah in truth and they will do so willingly and freely. They will make commitments to Jehovah and keep them. Jehovah will alternately chasten these Egyptian worshipers of His and heal them. In that day also there will be a peaceful unity accomplished between peoples formerly at enmity with one another. Believers from Egypt and Assyria shall worship together as one people. And even believers in Israel, a major bone of contention between Egypt and Assyria, will be joined with believers of Egypt and Assyria and this united people will be a blessing in the midst of the earth, because Jehovah has united them as one peopleHis people.
COMMENTS
Isa. 19:16-17 PERSUADED: These verses are transitional. They form the bridge between the former predictions of Egypts judgment and the following predictions of Egypts turning to Jehovah. In other words, when the day comes that some of the Egyptians realize that Judahs God is the only true God, as a result of receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error, they will begin to seek Jehovahs purpose in their lives. The time will come, says Isaiah, when the mere mention of Judah will remind Egypt of Judahs God and cause some of her people to remember that Judahs God keeps His word. They will fear Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Egypts wisdom had evaporated. But it will come back when they fear Jehovah. At last, some Egyptians will be persuaded of the sovereignty of Judahs God.
Isa. 19:18-22 PENITENT: Persuaded of Jehovahs sovereignty, many Egyptians will some day (In that day) repent, change their minds and actions, and worship Him. In that day can only, as we shall develop, refer to the Messianic age, the church. Five cities is probably a figure of speech meaning a considerable number of people. Amos uses the phrase, For three transgressions, yea for four, and does not intend to say Israel had committed only four transgressions. Isaiah does not mean to say only five cities. While there are five cities speaking the language of Canaan, a sixth city shall be called destruction. In other words, there will still be some in Egypt who will not repent just as the rest of mankind did not repent after the judgments portrayed in Rev. 9:20 ff. Speaking the language of Canaan, and swearing to Jehovah of hosts is to speak the language in which the God of the Israelites is worshiped. That, of course, does not mean the Egyptians would speak Hebrew any more than it means they would speak Greek (the language of the New Testament). It means they would speak truth as opposed to falsehood. It means they would give allegiance to Jehovahthey would come into covenant relationship with Him. They would become citizens of Jehovahs kingdom (the church). It is doubtful that it could mean great numbers of the Egyptians would become Jewish proselytes.
We take the altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt to be prophetic of the worship of the one true God being established when the gospel was preached there and people became Christians in the first century A.D. The statement that sacrifices (Isa. 19:22) will be offered does not limit the meaning of this passage to Old Testament practices for there are certain sacrifices to be offered in the New Testament church (Cf. Heb. 13:15-16). The pillar is in Hebrew matztzevah which is a stone pillar resembling an obelisk. Such a pillar was erected by Jacob (Gen. 28:16-22) to memorialize the presence of God. The pillar in Egypt is figurative of saying that when one approaches the border of Egypt he comes to a land that is also the Lords for the presence of Jehovah is here (in the church). This is an especially vivid figure for Isaiahs Jewish audience. It is being predicted to them that one day Palestine will not be the only land where the presence of Jehovah dwells. The universal kingdom of Jehovah (the church) will extend into Egypt as well as Palestine!
The Jews who wrote the Septuagint (cir. 300 B.C.) thought this prophecy of Isaiah (and Ezekiel and Jeremiah) against Egypt was fulfilled in the days on Onias, a Jew of great distinction and a high priest. In 160 B.C. Onias IV, was compelled to flee Palestine. He fled to Egypt and sought and received permission from the Egyptian monarch, to build a temple like that in Jerusalem and even pointed the king Ptolemy to this passage in Isaiah for authority to build it. Josephus, the Jewish historian records this for us. Titus Vespasian destroyed this temple in Egypt in 70 A.D. when he destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. We believe this passage has a much larger and grander fulfillment than that, as subsequent verses will show.
Whatever the language of Canaan, the altar, the pillar, they were to be a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt. These things were to signify and testify that these Egyptians were Gods people and He was their God. For now, as Gods people, they who were formerly oppressors would become the oppressed. As Jesus said, If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (Joh. 15:19). But now these Egyptians are in covenant relationship to Jehovah and they may have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19 ff) and cry unto God and He will strengthen them, save them and deliver them.
Jehovah shall be known to Egypt and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah, in that day. Their relationship shall be experiential as well as mental. They will enter into a life-style of belief. It will be done willingly. The offering of vows is done not by way of obligation or legislation but by willingness (Num. 30:1 ff). Furthermore, since these Egyptians are true children of God, they will be treated like His children. Whom the Lord loves, He chastens, etc. . . . (Heb. 12:3-17). If God does not chasten, they are illegitimate children. Jehovah will smite and heal in order to turn them constantly to Him.
Isa. 19:23-25 PEACEFUL: NOW we have portrayed in figurative language the consequences of Gods redemptive work in Egypt. Egypt and Assyria were inveterate enemies for many centuries. But when the universal kingdom of God is established (the church) men out of every tribe and tongue will join together in peace and unified worship of Jehovah. The reference is not to any literal highway or literal Egypt and Assyria. These two nations stood at opposite poles geographically and opposed each other politically. They represent or symbolize the conversion of all the heathen and the formation of those converted into a kingdom of peace. What God will accomplish in His redemptive work, in establishing His kingdom of peace, will be a divine reversal of what occurred at Babel. At the tower of Babel the world was dispersed, and a division of mankind occurred. Languages were confused. Ideologies grew and competed and opposed one another and wars ensued. This divided mankind fought to maintain individuality and rebellion against God, each nation characterized by this in common, that it did not know nor worship Jehovah. Many nations fought one another proposing that their ideology was what would be best for the whole world and so empires rose and fell in attempting to unify the world under one human ideology. Jehovah called out a people (the Jews) and began His work of redeeming and unifying all who would in a kingdom of men once again be ruled over by God and Truth. But even this called out people (for the most part) rejected Gods Messiah and His Messianic kingdom. But Gods new kingdom of unity and peace was intended to be universal from the very start. And so the prophets, especially Isaiah, predicted it. We believe Eph. 2:11-22 are the precise fulfillment of this passage as well as that of Isa. 2:1-4 (see our comments there) and many other universalized passages of the O.T. Prophets.
If this be the proper application of this passage, then the Israel joined as a third party with Egypt and Assyria in Isa. 19:24 is the Israel of God of Gal. 6:16 which is none other than the New Testament church. It would take a Jew who is one inwardly (Cf. Rom. 2:28-29) to ever agree to a unity such as is described in Isa. 19:24-25.
The ultimate fulfillment of this passage is, therefore, Messianic. It has to do with Christ and the Church. This has come to pass and they who were strangers and foreigners in Egypt and Assyria, and yes, even in Israel, will be found in that building, fitly framed together, which groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord (Eph. 2:11-22).
It is interesting that these three areas, Egypt, Israel and Assyria are the three areas where we find some of the earliest of the missionary endeavors of the infant church. At the beginning of the 4th century (300400 A.D.) parts of the Scriptures had been translated into more than one of the Egyptian vernaculars and the foundations had been laid of a native Egyptian church known as Coptic. By the end of the 5th century the Christian faith had become rooted among native Egyptian stock and in time was the dominant religion of the land. The Coptic church, numbering 22,000 members at the turn of the 20th century, still flourishes in parts of Egypt and Ethiopia.
At Dura-Europos, on the river Euphrates (where ancient Assyria was located) on the great road between Antioch and Ctesiphon, 20th century excavation has revealed a building which was used as a Christian church as far back as the year 232 A.D. There are still many Christians in Armenia (Assyria).
There were people from Egypt and parts of Libya and Mesopotamia in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Act. 2:8-13) and some of them were converted. Here the seeds were sown in the hearts of men who returned to their homelands with the gospel of peace and thus the prophecy of Isaiah came to pass (see also the Ethiopian eunuch, Act. 8:26-40).
QUIZ
1.
In what way do Isa. 19:16-17 form a transition from one section of this chapter to the other?
2.
Why does Isaiah say five cities will speak the language of Canaan?
3.
What is the altar and pillar that is to be found in Egypt?
4.
How will Jehovah smite and heal the Egyptians?
5.
How will the Egyptians and Assyrians worship Jehovah together?
6.
In what way is Israel included with Egypt and Assyria in blessing the earth?
7.
Why is it apparent that this section of Isaiah is Messianic?
8.
What are Coptic and Armenian Christians and where may we trace their beginnings in the New Testament?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(16) In that day shall Egypt be like unto women.This image of panic, terror, and weakness has been natural in the poetry of all countries (comp. Homer, Achan women, not Achan men), and appears in its strongest form in Jer. 48:41. In such a state, even the land of Judah, once so despised, shall become a source of terror.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. In that day The day when these calamities come.
Like unto women A figure expressive of timidity and fear. Used also by other prophets. Jer 51:30; Nah 3:13.
Shaking of the hand A gesture, not here of summons, but of menace menace of judgments by invaders. Isa 10:5; Isa 10:32; Isa 11:15. Hopeful amendment appears at once from such gestures.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘In that day will Egypt be like a woman, and it will tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Yahweh of hosts, which he shakes over it. And the land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt, and everyone to whom mention is made of it will be afraid, because of the purpose of Yahweh of hosts which he purposes towards it.’
This is a reversal of the usual position. In the past it was always Judah that feared Egypt, and trembled at the approach of Egyptian armies. But now the tables will be turned. It is Egypt that will quail at the approach of Judah. They will have to face up to Judah’s God, recognising His sovereignty. Judah will become predominant.
‘Be like a woman.’ That is weak and easily frightened.
It may be that all this is simply expressing the low state to which Egypt have come by exaggeration. It will be so low that they will even become afraid of Judah!
But it may be that the prophet is describing in terms of his own day and understanding the reversal of roles in the future. Instead of Judah being subject to Egypt, Egypt will be subject to Judah. God’s people will become so effective that Egypt yields before them. It may thus be intended to be a picture in prophetic terms of the triumphant expansion of the Kingly Rule of God, and the establishing of the throne of David. ‘Out of Zion will go forth the Law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem’ (Isa 2:3). And Egypt will tremble and submit.
It came about in a different way than anticipated when the soldiers of Christ invaded Egypt with the Gospel of Christ, and with the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12) in their hand, and Egypt, at least outwardly, trembled and submitted to His rule. Thus when the multitude which no man can number are assembled before the throne of God (Rev 7:9), Egypt will be represented there. (As always, by the remnant who in this case will be the true Egypt).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
A Promise of Blessing
v. 16. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women, v. 17. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, v. 18. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, v. 19. In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof, v. 20. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt, v. 21. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, v. 22. And the Lord shall smite Egypt, v. 23. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, v. 24. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, v. 25. whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt, My people,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Isa 19:16-17. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women The cowardice and effeminacy of the people in general, joined with their fear and trepidation, is here set forth as the other cause of their calamity; and the reason of this, among other things, is drawn from a sense of the divine judgment. They shall be like women; and this, because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of Hosts, which he shall shake over them; that is to say, because they shall see and perceive that they are borne down by some greater power, even that of the Divinity; and (which some of them shall discern) that very Divinity whom the Jews worshipped at Jerusalem. In consequence of this, it is added in the 17th verse, And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt; that is to say, the Egyptians, crushed by these severe judgments, shall recollect the prophesies delivered by the prophets of the true God concerning this very calamity, and whereof they had obtained the knowledge. And when many of them, on the truth of these predictions, should begin to discern the majesty and supreme power of the God of Israel, it should come to pass, that upon the mention of the land of Judah, the peculiar habitation of that God, they should fear and tremble. The last words of this verse, as well as those in the 18th, abundantly prove the propriety of this interpretation. See the preceding note, respecting the completion of this part of the prophesy, and the note on chap. Isa 18:7.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
) The Transition: Egypt fears the LORD
Isa 19:16-17
16In that day shall Egypt be like unto women:
And it shall be afraid and fear
33Because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts,
Which he shaketh over it.
17And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt,
Every one that 34maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself,
Because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts,
Which he hath determined against it.
TEXTUAL AND GRAMMATICAL
Isa 19:16. comp. Isa 10:29; Isa 32:16; Isa 41:5. Isa 12:2; Isa 33:14; Isa 44:8; Isa 44:11; Isa 60:5.The verb we have already read of the hand lifted up in threatening: Isa 11:15, comp. Isa 10:15; Isa 10:32; Isa 13:2; Isa 30:28., frequent in the Pentateuch, occurs in Isaiah only here and Isa 30:32.Regarding the expression it is to be remarked that, apart from the frequent in Ezekiel, never occurs in connection with the name of a nation except here and Gen 47:20; Gen 47:26, in the expression (from , circulare, tripudiare), the revolving movement of dizziness, is . .The expression , is a resolving of the otherwise usual participial construction, on which comp. Ewald, 337, c, sq.The Hiph. is frequent in Isa 12:4; Isa 26:13; Isa 3:22; Isa 43:26; Isa 48:1; Isa 62:6, etc.
EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL
1. The discourse is artistically arranged: according to the foregoing, Egypt still thinks it may be saved by its own wisdom. Now it has surrendered this hope. It trembles before the threatening gesture of Jehovahs hand (Isa 19:16). In fact, whenever the land of Judah is thought of, Egypt quakes with fear lest the decree of Jehovah may be accomplished (Isa 19:17).
2. The expression of Isaiah in that day which is peculiar to the first part (in the second it occurs only Isa 52:6) appears with more frequency in the present chapter, than in any other passage: viz.: Isa 19:16; Isa 19:18-19; Isa 19:21; Isa 19:23-24. Comp. the remark at Isa 2:12. As often as one utters the name Judah, men turn affrighted to him, for they know but too well the power of the God of Judah. The counsel of Jehovah, then, of which Isa 19:12 speaks, must have been partly accomplished. Men fear its further and complete fulfilment.
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
Isa 19:16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.
Ver. 16. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women. ] Feeble and faint-hearted, nihil mascule aut fortiter facturi, sed mulieribus meticulosiores. See Pro 28:1 . See Trapp on “ Pro 28:1 “
Because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isa 19:16-17
16In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He is going to wave over them. 17The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts which He is purposing against them.
Isa 19:16-17 This describes what YHWH’s actions (i.e., the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts) will do, His purpose (Isa 19:17 b, BDB 420).
1. Egyptians will become like women, Isa 19:16
2. they will tremble, Isa 19:16 (BDB 353, KB 350, Qal PERFECT)
3. they will be in dread, Isa 19:16 (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal PERFECT)
4. Judah will become a terror to Egypt, Isa 19:17 (VERB, Qal perfect, NOUN, terror, BDB 291, but found only here)
5. they will be in dread, Isa 19:17 (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal IMPERFECT, see #3)
Isa 19:16 the LORD of hosts As the phrase in that day links these last five strophes (cf. Isa 19:16; Isa 19:18-19; Isa 19:23-24), so does this recurrent title for YHWH (cf. Isa 19:16-18; Isa 19:20; Isa 19:25 and LORD alone in Isa 19:19-22). The covenant God is very active in these wonderfully redemptive strophes for the nations!
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
In that day: i.e. the day when this burden should be fulfilled (not “the day of the Lord “). Note the six steps, verses: Isa 19:16, Isa 19:18, Isa 19:19, Isa 16:21, Isa 16:23, Isa 16:24.
the hand. Put for the judgments indicated by the act.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 19:16-17
Isa 19:16-17
“In that day shall the Egyptians be like unto women; and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shaketh over them. And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt; everyone to whom mention is made thereof shall be afraid, because of the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, which he purposeth against it.”
These two verses must be classified with the last half of the chapter because of the opening phrase, “In that day”; but except for this, they seem to be more in the spirit of the first division than with the last. The expression, “`In that day’ is a pointer, here, as elsewhere, to the `Day of the Lord.’ In this section of the chapter, Isaiah forsees the conversion of the Gentiles.”
Egypt, the most outstanding and oldest enemy of the Jews was cited first as an example of Gentiles who shall be converted; and the history of that conversion is here traced back to the fear and terror that the God of Israel struck into the hearts of the Egyptians during those epic visitations connected with the Exodus. This terror of the God of Israel led at last to their conversion to Christ.
Isa 19:16-17 PERSUADED: These verses are transitional. They form the bridge between the former predictions of Egypts judgment and the following predictions of Egypts turning to Jehovah. In other words, when the day comes that some of the Egyptians realize that Judahs God is the only true God, as a result of receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error, they will begin to seek Jehovahs purpose in their lives. The time will come, says Isaiah, when the mere mention of Judah will remind Egypt of Judahs God and cause some of her people to remember that Judahs God keeps His word. They will fear Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Egypts wisdom had evaporated. But it will come back when they fear Jehovah. At last, some Egyptians will be persuaded of the sovereignty of Judahs God.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
like: Isa 30:17, Psa 48:6, Jer 30:5-7, Jer 50:37, Jer 51:30, Nah 3:13
the shaking: Isa 10:32, Isa 11:15, Isa 30:30-32, Zec 2:9
Reciprocal: Isa 19:1 – the heart Isa 23:5 – at the Isa 30:32 – shaking Isa 37:27 – their inhabitants Jer 4:9 – that the heart Jer 46:5 – fear Eze 30:4 – pain Eze 30:13 – put Oba 1:9 – thy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 19:16-17. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women Feeble and fearful, as it follows. The cowardice and effeminacy of the people in general, joined with their fear and trepidation, are here set forth as a second cause of their calamity; and the reason of this, among other things, is drawn from a sense of the divine judgment. They shall be like women, and fear, because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord, &c. Because they shall perceive that they do not fight with men only, but with the Lord of hosts, who now lifts up his hand against them, as he did against their forefathers. The land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt That is, the calamities brought on the land of Judah by the Assyrians and Chaldeans. When the Egyptians shall hear of the ravages and desolations made in Judah, by the army of Sennacherib, and shall afterward be informed of its overthrow by Nebuchadnezzar, they shall be dreadfully afraid of suffering the same calamities themselves, considering both their near neighbourhood to Judah, and their strict alliance therewith. Indeed Judah was their bulwark against the Assyrians and Babylonians, and when this bulwark was removed they had just cause to fear. The threatening hand of God, says Bishop Lowth, will be held out, and shaken over Egypt, from the side of Judea; through which the Assyrians will march to invade it. Every one that makes mention thereof, &c. Poole thinks their fear of mentioning Judahs name might proceed partly from a sense of their guilt and misconduct toward Judah, and an apprehension that the God of Judah was calling them to an account for it. Perhaps, also, as the next clause seems to imply, they might have heard of the prophecies uttered in Judah concerning these very calamities coming upon them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
In a future day, Yahweh of armies would exalt Judah over Egypt so that the Egyptians would fear Israel and the Lord. This had happened at the Exodus (Exo 10:7; Exo 12:33; Deu 2:25), and it would happen again by the manifestation of God’s power. This has not yet happened, so the fulfillment must be eschatological.