And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

ISAIAH 19:17KJV
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Isaiah 19:17 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 19:17 mean?

Isaiah 19:17 pictures Judah becoming a source of fear for Egypt. The reason is not Judah’s strength alone, but what the LORD of hosts has planned against Egypt. Even the mention of Judah is enough to make Egyptians afraid.

The verse follows a picture of Egypt trembling in verse 16. Judah, Egypt’s smaller neighbor, becomes a frightening name because of the LORD’s action. “LORD of hosts” presents the LORD as the commander of heavenly armies.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 19:17

  • “terror” — חָגָא (ḥagaʾ): This word carries the sense of dread. It describes the effect Judah has on Egypt, rather than naming a particular attack.
  • “counsel” — עֵצָה (ʿetsah): This word can mean a plan or a decision. Here it points to the LORD’s settled purpose against Egypt.
  • “determined” — יָעַץ (yaʿats): This word can mean to plan or decide. Its connection with “counsel” reinforces the idea of a deliberate purpose.

Why Isaiah 19:17 matters

  • The verse locates the fear in Egypt, not Judah. The KJV says that when Judah is mentioned, the hearer “shall be afraid in himself.”
  • The passage moves beyond fear to a surprising relationship between the peoples. Later, Isaiah 19:23–25 pictures Egypt, Assyria, and Israel together under the LORD’s blessing.

Where else these words appear

“afraid” Hebrew H6342 · used in 25 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
  • Psalms 78:53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
  • Isaiah 44:11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

“determined” Hebrew H3289 · used in 74 verses

  • Exodus 18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
  • 2 Chronicles 22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
  • Isaiah 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

“counsel” Hebrew H6098 · used in 85 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
  • Job 21:16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
  • Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;