Isaiah 19:5 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 19:5 mean?

Isaiah 19:5 describes a coming disaster for Egypt, saying that its waters will dry up and its river will be wasted. This means that the Nile, which was essential for Egypt’s life and economy, would fail and bring hardship to the land.

The prophet Isaiah is speaking God’s message to Egypt, warning them of a future judgment. In ancient Egypt, the Nile River was the source of water, food, and trade, so the idea of it drying up would have been shocking and terrifying. This verse sets the stage for a prophecy about Egypt’s downfall and the collapse of everything they depended on.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 19:5

• waters (מַיִם, mayim): This word refers to all kinds of water sources, not just rivers. Here, it emphasizes the complete loss of water, not just a single stream.
• fail (נָשַׁס, nashas): This word carries the sense of something drying up or being taken away, stressing the suddenness and totality of the loss.
• sea (יָם, yam): In this context, “sea” likely refers to the Nile Delta or the broad waters of the Nile, not the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the local disaster.
• river (יְאוֹר, ye’or): This is the specific word for the Nile River, showing that the prophecy targets Egypt’s main source of life.
• wasted (חָרֵב, kharev): This word means to be dried up or ruined, underlining the devastation that will come.
• up (יָבֵשׁ, yavesh): This word means to be dried, reinforcing the image of complete drought and emptiness.

Why Isaiah 19:5 matters

• Isaiah 19:5 makes clear that the prophecy is not just about military defeat but about a total collapse of Egypt’s natural resources, which would have been unimaginable to its people.
• The verse connects to the wider passage, where Isaiah describes a series of disasters for Egypt, showing that their security and prosperity were not guaranteed.
• Understanding the specific words for “river” and “sea” helps clarify that this is about the Nile and its branches, not distant bodies of water, making the warning much more personal and immediate for ancient Egyptians.