Bible Strands
Isaiah 19:18
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Isaiah delivers a declaration to Judah concerning a future moment when God will transform Egypt from a state of terror into a covenant community.
The words — מְדַבְּרוֹת (me.da.be.rOt) denotes the active process of speaking, and חָמֵשׁ (cha.Mesh) specifies the precise count of cities that will adopt Canaanite speech.
The thread — The pattern of foreign nations adopting Israel’s language and covenant loyalty appears in Zephaniah 3:9, Isaiah 19:21, and Zechariah 2:11.
Why it lands — It demands the reader to recognize that God’s authority extends beyond Israel and that future repentance will be marked by tangible shifts in speech, allegiance, and worship.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.
Cross-references
- Zephaniah 3:9 For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
- Isaiah 19:21 The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and on that day Egypt will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them.
- Zechariah 2:11 “On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
- Isaiah 11:11 On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
- Jeremiah 12:16 And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people.
- Deuteronomy 10:20 You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name.
- Isaiah 2:11 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
- Isaiah 19:19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near her border.
- Isaiah 27:13 And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 45:23 By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.