Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Isaiah addresses the nation of Egypt concerning a future day when they will cry out to Yahweh for rescue from their oppressors. The prophet declares that Yahweh will intervene in their land as a visible sign and witness to Himself.
The words — The Hebrew verbs נודע (noDa') and ידעוּ (yaDe'u) share the root ידע, rendering literally as "he will make known" and "they will know/acknowledge." The text explicitly links Yahweh's self-revelation with Egypt's responsive recognition on that same day.
The thread — The motif of foreign nations acknowledging Yahweh through worship appears in Malachi 1:11, which records incense and pure offerings among the nations. Isaiah 11:9 similarly anticipates a time when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Yahweh.
Why it lands — The passage requires a tangible response: acknowledged knowledge of God must produce sacrifices, offerings, and fulfilled vows. Readers must accept that divine revelation demands public worship and concrete obedience, not merely private belief.
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
And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 11:9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.
- Malachi 1:11 For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- 1 Samuel 17:46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
- 1 Kings 8:43 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
- Psalms 67:2 that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
- Psalms 98:2 The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations.
- Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
- Isaiah 37:20 And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
- Isaiah 44:5 One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.”
- Isaiah 55:5 Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”