Isaiah 19:23

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah addresses Judah and neighboring powers, declaring a future restoration that follows God's judgment and healing of Egypt.

The words — The Hebrew term מְסִלָּ֤ה (me.si.Lah) literally denotes a straight highway or path, establishing the physical and relational connection between Egypt and Assyria.

The thread — This highway imagery appears in Isaiah 11:16 for a remnant returning from Assyria and in Isaiah 35:8 as the Way of Holiness for those who walk in it.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine intervention will reverse historical enmity, creating a shared path for former enemies to worship together without requiring emotional justification.

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

בַּיּ֣וֹםba/i.Yomin the/ day הַה֗וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that תִּהְיֶ֨הtih.Yehit will be מְסִלָּ֤הme.si.Laha highway מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi./mitz.Ra.yimfrom/ Egypt אַשּׁ֔וּרָה'a.Shu.ra/hAssyria/ towards וּבָֽא־u./va'-and/ it will go אַשּׁ֥וּר'a.ShurAssyria בְּמִצְרַ֖יִםbe./mitz.Ra.yimin/ Egypt וּמִצְרַ֣יִםu./mitz.Ra.yimand/ Egypt בְּאַשּׁ֑וּרbe./'a.Shurin/ Assyria וְעָבְד֥וּve./'a.ve.Duand/ they will serve מִצְרַ֖יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt אֶת־'et-<obj.>אַשּֽׁוּר׃ ס'a.ShurAssyria

King James Version

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 serve with the Assyrians.

Cross-references

Isaiah 11:16 There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.
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 35:8 And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.