In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophecy speaks of five cities in Egypt adopting the "language of Canaan" and swearing allegiance to the Lord. This doesn't just mean learning Hebrew, but rather embracing the truth of God's Word and speaking the language of faith and obedience. The verse highlights the transformation of a pagan land into a place where God is truly known and worshiped.
In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the midst of a prophecy detailing Egypt's judgment and eventual healing, this verse shifts focus to a future day of restoration. Following descriptions of widespread disaster and despair, God promises a spiritual renewal for Egypt, marked by multiple cities embracing the worship and language of the true God. This hopeful outlook culminates in the prediction of one city's transformation, though its ultimate fate—destruction or deliverance—is debated.
What does it mean to speak the 'language of Canaan' in Egypt? It’s more than just words – it's a heart transformation.
The prophecy in Isaiah 19:18 speaks of five cities in Egypt that would 'speak the language of Canaan.' This doesn't simply mean they would learn to speak Hebrew.
A New Tongue
'The language of Canaan' is a powerful metaphor for embracing the religion and covenant of the God of Israel. It signifies:
This concept is echoed in Zephaniah 3:9, which speaks of God giving people a 'pure language' so they can call on His name and serve Him together. It’s about a unified, transformed spiritual identity.
The verse names one city as 'The City of Destruction.' What does this ominous title reveal about God's judgment and mercy?
The phrase 'The City of Destruction' (or possibly 'City of the Sun') is deeply significant, pointing to the complex nature of God's interaction with humanity.
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Judgment and Hope
This name, whether interpreted as 'destruction' or 'sun,' carries weighty implications:
The scholars debate the exact reading, but the core message remains: God’s justice is severe against sin, but His mercy can extend even to the most idolatrous places.
The prophecy in Isaiah 19:18 points to a future spiritual transformation in Egypt, where its people would adopt the worship of the Lord. This message resonates with the later historical context of the Jewish temple at Leontopolis and the eventual arrival of the Gospel, which saw significant Egyptian conversion.
c. 149 BC
Onias IV builds Temple in Egypt
Onias IV, a Jewish High Priest, obtains permission from Ptolemy Philometor of Egypt to build a temple at Leontopolis, in the nome of Heliopolis. He uses Isaiah's prophecy to justify its construction.
c. 160 BC - 73 AD
Jewish Temple at Leontopolis operates
The temple at Leontopolis functions as a religious center for Egyptian Jews, rivaling the Temple in Jerusalem for nearly two centuries before its destruction by Roman forces.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Gospel reaches Egypt
The Apostle Mark is traditionally believed to have brought the Gospel to Egypt, leading to the establishment of Christian communities and the eventual conversion of many Egyptians.
c. 4th-5th century AD
Decline of Heliopolis
The ancient city of Heliopolis, once a major religious center, is largely deserted, though its obelisk and ruins remain significant landmarks.
This passage speaks of God turning to people a pure language, echoing Isaiah's prophecy of Egyptians speaking the 'language of Canaan' and swearing allegiance to the Lord, signifying a shared spiritual understanding and worship.
Jeremiah 43:13This verse mentions 'Bethshemesh' (House of the Sun), the likely reference for the 'city of the sun' mentioned in some interpretations of Isaiah 19:18, highlighting the transition from sun worship to devotion to the Lord.
Psalm 87:4This psalm mentions Egypt and Babylon as those who 'know the Lord,' aligning with Isaiah's vision of Egypt's conversion and inclusion among God's people, expanding the scope of God's salvific work beyond Israel.
Romans 14:11Quoting Isaiah 45:23, this New Testament passage reinforces the idea that every knee will bow and every tongue confess to God, connecting to Isaiah's prophecy of Egyptians swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts.
barnesIsaiah 19:18: "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."
In that day - The word 'day' is used in Scripture in a large signification, "as including the whole period under consideration," or the whole time that is embraced in the scope of a prophecy. In this chapter it is used in this sense; and evidently means that the event here foretold would take place "somewhere" in the perio…
bensonIsaiah 19:18: "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."
Isaiah 19:18 . In that day — After that time, as this phrase is often used; that is, in the times of the gospel. This latter part of the prophecy contains an account of the salutary benefits which God would bestow on Egypt after the above-mentioned calamities. “Isaiah, to whom God had most clearly revealed the mystery of t…
The prophecy speaks of five cities in Egypt adopting the "language of Canaan" and swearing allegiance to the Lord. This doesn't just mean learning Hebrew, but rather embracing the truth of God's Word and speaking the language of faith and obedience. The verse highlights the transformation of a pagan land into a place where God is truly known and worshiped.
In the midst of a prophecy detailing Egypt's judgment and eventual healing, this verse shifts focus to a future day of restoration. Following descriptions of widespread disaster and despair, God promises a spiritual renewal for Egypt, marked by multiple cities embracing the worship and language of the true God. This hopeful outlook culminates in the prediction of one city's transformation, though its ultimate fate—destruction or deliverance—is debated.
In the midst of a prophecy detailing Egypt's judgment and eventual healing, this verse shifts focus to a future day of restoration. Following descriptions of widespread disaster and despair, God promises a spiritual renewal for Egypt, marked by multiple cities embracing the worship and language of the true God. This hopeful outlook culminates in the prediction of one city's transformation, though its ultimate fate—destruction or deliverance—is debated.
"In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction." — The prophecy speaks of five cities in Egypt adopting the "language of Canaan" and swearing allegiance to the Lord. This doesn't just mean learning Hebrew, but rather embracing the truth of God's Word…
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Last reviewed October 2026