And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched,
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to see this as just a prediction of drought, but the word for "sea" here isn't just any body of water; it's actually another way the ancient Hebrews referred to the Nile River itself. This emphasizes that God's judgment would strike at the very lifeblood of Egypt, the source of all its fertility and prosperity.
And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah begins to describe the devastating physical consequences that will befall Egypt, moving from internal conflict to divine judgment. The mighty Nile River, the very source of Egypt's life and prosperity, will cease its life-giving flood, and its waters will fail. This dramatic drying up signifies the collapse of Egypt's economic and agricultural foundation, leading to widespread ruin and despair.
Imagine a land where rain is rare, and life depends entirely on one great river. What happens when that river falters?
In Isaiah 19:5, the prophet paints a stark picture of judgment upon Egypt. The 'sea' and the 'river' mentioned here are understood by commentators to refer to the Nile, Egypt's vital artery.
Sometimes, physical calamities aren't just acts of God; they can be the devastating consequence of human chaos.
While Isaiah 19:5 speaks of God's direct action, the surrounding context suggests a deeper connection between political and physical ruin.
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This prophecy paints a picture of devastating drought in Egypt, a land utterly dependent on the Nile. The drying of its 'sea' (the Nile) and river points to a collapse of Egypt's lifeblood, its agriculture, and thus its wealth and stability, likely brought on by internal strife and divine judgment.
c. 747 BC
Nubian Dynasty rules Egypt
Isaiah prophesied during a period of instability in Egypt, which was often influenced by foreign powers like Nubia and later Assyria and Babylon. This prophetic word against Egypt reflects God's judgment on nations, even those as seemingly powerful and independent as Egypt.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Egypt
The Assyrian Empire under Sennacherib campaigned against Egypt, illustrating the vulnerability of the region to powerful empires. Isaiah's prophecies often addressed these geopolitical struggles.
c. 671 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Egypt
Esarhaddon and later Ashurbanipal of Assyria conquered Egypt, installing their own rulers. This marked a significant period of foreign domination and internal strife for Egypt.
c. 610-525 BC
Saite Dynasty Period
A period of Egyptian resurgence and independence under the Saite dynasty, though often shadowed by the looming threat of Babylon and later Persia. Isaiah's prophecy likely speaks to the consequences of internal divisions and potential future subjugation.
525 BC
Persian Conquest of Egypt
Cambyses II of Persia conquered Egypt, ushering in a long period of Persian rule. This event would have been a stark fulfillment of prophecies concerning Egypt's loss of independence and suffering.
c. 500 BC— this verse
Prophecy of Isaiah 19 delivered
Isaiah delivers his prophecy against Egypt. The prophecy vividly describes a severe drought and the drying up of the Nile River, symbolizing the collapse of Egypt's lifeblood and prosperity.
c. 450 BC
Herodotus visits Egypt
The historian Herodotus observed Egypt's reliance on the Nile's annual inundation for its fertility, noting that a failure of the flood meant barrenness. This historical observation underscores the devastating impact of the prophecy's literal imagery.
This passage echoes the drying up of Egypt's resources, specifically mentioning the drying up of the Nile and the sale of the land by a foreign invader, directly paralleling Isaiah's prophecy of divine judgment through natural depletion.
Job 14:11This verse uses the imagery of waters failing and rivers drying up to describe the cessation of life and the finality of death, creating a powerful conceptual link to the absolute desolation threatened in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 51:36Here, Babylon's judgment is described with similar imagery: its waters will be dried up, and its springs made dry, showing that the drying of vital water sources was a common prophetic metaphor for national ruin.
Exodus 7:20-21This account of the first plague in Egypt, where the Nile turned to blood, demonstrates God's power over Egypt's most vital water source and serves as a precedent for the physical devastation He could inflict upon the nation through its waters.
clarkeIsaiah 19:5: "And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up."
The river shall be wasted and dried up - The Nile shall not overflow its banks; and if no inundation, the land must become barren. For, as there is little or no rain in Egypt, its fertility depends on the overflowing of the Nile.
wesleyIsaiah 19:5: "And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up."
19:5 The waters - Which may be understood either, Metaphorically, of the taking away of their dominion or commerce, and c. or rather, Properly, as may be gathered from the following words. For as the river Nile, when it had a full stream, and free course, did pour forth a vast quantity of waters by its seven famous mouths into the sea, so when that was dried up, which is expressed in the next clau…
It's easy to see this as just a prediction of drought, but the word for "sea" here isn't just any body of water; it's actually another way the ancient Hebrews referred to the Nile River itself. This emphasizes that God's judgment would strike at the very lifeblood of Egypt, the source of all its fertility and prosperity.
Isaiah begins to describe the devastating physical consequences that will befall Egypt, moving from internal conflict to divine judgment. The mighty Nile River, the very source of Egypt's life and prosperity, will cease its life-giving flood, and its waters will fail. This dramatic drying up signifies the collapse of Egypt's economic and agricultural foundation, leading to widespread ruin and despair.
Isaiah begins to describe the devastating physical consequences that will befall Egypt, moving from internal conflict to divine judgment. The mighty Nile River, the very source of Egypt's life and prosperity, will cease its life-giving flood, and its waters will fail. This dramatic drying up signifies the collapse of Egypt's economic and agricultural foundation, leading to widespread ruin and despair.
"And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched," — It's easy to see this as just a prediction of drought, but the word for "sea" here isn't just any body of water; it's actually another way the ancient Hebrews referred to the Nile River itself. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026