Isaiah 19
Isaiah 19 is the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah, and is a part of the Book of the Prophets. This chapter focuses on Egypt.
| Isaiah 19 | |
|---|---|
 The Great Isaiah Scroll, the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at Qumran from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter. | |
| Book | Book of Isaiah |
| Hebrew Bible part | Nevi'im |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 5 |
| Category | Latter Prophets |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 23 |
Text
The original text was written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 25 verses.
Textual witnesses
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).[1]
Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later):[2]
- 1QIsaa: complete
- 1QIsab: extant: verses 1, 7‑17, 20‑25
- 4QIsaa (4Q55): extant: verses 9‑14
- 4QIsab (4Q56): complete
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; Q; 6th century).[3]
Parashot
The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex.[4] Isaiah 19 is a part of the Prophecies about the Nations (Isaiah 13–23). {P}: open parashah; {S}: closed parashah.
- {S} 19:1-17 {S} 19:18 {S} 19:19-22 {S} 19:23 {S} 19:24-25 {S}
Structure
German theologian Franz Delitzsch regards Isaiah 19:16-17 as a connecting link between two contrasting pictures of Egypt's future: the prospect of judgment in Isaiah 19:1-15 and the remoter prospect of conversion and prosperity in Isaiah 19:18-25.[5]
Verse 13
The princes of Noph are deceived.
Verse 15
- Neither shall there be any work for Egypt,
- which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.[6]
- "the head or tail": see Isaiah 9:14-16. Isaiah 9:15 gives the following interpretation of the terms:
- "The elder and honorable, he is the head;
- The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail."[7]
- "The elder and honorable, he is the head;
Verse 18
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts: one will be called the City of Destruction.[8]
Some Hebrew manuscripts, the Arabic text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Targum, and Vulgate refer to the Sun, while the Septuagint reads Asedek (literally Righteousness). The name "City of the Sun" is used in the Revised Standard Version and New International Version. John Wycliffe used the Greek name Heliopolis.[9]
See also
References
- Würthwein 1995, pp. 35-37.
- Ulrich 2010, p. 365-367.
- Würthwein 1995, pp. 73-74.
- As implemented in the Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English.
- Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Isaiah 19, accessed 2 April 2018
- Isaiah 19:15
- Isaiah 9:15
- Isaiah 19:18: NKJV
- Isaiah 19:18: Wycliffe Bible
Bibliography
- Ulrich, Eugene, ed. (2010). The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants. Brill.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)