Isaiah 19:20

Verse

It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them.

American Standard Version (1901)

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto Jehovah because of oppressors, and he will send them a saviour, and a defender, and he will deliver them.

Bible in Basic English

And it will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of armies in the land of Egypt: when they are crying out to the Lord because of their cruel masters, then he will send them a saviour and a strong one to make them free.

Free Bible Version

This will be a sign and a witness to the presence of the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord for help because they are being oppressed, he will send them a savior to fight for them and to rescue them.

Geneva Bible 1599

And it shall be for a signe and for a witnes vnto the Lord of hostes in the land of Egypt: for they shall crie vnto the Lord, because of the oppressers, and he shall send them a Sauiour and a great man, and shall deliuer them.

King James (Authorized) Version

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

One Unity Resource Bible

It will be for a sign and for a witness to Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] in the land of Egypt [Abode of slavery]; for they will cry to Adonai because of oppressors, and he will send them one to save and a defend them, and he will deliver them.

Translation for Translators

That will be a sign to indicate that the Commander of the armies of angels is worshiped in the land of Egypt. And when the people cry out to Yahweh to help them because others are ◄oppressing them/causing them to suffer►, he will send to them someone who will defend and rescue them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

It will be as a sign and a witness to Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to Yahweh because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and a defender, and he will deliver them.

Noah Webster Bible

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

World English Bible

It will be for a sign and for a witness to Yahweh of Armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to Yahweh because of oppressors, and he will send them a savior and a defender, and he will deliver them.

Young's Literal Translation

And it hath been for a sign and for a testimony, To Jehovah of Hosts in the land of Egypt, For they cry unto Jehovah from the face of oppressors, And He sendeth to them a saviour, Even a great one, and hath delivered them.

Context

A Blessing upon the Earth

¹⁹In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD near her border.²⁰It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them.²¹The 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.

Summary

In this verse, Isaiah prophesies about an altar to the Lord being established in the land of Egypt, a symbol of worship and dedication to God in a place where idolatry was prevalent. This altar signifies a turning point for the Egyptians, as they will acknowledge and honor the one true God. It reflects God's desire for all nations to come to know and worship Him, demonstrating His sovereignty over all peoples. The establishment of this altar represents a spiritual revival and transformation in a region that was once spiritually dark. Ultimately, it points to the universal reach of God's salvation and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan for all humanity.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

it--the altar and pillar. a sign--(of the fulfilment of prophecy) to their contemporaries. a witness--to their descendants. unto the Lord--no longer, to their idols, but to Jehovah. for they shall cry--or, "a sign . . . that they cried, . . . and He sent to them a saviour"; probably, Alexander the Great (so "a great one"), whom the Egyptians welcomed as a deliverer (Greek, Soter, a title of the Ptolemies) out of the hands of the Persians, who under Cambyses had been their "oppressors." At Alexandria, called from him, the Old Testament was translated into Greek for the Greek-speaking Jews, who in large numbers dwelt in Egypt under the Ptolemies, his successors. Messiah is the antitype ultimately intended (compare Act 2:10, "Egypt").