Isaiah 19:6
Isaiah 19:6 in Multiple Translations
The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither.
And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.
And the rivers shall become foul; the streams of Egypt shall be diminished and dried up; the reeds and flags shall wither away.
And the rivers will have an evil smell; the stream of Egypt will become small and dry: all the water-plants will come to nothing.
The channels will start to stink; the branches of the Nile in Egypt will dry to a trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither away.
And the riuers shall goe farre away: the riuers of defence shalbe emptied and dryed vp: the reedes and flagges shall be cut downe.
And they have turned away the flowings, Weak and dried up have been brooks of the bulwark, Reed and flag have withered.
The rivers will become foul. The streams of Egypt will be diminished and dried up. The reeds and flags will wither away.
And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.
And the rivers shall fail: the streams of the banks shall be diminished, and be dried up. The reed and the bulrush shall wither away.
The branches of the river will all dry up [DOU] The canals along the river will stink because of the rotting reeds and ◄bulrushes/tall grass►.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 19:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 19:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הֶאֶזְנִ֣יחוּ
נְהָר֔וֹת
דָּלֲל֥וּ
וְ/חָרְב֖וּ
יְאֹרֵ֣י
מָצ֑וֹר
קָנֶ֥ה
וָ/ס֖וּף
קָמֵֽלוּ
וְ/הֶאֶזְנִ֣יחוּ
zânach
H2186
to reject
Conj | V-Hiphil-3cp
נְהָר֔וֹת
nâhâr
H5104
river
N-mp
דָּלֲל֥וּ
dâlal
H1809
to languish
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
וְ/חָרְב֖וּ
chârab
H2717
to dry
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
יְאֹרֵ֣י
yᵉʼôr
H2975
stream
N-mp
מָצ֑וֹר
mâtsôwr
H4693
Egypt
N-proper
קָנֶ֥ה
qâneh
H7070
branch
N-ms
וָ/ס֖וּף
çûwph
H5488
reed
Conj | N-ms
קָמֵֽלוּ
qâmal
H7060
to decay
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 19:6
וְ/הֶאֶזְנִ֣יחוּ
zânach
H2186
"to reject"
Conj | V-Hiphil-3cp
To stink or be rejected is the meaning of this Hebrew word. It's used in the Bible to describe something that's disgusting or unwanted, like in the book of Psalm 38:5. The KJV translates it as 'cast away' or 'remove far away'.
Definition: 1) to cast off, reject, spurn 1a) (Qal) to reject 1b) (Hiphil) to forcefully reject someone
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: cast away (off), remove far away (off). See also: 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalms 88:15; Psalms 43:2.
נְהָר֔וֹת
nâhâr
H5104
"river"
N-mp
In the Bible, a river symbolizes prosperity, like the Nile or Euphrates, and is often used figuratively. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing the life-giving waters of the Promised Land. This word is also used to describe underground streams.
Definition: 1) stream, river 1a) stream, river 1b) (underground) streams Aramaic equivalent: ne.har (נְהַר "river" H5103H)
Usage: Occurs in 108 OT verses. KJV: flood, river. See also: Genesis 2:10; Psalms 93:3; Psalms 24:2.
דָּלֲל֥וּ
dâlal
H1809
"to languish"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
To languish means to feel weak or oppressed. It can describe something that is hanging low or being brought low. The word is used to convey a sense of distress or weakness.
Definition: 1) to hang, languish, hang down, be low 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hang low 1a2) to be low 1a3) of distress (fig.) 1a4) to languish, look weakly (of eyes) 1b) (Niphal) to be brought low, be laid low
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: bring low, dry up, be emptied, be not equal, fail, be impoverished, be made thin. See also: Judges 6:6; Psalms 142:7; Psalms 79:8.
וְ/חָרְב֖וּ
chârab
H2717
"to dry"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
To slay or destroy is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which can also mean to dry up or desolate something. It is used to describe fighting, attacking, or laying waste.
Definition: 1) to be dry, be dried up 1a) (Qal) to be dried, be dried up 1b) (Pual) to be dried 1c) (Hiphil) to dry up 1d) (Hophal) to be dried up
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: decay, (be) desolate, destroy(-er), (be) dry (up), slay, [idiom] surely, (lay, lie, make) waste. See also: Genesis 8:13; Isaiah 50:2; Psalms 106:9.
יְאֹרֵ֣י
yᵉʼôr
H2975
"stream"
N-mp
A stream or river, like the Nile, is what this word refers to. It can also mean a canal, watercourse, or even a mining shaft, emphasizing the flow of water.
Definition: 1) river, stream, canal, Nile, Nile-canal 1a) stream, river (Nile) 1b) Nile-arms, Nile-canals 1c) watercourses 1d) shafts (mining) 1e) river (in general)
Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: brook, flood, river, stream. See also: Genesis 41:1; Psalms 78:44; Isaiah 7:18.
מָצ֑וֹר
mâtsôwr
H4693
"Egypt"
N-proper
This word is another name for Egypt, meaning a place of siege or fortified area. It's used in the Bible to describe Egypt's borders, such as in 2 Kings 19:24. It's related to the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mizraim.
Definition: "Matsor", a name for Egypt Another spelling of mits.ra.yim (מִצְרַ֫יִם "Egypt" H4714G) This name means siege, entrenchment
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: besieged places, defense, fortified. See also: 2 Kings 19:24; Isaiah 37:25; Isaiah 19:6.
קָנֶ֥ה
qâneh
H7070
"branch"
N-ms
This word describes a branch or reed, and is used to represent measurement, strength, or support. In the Bible, it is used to describe objects like the rod of a steelyard or the branches of a lampstand.
Definition: : branch 1) reed, stalk, bone, balances 1a) stalk 1b) water-plant, reed 1c) calamus (aromatic reed) 1d) derived meanings 1d1) measuring-rod 1d2) reed (as unit of measure-6 cubits) 1d3) beam (of scales-for scales themselves) 1d4) shaft (of lampstand) 1d5) branches (of lampstand) 1d6) shoulder-joint
Usage: Occurs in 38 OT verses. KJV: balance, bone, branch, calamus, cane, reed, [idiom] spearman, stalk. See also: Genesis 41:5; Isaiah 19:6; Psalms 68:31.
וָ/ס֖וּף
çûwph
H5488
"reed"
Conj | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a type of reed or water plant, often used to describe the Red Sea. It appears in Exodus as the body of water the Israelites crossed. The word is also translated as flag or weed in some versions.
Definition: 1) reed, rush, water plant 1a) rushes 1b) sea of rushes - used of Red Sea
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: flag, Red (sea), weed. Compare H5489 (סוּף). See also: Exodus 2:3; Joshua 2:10; Psalms 106:7.
קָמֵֽלוּ
qâmal
H7060
"to decay"
V-Qal-Perf-3cp
The Hebrew word qâmal means to decay or wither away, like a plant that has dried up or a building that has crumbled. It is used in the Bible to describe something that has fallen into disrepair or has lost its vitality, often as a metaphor for spiritual decay. This word is used to convey a sense of loss or decline.
Definition: 1) to be decayed, be withered 1a) (Qal) to moulder, be withered
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: hew down, wither. See also: Isaiah 19:6; Isaiah 33:9.
Study Notes — Isaiah 19:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 19:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 19:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 19:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 19:6
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 19:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
- Sermons on Isaiah 19:6
Context — The Burden against Egypt
4I will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of a harsh master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
5The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty.
6The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither.
7The bulrushes by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the fields sown along the Nile, will wither, blow away, and be no more. 8Then the fishermen will mourn, all who cast a hook into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the waters will pine away.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 37:25 | I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.” |
| 2 | Exodus 7:18 | The fish in the Nile will die, the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink its water.’” |
| 3 | 2 Kings 19:24 | I have dug wells and drunk foreign waters. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.” |
| 4 | Job 8:11 | Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water? |
| 5 | Exodus 2:3 | But when she could no longer hide him, she got him a papyrus basket and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in the basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. |
| 6 | Isaiah 15:6 | The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more. |
| 7 | Isaiah 18:2 | which sends couriers by sea, in papyrus vessels on the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people widely feared, to a powerful nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. |
Isaiah 19:6 Summary
In Isaiah 19:6, God is describing a time when the canals in Egypt will become smelly and the streams will dry up, causing the plants that grow near the water to wither and die. This is a picture of what happens when a nation turns away from God and faces His judgment, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:15. Just like the Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt, our trust in God is the source of our spiritual life (John 4:14). When we turn away from Him, our lives can become dry and withered, but when we trust in Him, we can experience abundant life, as promised in Jeremiah 17:7-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the canals stinking in Isaiah 19:6?
The stinking canals in Isaiah 19:6 symbolize the corruption and decay that will result from God's judgment on Egypt, as seen in Isaiah 19:4 where God declares He will deliver the Egyptians into the hands of harsh masters. This decay is a physical representation of the spiritual decay that occurs when a nation turns away from God, as warned in Deuteronomy 28:15.
How does the drying up of the streams of Egypt relate to the rest of the chapter?
The drying up of the streams of Egypt in Isaiah 19:6 is a continuation of the judgment theme introduced in Isaiah 19:5, where the waters of the Nile dry up, and is further elaborated in Isaiah 19:7-8, which describes the consequences of this drought on the people and the land, much like the judgments seen in Jeremiah 25:10-11.
What is the spiritual significance of the reeds and rushes withering?
The withering of the reeds and rushes in Isaiah 19:6 signifies the loss of comfort, security, and provision that Egypt once enjoyed, much like the withering of the garden in Isaiah 1:30, and serves as a reminder that true security and provision come from God, as stated in Psalm 23:1-4.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah 19?
Isaiah 19:6 contributes to the overall message of Isaiah 19, which is one of judgment and redemption, as God declares His sovereignty over Egypt and all nations, as seen in Isaiah 19:1-4, and ultimately offers a message of hope and restoration, as seen in Isaiah 19:19-25, reminiscent of the redemption in Ezekiel 36:22-32.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I have seen God's judgment in my own life or in the world around me, and how have I responded to it?
- How do I rely on earthly comforts and provisions, and how can I shift my focus to trust in God's sovereignty and provision, as seen in Matthew 6:25-34?
- In what ways can I apply the lesson of the withering reeds and rushes to my own life, letting go of worldly comforts and security to trust in God's plan, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to surrender to God's judgment and redemption, and how can I take steps to do so, as guided in Romans 12:1-2?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 19:6
And they shall turn the rivers far away,.... The river Nile, called "rivers", the plural for the singular, because of the abundance of water in it; or its seven streams, with other rivulets, derived from it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 19:6
And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
They shall turn the rivers far away; which is to be taken impersonally, as such expressions are very frequently, for, the rivers (those small rivulets by which the waters of Nilus were conveyed and distributed into several parts of the land) shall be turned far away, as they must needs be, when the greater river Nilus, which fed them, was dried up. The brooks of defence; the several branches of the river Nilus, which were a great defence to Egypt, as is well known. The reeds and flags; which were very useful to them for making their boats, which were absolutely necessary in that country, and divers other things. Shall wither; as they commonly do for want of water.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
Isaiah 19:6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; [and] the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.Ver. 6. And they shall turn the rivers far away.] The Assyrians shall, or some of their own fond and vainglorious princes shall drain the river Nile at several passages and in several places, to the impairing of the river and the impeaching of the state. The reeds and flags shall wither.] These were of great use there; for of flags they made their barks and boats, mats also, wheels, baskets, &c.; of reeds they made their sails, ropes, paper, and a kind of juice serving them for food, &c. As therefore the palm tree is to the Indians a cornucopia, yielding many commodities, so are reeds and flags to the Egyptians. Herodot., lib. ii. Plin., lib. xiii. cap. 11.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
(6) And they shall turn the rivers far away.—Better, the river shall stagnate; i.e., in consequence of the Nile’s inundation failing. The brooks of defence.—The latter noun (Heb., matzor) is better treated as a proper name, the singular of the dual form Mitsraim, commonly used for Egypt. Here it would seem to be used for Lower Egypt, the region of Zoan and Memphis, as distinct from Upper Egypt or the Thebaid. The same form occurs in Isaiah 37:25; 2 Kings 19:24; Micah 7:12. Its primary meaning is that of a fortified land. The “flags” are strictly the papyrus of the Nile; the “brooks” are the canals or Nile-branches of the Delta.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
Verse 6. Shall turn the rivers far away - "Shall become putrid"] האזניחו heeznichu. This sense of the word, which Simonis gives in his Lexicon, from the meaning of it in Arabic, suits the place much better than any other interpretation hitherto given; and that the word in Hebrew had some such signification, is probable from 2 Chronicles 29:19, where the Vulgate renders it by polluit, polluted, and the Targum, by profaned, and made abominable, which the context in that place seems plainly to require. The form of the verb here is very irregular; and the rabbins and grammarians seem to give no probable account of it.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 19:6
6. The verse reads: And the streams shall stink, the canals of Egypt shall become feeble and dry up, &c. The word for “stink” is an anomalous form in Hebr. That rendered in A.V. “defence” is a rare name for Egypt (Maçôr, cf. Assyr. Muṣ ?ur, Arab. Miṣ ?r), found also in ch. Isaiah 37:25; 2 Kings 19:24; Micah 7:12. “Canals” (A.V. “brooks”) is literally “Niles” (cf. Isaiah 7:18).
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 19:6
And they shall turn the rivers far away - (האזיּחוּ he'ezenı̂ychû), probably from זנח zânach, “to have an offensive smell; to be rancid, or putrid.” The word in this form occurs nowhere else.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 19:6
6, 7. Shall turn the rivers — Many famines have occurred in Egypt owing to failure of the rains in the south. The river becomes low and stagnant and putrid.
Sermons on Isaiah 19:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Our Rock by G.W. North | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the audience and asks them to reflect on their identity and purpose. They emphasize the power of thoughts, emotions, and the body in shaping o |
|
One Special Moment by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about his daughter's rebellion and how he tried various methods to help her, but nothing worked. Eventually, God spoke to him an |