In that day shall Egypt be like to women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shakes over it.
like
Isaiah 30:17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
Psalm 48:6 Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Jeremiah 30:6-7 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? …
the shaking
Isaiah 10:32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
Isaiah 30:30-32 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones…
the Egyptians will be like women
In ancient Near Eastern culture, this phrase implies vulnerability and fear, as women were often seen as less physically powerful in times of conflict. This metaphor highlights the reversal of Egypt's status from a powerful nation to one that is defenseless and afraid. Historically, Egypt was a dominant power, but this prophecy foretells a time of weakness.
They will tremble with fear
This indicates a profound sense of terror and helplessness. The imagery suggests a complete loss of confidence and security. The trembling is a response to the overwhelming power of God, which is a common theme in prophetic literature, where nations are often depicted as powerless before the divine will.
beneath the uplifted hand of the LORD of Hosts
The "uplifted hand" symbolizes God's power and readiness to act in judgment. The title "LORD of Hosts" emphasizes God's supreme authority over all heavenly and earthly armies. This imagery is used throughout the Bible to convey God's might and the certainty of His actions.
when He brandishes it against them
The act of brandishing suggests a threat of imminent action. It conveys the idea of God preparing to strike, underscoring the seriousness of the impending judgment. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His ability to execute justice against nations that oppose His will.
- “In that day” is Isaiah’s way of pointing our attention to a definite, God-appointed moment (Isaiah 2:11; 24:21).
- It looks ahead to a coming season of divine intervention, not a vague possibility. The date is on God’s calendar, firmly set.
- Egypt’s long history of power and self-reliance will meet the sobering reality that the Lord alone rules nations (Jeremiah 46:10).
- In ancient warfare, women were not expected to fight; the phrase speaks to loss of courage and military strength (Jeremiah 50:37; Nahum 3:13).
- Egypt, famed for chariots and armies, will find its bravado melting away. God is saying, “Your confidence will fail when I act.”
- The contrast is intentional: once-mighty soldiers will display the vulnerability usually associated with the non-combatants they once vowed to protect.
- Terror grips them, not mere uneasiness (Psalm 48:6; Isaiah 13:8).
- The trembling is a heart response to the realization that no human alliance or idol can shield them (Isaiah 19:1–3).
- What Egypt experiences outwardly mirrors what every heart feels when confronted by the holiness of God without the covering of grace.
- The “uplifted hand” pictures God ready to strike, the same hand that once liberated Israel from Egypt (Exodus 6:6).
- “LORD of Hosts” emphasizes His command over angelic armies; the Egyptians are not facing random catastrophe but the organized might of heaven (Isaiah 14:26-27).
- When God lifts His hand, no shield or fortress can deflect it (Isaiah 26:11).
- “Brandishes” evokes a warrior swinging a weapon poised to land. Judgment on Egypt is deliberate, not accidental (Isaiah 30:32).
- The Lord’s action answers centuries of idolatry and oppression (Exodus 1:11; Ezekiel 29:3-6).
- Human pride often thinks God will never act, but when He does, it comes swiftly, unavoidably (Jeremiah 21:5).
Isaiah 19:16 warns that a specific day is coming when Egypt’s self-assured strength collapses. God Himself will confront the nation, stripping away its courage until it trembles helplessly under His lifted, brandished hand. The verse reminds every reader that earthly power cannot stand against the sovereign Lord of Hosts; only humble trust in Him provides true security.
(16) In that day shall Egypt be like unto "women.--This image of panic, terror, and weakness has been natural in the poetry of all countries (comp. Homer, "Achaean women, not Achaean men"), and appears in its strongest form in Jeremiah 48:41. In such a state, even the land of Judah, once so despised, shall become a source of terror.Verse 16. - In that day; or, at that time; i.e. when the Assyrian invasion comes. Shall Egypt be like unto women (comp. Jeremiah 51:30). So Xerxes said of his fighting men at Salamis: "My men have become women" (Herod., 8:88). Because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord (comp. Isaiah 11:15 and Isaiah 30:32). The Egyptians would scarcely recognize Jehovah as the Author of their calamities, but it would none the less be his hand which punished them.