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Isaiah 19 · a question people ask

When is "that day" in 19:16-25?

In the text

The chapter gives no date. It says "In that day" six times (19:16, 19:18, 19:19, 19:21, 19:23, 19:24), and it tells what that day will hold: Egypt will "tremble and fear" (19:16), five cities will "swear to the LORD of Armies" (19:18), there will be an altar to the LORD in Egypt (19:19), "the Egyptians will know the LORD" (19:21), there will be "a highway out of Egypt to Assyria" (19:23), and "Israel will be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing within the earth" (19:24). Isaiah uses "In that day" all through the book, as in "It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people" (Isaiah 11:11). These notes set out what the verses say, don't say when the day comes, and apply none of the chapter's names to any nation, people or state today.

The verses

“It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”
Isaiah 11:11 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 19

Isaiah 19: The burden of Egypt

Isaiah 19 has words that Exodus has in Egypt's story. Egypt cries to the LORD "because of oppressors" (19:20), with the verb of Exodus 3:9, and he sends them a savior; "The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing" (19:22), with the verb Exodus has at the Passover. And he calls Egypt by a name Isaiah elsewhere gives his own people: "Egypt my people" (19:25).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions