Isaiah 19 — Dead Sea Scrolls
25 verses • 8 variants • Columns XV–XVI of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 19 is a substantial oracle against Egypt with 25 verses, moving from judgment (vv. 1-17) to a remarkable vision of Egypt's future conversion (vv. 18-25). The DSS text closely matches the MT throughout. Most variants are orthographic.
Notable Variants
Verse 18 has a significant textual variant regarding the 'City of the Sun' vs. 'City of Destruction.' Verse 25 — the astonishing declaration 'Blessed be Egypt my people' — is identical in both traditions.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
An oracle concerning Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before Him, and the heart of Egypt melts within it.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 15
"I will stir up Egypt against Egypt: man will fight against his brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
Masoretic (WLC)
מִצְרַיִם
Egypt
Dead Sea Scroll
מצרים
Egypt
Identical consonantal text. The civil war imagery — Egyptian against Egyptian — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 16
The spirit of Egypt will be emptied out within it, and I will swallow up its counsel. They will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 17
I will hand Egypt over to a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them," declares the Lord, the LORD of Hosts.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 18
The waters will be dried up from the sea, and the River will be parched and dry.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַיְאֹר
the Nile
Dead Sea Scroll
היאור
the Nile
1QIsaiah-a writes היאור with plene spelling. The drying of the Nile — catastrophic for Egypt's agriculture — is described identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 19
The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up. Reed and rush will wither.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 20
The bare places along the Nile, at the mouth of the Nile, and every field sown beside the Nile will dry up, be blown away, and be no more.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 21
The fishermen will mourn; all who cast hooks into the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets upon the waters will languish.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 22
Those who work combed flax will be put to shame, and the weavers of white linen will despair.
Masoretic (WLC)
פִּשְׁתִּים
linen workers
Dead Sea Scroll
פשתים
linen workers
Identical consonantal text. Egypt's linen industry — the foundation of its economy — is devastated. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 23
Her foundations will be crushed; all who work for wages will be sick at heart.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XV, line 24
The princes of Zoan are utter fools! The wisest of Pharaoh's counselors give stupid advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?
Masoretic (WLC)
חֲכָמִים
wise men
Dead Sea Scroll
חכמים
wise men
Identical consonantal text. The 'wise counselors of Pharaoh' whose advice becomes foolish is a key theme. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 1
Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you — let them know what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt!
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 2
The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. They have led Egypt astray — the cornerstones of her tribes.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 3
The LORD has mixed into her midst a spirit of confusion, and they have made Egypt stagger in all it does, like a drunkard staggering in his vomit.
Masoretic (WLC)
הִשְׁקָהּ
made drink/stagger
Dead Sea Scroll
השקה
made drink/stagger
1QIsaiah-a writes השקה without the mappiq he of the MT. The image of the LORD mixing a spirit of confusion so that Egypt staggers is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 4
And there will be nothing that Egypt can accomplish — neither head nor tail, palm branch nor reed.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 5
On that day Egypt will be like women — trembling and terrified before the brandishing hand of the LORD of Hosts that He brandishes over it.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 6
The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt. Everyone who is reminded of it will tremble, because of the plan of the LORD of Hosts that He is planning against it.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 7
On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַהֶרֶס
destruction
Dead Sea Scroll
החרס
the sun
This is a famous textual crux. The MT reads עִיר הַהֶרֶס ('City of Destruction'), but 1QIsaiah-a reads עיר החרס ('City of the Sun'). The DSS reading החרס (ha-cheres, 'the sun') would identify this as Heliopolis (the Egyptian city of the sun god Ra). The MT's ההרס (ha-heres, 'destruction') may be a deliberate pejorative alteration — calling the sun-city a 'city of destruction' because of its pagan associations. Most scholars consider the DSS reading original, with the MT reflecting a later theological correction. The Talmud (Menachot 110a) already debated this variant.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 8
On that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at its border dedicated to the LORD.
Masoretic (WLC)
מַצֵּבָה
pillar
Dead Sea Scroll
מצבה
pillar
Identical consonantal text. The pillar (matstsevah) to the LORD at Egypt's border — a remarkable prophecy of worship spreading beyond Israel — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 9
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 oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender, and He will deliver them.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 10
The LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the LORD on that day. They will worship with sacrifice and grain offering; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 11
The LORD will strike Egypt — striking and healing. They will turn to the LORD, and He will respond to their plea and heal them.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 12
On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will come to Egypt and Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship together with Assyria.
Masoretic (WLC)
מְסִלָּה
highway
Dead Sea Scroll
מסלה
highway
Identical consonantal text. The 'highway from Egypt to Assyria' — an eschatological road of reconciliation between ancient enemies — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 13
On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing in the midst of the earth.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 14
whom the LORD of Hosts has blessed, saying: "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance."
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVI, line 15