Isaiah 19:24

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 19:24 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;
Isaiah 19:24 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, &c.] There shall be a triple alliance between them; Jew and Gentile shall be made one, the middle wall of partition being broken down; yea, Israel, or the Jews, shall be the third, or the Mediator between them both, or the means of uniting the Gentiles together, since the Gospel of peace was to go out from them, as it did. Perhaps there may be an allusion to the situation of the land of Israel between Egypt and Assyria: [even] a blessing in the midst of the land; or of the earth, the whole world, being the means of conveying the blessings of grace to the several nations of the world; the Messiah, in whom all nations are…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“third--The three shall be joined as one nation. blessing--the source of blessings to other nations, and the object of their benedictions. in the midst of the land--rather, "earth" (Mic 5:7). Judah is designed to be the grand center of the whole earth (Jer 3:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In that day shall Israel be the third - That is, the three shall be united as one people. Instead of being rival, hostile, and contending kingdoms, they shall be united and friendly; and instead of having different and jarring religions, they shall all worship the same God. The prophecy rather refers to the spread of the true religion, and the worship of the true God, than to a political or civil alliance. Even a blessing - It shall be a source of blessing, because from Judea the true religion would extend into the other lands. In the midst of the land - That is, “the united land” - composed of the three nations now joined in alliance. Judea was situated in the “midst” of this united land,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The third - The third party, in that sacred league, whereby all of them oblige themselves to serve God. Egypt - These are named, because they were the most obstinate enemies to God's church, but they are here put for all the Gentiles. A blessing - This is peculiar to Israel, who is not only a third party, but is the most eminent of the three, as being the fountain, by which the blessing is conveyed to the other two; because Christ was to be born of them, and the gospel - church and ordinances were first established among them, and from them derived to the Gentiles. The land - Or, of those lands, Egypt and Assyria, between which Israel lay. Isaiah 19:25”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“19:24 Israel will be . . . a blessing in fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham (Gen 12:3).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall: Isa 6:13, Isa 49:6, Isa 49:22, Isa 65:8, Isa 65:22, Isa 66:12, Isa 66:19-21; Deu 32:43; Psa 117:1, Psa 117:2; Zac 2:10, Zac 2:11, Zac 8:20-23; Luk 2:32; Rom 10:11-13, Rom 15:9-12, Rom 15:27 a blessing: Isa 65:8; Gen 12:2; Eze 34:26; Zac 8:13; Gal 3:14 Isaiah 19:25”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thus is the way prepared for the highest point of all, which the prophet foretells in Isa 19:24, Isa 19:25 : "In that day will Israel be the third part to Egypt and Asshur, a blessing in the midst of the earth, since Jehovah of hosts blesseth them thus: Blessed be thou, my people Egypt; and thou Asshur, the work of my hands; and thou Israel, mine inheritance." Israel is added to the covenant between Egypt and Asshur, so that it becomes a tripartite covenant in which Israel forms the "third part" (sheilshiyyâh, tertia pars, like ‛ası̄ryyâh, decima pars, in Isa 6:13). Israel has now reached the great end of its calling - to be a blessing in "the midst of the earth" (b'kereb hâ'âretz, in…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification