Isaiah 19:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will strike Egypt but also heal it; through judgment, the nation will return to God, who will hear and restore them.
The Context of Isaiah 19:22
Through striking judgment, God ultimately heals Egypt by drawing it back to covenant relationship.
What Does Isaiah 19:22 Mean?
The paradox is striking: 'smite and heal.' God's judgment and God's healing are not contradictory but sequential. The striking serves healing—it brings Egypt to repentance and return. This is corrective rather than merely punitive. Through the pain of judgment, Egypt learns to return to the LORD. The sequence: judgment → return → healing.
The language of being 'intreated' means God will listen and be moved by Egypt's plea. This indicates relationship restoration. Once Egypt turns back to God, God receives them, hears them, and heals them. The cycle completes: wound leads to cure, judgment to restoration. This shows God's purpose: not permanent destruction but redemption through discipline.
Isaiah 19:22 in the Original Language
nakah (נָכָה), 'smite'—to strike; also used figuratively for discipline that leads to correction and healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 19:22
What does Isaiah 19:22 mean?
God will strike Egypt but also heal it; through judgment, the nation will return to God, who will hear and restore them.
What is the context of Isaiah 19:22?
Through striking judgment, God ultimately heals Egypt by drawing it back to covenant relationship.