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Holy Book of Isaiah

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Holy Scripture › Holy Book of Isaiah

The question

In the Holy Book of Isaiah 19:23-25, God says there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, is this a literal or metaphorical highway? Is this supposed to happen in the future?

The answer

It is both literal and metaphorical. Highway means free communication. Literally, under the latter kings of Persia, and under Alexander, Egypt, Judea, and Assyria lived peaceably under the same government, and were on such friendly terms that there was a regular, uninterrupted intercourse between them.

Metaphorically, all these countries shall be converted to the Lord. The Assyrians shall become the people of God with the Egyptians. The Egyptians shall serve (shall worship the true God) with the Assyrians; and therefore the Assyrians shall come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria. It becomes those who have communion with the same God, through the same Mediator, to keep up an amicable correspondence with one another. Egypt and Assyria represent all the Gentiles who will believe in the Lord Jesus.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 681 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.