Isaiah 19:15
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Neither shall there be for Egypt any work, which head or tail, palm-branch or rush, may do.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And in Egypt there will be no work for any man, head or tail, high or low, to do.
Webster's Revision
Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may perform.
World English Bible
Neither shall there be for Egypt any work, which head or tail, palm branch or rush, may do.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Neither shall there be for Egypt any work, which head or tail, palm branch or rush, may do.
Definitions for Isaiah 19:15
Clarke's Isaiah 19:15 Bible Commentary
The head or tail, branch or rush - R. D. Kimchi says, there are some who suppose that these words mean the dragon's head and tail; and refer to all those who are conversant in astronomy, astrology, etc.
Barnes's Isaiah 19:15 Bible Commentary
Neither shall there be any work - The sense is, that there shall be such discord that no man, whether a prince, a politician, or a priest, shall be able to give any advice, or form any plan for the national safety and security, which shall be successful.
Which the head or tail - High or low; strong or weak: those in office and those out of office; all shall be dispirited and confounded. Rosenmuller understands by the head here, the "political" orders of the nation, and by the tail the "sacerdotal" ranks. But the meaning more probably is, the highest and the lowest ranks - all the politicians, and priests, and princes, on the one hand, as the prophet had just stated Isaiah 19:11-15; and all the artificers, fishermen, etc., on the other, as he had stated Isaiah 19:8-10. This verse, therefore, is a "summing up" of all he had said about the calamities that were coming upon them.
Branch or rush - See these words explained in the note at Isaiah 9:14.
Wesley's Isaiah 19:15 Bible Commentary
19:15 Head, and c. - All people, both high and low, shall be at their wits end.