City of Destruction in the Bible

Hebrew: הַהֶ֔רֶס עִ֣יר —transliteration: Ir-ha-Heres —meaning: city of overthrow; City of Destruction

“In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to Yahweh of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.” —Isaiah 19:18 LSB

This verse is saying that the city will present evidence of God’s overthrow of heathenism. The Hebrew words are a punning allusion to Egypt’s city of On (aka Heliopolis). It shall no longer be called עַיר הַחֶרֶס (City of the Sun), but rather עיר ההרס (City of Destruction). The city of On, Egypt, aka Heliopolis was destroyed along with its heathen temples and idols.

In context, this portion of Isaiah 19 (called “The oracle concerning Egypt”) seems to alos be prophecying about events in Egypt during the Great Tribulation and Christ’s Second Coming. This chapter speaks of divine judgments on Egypt, with specific details about what will happen.

Afterward, Egyptians hearts and minds are changed, as they enter the physical Kingdom of God on Earth during The Millennium.

In that day there will be an altar to Yahweh in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to Yahweh near its border. And it will become a sign and a witness to Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to Yahweh because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. —Isaiah 19:19-20

…they will return to Yahweh, and He will be moved by their entreaty and will heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom Yahweh of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” —Isaiah 19:22-25 LSB excerpt

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Article Version: February 16, 2025