Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 59:19

"So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth." — Isaiah 59:19 (ASV)

When the enemy shall come in ... — The noun allows for the meanings “adversary,” “adversity,” “hemmed in,” “rushing,” and the verse has accordingly been very differently rendered:

1. He (Jehovah) shall come like a rushing stream which the breath of Jehovah (that is, a strong and mighty wind) driveth.
2. Adversity shall come like a stream.

The verse is difficult, but the Authorised Version is, at least, as tenable as any other rendering, and finds parallelisms in Jeremiah 46:7-8 for the image of a flood, and in Psalm 60:4 for that of the banner. (Compare also Isaiah 11:10.)