John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 19:16

"In that day shall the Egyptians be like unto women; and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shaketh over them." — Isaiah 19:16 (ASV)

In that day shall Egypt be like women. He again repeats what he had formerly said: that the Egyptians will have nothing manly about them. Some think that he alludes to an effeminate custom, because of which the ancient historians censured the Egyptians, namely, that by inverting the order of things, women appeared in public and transacted the affairs of state, while men performed the occupations of women.

It is possible that the Prophet may have had this in mind, but when I take a more careful view of the whole passage, this conjecture cannot be accepted. For here he threatens a judgment of God, which will fill men with astonishment. If he were speaking of an ordinary custom, this would not apply to the matter at hand, for he does not charge the Egyptians with being inherently effeminate. On the contrary, he threatens that they will be struck with such dread that in no way will they differ from women.

The Egyptians not only thought that they were able to wage war, but they also attacked without provocation and gave aid to other nations. We see that pagan writers relate many of the exploits of the Egyptians and speak at length in their praise. Therefore, although the Egyptians were feeble and effeminate in comparison with other nations, they still wished to retain the praise and renown of warlike men.

Because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts. The sudden change now occurring is a striking display of the judgment of heaven. Therefore, he adds that the shaking of the hand of God will be the cause of the terror. By these words he shows that this war will be entirely carried on by the Lord, and therefore the Egyptians cannot stand against it, because they are not dealing with men.

What Isaiah declares concerning Egypt should also be applied to other nations. For if wars arise and insurrections spring up, we should acknowledge it to be a judgment of God when men lose courage and are overwhelmed with terror. We see how the most warlike nations give way, show themselves to be less courageous than women, and are vanquished without any preparations of war, whenever the Lord strikes their minds with dread.