1. Isaiah 19:18 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

To what does the City of Destruction refer?

Isaiah 19:18 (ESV)

18 In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of Destruction.

According to the commentators, this phrase is difficult to interpret. Some suggest that the word destruction should be replaced with sun (the orthography of the two terms is similar). The "City of the Sun" possibly refers to Heliopolis. It may allude to a city that used to worship the sun, and would start to worship the Lord.