Isaiah 19:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger.

NIV: The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.

NASB: The officials of Zoan have turned out to be fools, The officials of Memphis are deluded; Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes Have led Egypt astray.

CSB: The princes of Zoan have been fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. Her tribal chieftains have led Egypt astray.

NLT: The officials of Zoan are fools, and the officials of Memphis are deluded. The leaders of the people have led Egypt astray.

KJV: The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

NKJV: The princes of Zoan have become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also deluded Egypt, Those who are the mainstay of its tribes.

Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 19:1) is dismantling the myth that Egypt could be a strong and unbeatable ally. Israel would have been tempted to make alliances in fear of invaders. Yet, whether against the Assyrians or the Babylonians, Egypt was like any other nation: owing any success it has to the Lord. They are also just as subject to the Lord's judgment. When that happens, the Egyptian people will lose their courage and turn on each other (Isaiah 19:2). They will turn to occult practices to look for answers (Isaiah 19:3). A fierce king will swoop in and take over the country (Isaiah 19:4). The Lord will dry up the Nile, dismantling the entire Egyptian economy in the process (Isaiah 19:5–10).

Now the prophet has added that, against the wisdom and power of God, the best and brightest of Egypt's wise men are half-witted. The "princes" mentioned here would be leaders giving direct counsel and advice to the Pharaoh. They cannot provide a single clue about God's plans against them (Isaiah 19:11–12). The princes in the important cities of Zoan and Memphis may think they are geniuses, but measured against God's judgment they are "deluded" fools. When the leadership of the nation is clueless, the entire nation will stagger and begin to disintegrate. Isaiah has said that's exactly what is coming for Egypt.

Isaiah 19:1–15 is an oracle against the nation of Egypt. Isaiah describes the Lord, not Egypt's imaginary god Baal, as arriving on a swift cloud to judge the nation. The hearts of the people will melt, and their spirits will be emptied out. They will turn on each other. Neither their gods nor their wise men will be able to save them. Even the Nile River will dry up. Yet, in the kingdom of the Messiah, Egypt will turn to the Lord and be blessed by Him.

Isaiah's oracle describes the Lord's coming judgment on Egypt. The idols will fear when God arrives, and the people will turn on each other. A fierce king will conquer them. The Nile River will dry up, leaving many destitute. The advisors serving Egypt's leaders will be revealed as confused fools. Far in the future, Egypt will recognize Israel's God and repent, turning to worship the Lord. Assyria will join in that worship, blessing the earth along with Egypt and Israel.

Isaiah 19 introduces the next oracle against the nations of the earth. The Lord has been showing His people not to put their trust and hope in the foreign nations or their gods. They are to trust in Him alone to save them. The Lord's arrival in Egypt reveals the worthlessness of idols and spiritists. The terrified people will turn on each other. They will become destitute when the Nile dries up and the wise are shown to be foolish. In the far future, Egypt will worship the Lord and be blessed by Him.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).