Isaiah 19:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt.

NIV: Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt.

NASB: Well then, where are your wise men? Please let them tell you, And let them understand what the Lord of armies Has planned against Egypt.

CSB: Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you and reveal what the Lord of Armies has planned against Egypt.

NLT: Where are your wise counselors, Pharaoh? Let them tell you what God plans, what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is going to do to Egypt.

KJV: Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

NKJV: Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, And let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.

The prophecy from the Lord against Egypt (Isaiah 19:1) now openly mocks their supposedly impressive human intelligence (Isaiah 19:11). Egypt was famous for its literature, architecture, agriculture, and wise men, but Isaiah is calling their bluff. His oracle puts a challenge to Egypt's king, the Pharaoh: Ask your counselors to tell you what the Lord has planned to do to Egypt.

The intended response is that even the most learned of Egypt's scholars cannot give Pharaoh one clue about God's plans for Egypt. For the people of Israel, this sarcastic question would call to mind stories of Moses. His confrontations with the Pharaoh of Egypt and his wise men of that time were part of Israel's exodus from slavery (Exodus 7:10–13). Then, as now, the Lord showed His power was far superior to that of the occultists and well-educated Egyptians. They could perform tricks, but they could not match the power and plagues the Lord God of Israel (Exodus 8:17–19; 9:11).

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).

Accessed 5/3/2024 5:14:28 PM