Isaiah 19:3

3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound^[a] their ¹counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and ²the mediums and the necromancers;

Isaiah 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 19:3

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof,
&c.] Meaning not the spirit of valour and courage, that is expressed before, but of wisdom, prudence, and understanding; the wisdom of Egypt, in which Moses is said to be brought up, ( Acts 7:22 ) was famous all the world over; hither men of learning, as the ancient philosophers, Pythagoras, Plato, and others, travelled, to improve in knowledge, and gain a larger acquaintance with things human and divine; it was the mother and mistress of the liberal arts and sciences; but now what was before like a river full of water, was about to be "emptied", and drained dry, as the word ^F25 used signifies: and I will destroy the counsels thereof;
or "swallow [them] up" {z}, so that they shall be no more seen, or take effect: this explains what is before meant by the spirit of Egypt, and which is further enlarged on, and illustrated in ( Isaiah 19:11-13 ) , and they shall seek to the idols;
with which the land abounded, particularly to Osiris and Isis, to Apis, Latona, and others: and to the charmers;
that used incantations and spells; magicians and conjurers, that whispered and muttered; for the word used has the signification of speaking in a slow and drawling manner. The Targum renders it "witches"; but Jarchi takes it to be the name of an idol: and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards;
(See Gill on Isaiah 8:19).

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 (hqbn) "evacuabitur", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Cocceius.
F26 (elba) "deglutiam", Montanus; "absorpsero", Junius & Tremellius; "absorbebo", Piscator.

Isaiah 19:3 In-Context

1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

2 And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom;

3 and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols and the sorcerers, and the mediums and the necromancers;

4 and I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master, and a fierce king will rule over them, declares the Lord God of hosts.

5 And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched,

Cross References

• 1. 19:3 ver. 11
• 2. 19:3 ch. 8:19

Footnotes

• [a] 19:3 Or 'I will swallow up'