OliveGrove
Pressing the Word of God for Deeper Understanding.

Focused Passage

Isaiah 19:11-15

The Oracle Against Egypt, the Collapse of False Wisdom, and the Healing of the Nations

The chapter moves from the LORD riding on a swift cloud into Egypt, to idols trembling and hearts melting, to internal conflict and harsh rule, to the drying of the Nile and collapse of Egypt’s economy, to the humiliation of Egypt’s wisdom and leaders, to Egypt fearing Judah and the LORD, to cities speaking Canaan’s language, to altar and pillar worship, to Egypt crying to the LORD and being delivered, to the LORD striking and healing Egypt, and finally to a highway of worship joining Egypt, Assyria, and Israel under blessing.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?

12Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt.

13The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

14The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.

15There is nothing Egypt can do—head or tail, palm or reed.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Cross-references

Psalms 33:10Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 1:19Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 3:19Classic cross-references2 Samuel 15:31Classic cross-referencesIsaiah 30:4Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 1:19-25OliveGrove study linksColossians 2:3OliveGrove study linksJames 1:5OliveGrove study links

Original words

The princesשָׂ֣רֵיH8269Noun - masculine plural constructof Zoanצֹ֔עַןH6814Noun - proper - feminine singularare mereאַךְ־H389Adverbfoolsאֱוִלִים֙H191Noun - masculine pluralPharaoh’sפַרְעֹ֔הH6547Noun - proper - masculine singularwiseחַכְמֵי֙H2450Adjective - masculine plural constructcounselorsעֵצָ֖הH6098Noun - feminine singulargive senselessנִבְעָרָ֑הH1197Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularadviceיֹעֲצֵ֣יH6098Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructHowאֵ֚יךְH349Interjectioncan you sayתֹּאמְר֣וּH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413PrepositionPharaohפַּרְעֹ֔הH6547Noun - proper - masculine singularIאֲנִ֖יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam oneבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof the wiseחֲכָמִ֥יםH2450Adjective - masculine plurala sonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof easternקֶֽדֶם׃H6924Noun - masculine singularkingsמַלְכֵי־H4428Noun - masculine plural construct
Verse 12

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:20Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 1:19-25OliveGrove study linksColossians 2:3OliveGrove study linksJames 1:5OliveGrove study links

Original words

Whereאַיָּם֙H335Interrogative | third person masculine pluralare your wise menחֲכָמֶ֔יךָH2450Adjective - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularnowאֵפ֣וֹאH645ConjunctionLet them tellוְיַגִּ֥ידוּH5046Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .נָ֖אH4994Interjectionyouלָ֑ךְPreposition | second person feminine singularand revealוְיֵ֣דְע֔וּH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralwhatמַה־H4100Interrogativethe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralhas plannedיָּעַ֛ץH3289Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularagainstעַל־H5921PrepositionEgyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 13

Cross-references

Ezekiel 30:13Classic cross-referencesJeremiah 2:16Classic cross-referencesJeremiah 44:1Classic cross-referencesJeremiah 46:14Classic cross-referencesJeremiah 46:19Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 1:19-25OliveGrove study linksColossians 2:3OliveGrove study linksJames 1:5OliveGrove study links

Original words

The princesשָׂ֣רֵיH8269Noun - masculine plural constructof Zoanצֹ֔עַןH6814Noun - proper - feminine singularhave become foolsנֽוֹאֲלוּ֙H2973Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralthe princesשָׂ֣רֵיH8269Noun - masculine plural constructof Memphisנֹ֑ףH5297Noun - proper - feminine singularare deceivedנִשְּׁא֖וּH5377Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralThe cornerstonesפִּנַּ֥תH6438Noun - feminine singular constructof her tribesשְׁבָטֶֽיהָ׃H7626Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularhave led Egyptמִצְרַ֖יִםH4714Noun - proper - feminine singularastrayהִתְע֥וּH8582Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object marker

BSB notes

  • LXX; Hebrew Noph
Verse 14

Cross-references

Isaiah 24:20Classic cross-referencesIsaiah 29:9Classic cross-referencesPsalms 107:27Classic cross-references1 Kings 22:20Classic cross-references2 Chronicles 18:22Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 1:19-25OliveGrove study linksColossians 2:3OliveGrove study linksJames 1:5OliveGrove study links

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas pouredמָסַ֥ךְH4537Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularinto herבְּקִרְבָּ֖הּH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singulara spiritר֣וּחַH7307Noun - common singular constructof confusionעִוְעִ֑יםH5773Noun - masculine pluralEgyptמִצְרַ֙יִם֙H4714Noun - proper - feminine singularhas been led astrayוְהִתְע֤וּH8582Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerin allבְּכָֽל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructshe doesמַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּH4639Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularas a drunkardשִׁכּ֖וֹרH7910Adjective - masculine singularstaggers throughכְּהִתָּע֥וֹתH8582Preposition-k | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructhis own vomitבְּקִיאֽוֹ׃H6892Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 15

Cross-references

Isaiah 9:14Classic cross-references1 Corinthians 1:19-25OliveGrove study linksColossians 2:3OliveGrove study linksJames 1:5OliveGrove study links

Original words

There isיִהְיֶ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularnothingוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleEgyptלְמִצְרַ֖יִםH4714Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singularcan doיַעֲשֶׂ֛הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular-מַֽעֲשֶׂ֑הH4639Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relativeheadרֹ֥אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singularor tailוְזָנָ֖בH2180Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularpalmכִּפָּ֥הH3712Noun - feminine singularor reedוְאַגְמֽוֹן׃סH100Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Read full chapter contextAll Isaiah chapters
<- Isaiah 18Isaiah 19Isaiah 20 ->

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.