Isaiah 19:11-13

Isaiah 19:11-13

[11] Surely the princes  of Zoan  the counsel  of the wise  of Pharaoh  is become brutish:  how say  ye unto Pharaoh,  I am the son  of the wise,  the son  of ancient  kings?  [12] Where  are they? where  are thy wise  men? and let them tell  thee now, and let them know  of hosts  hath purposed  upon Egypt.  [13] 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 

What does Isaiah 19:11-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Egyptians were known for their wisdom and took great pride in it (cf. Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:2). Isaiah challenged their wise men to inform the people what Yahweh of armies had in store for them (cf. Joseph). He could frustrate their plans, but they could not discover His. Their unwise politicians had misled the people by failing to diversify the economy, among other ways. Too much of their hope lay in the Nile, which the people worshipped as a god. Zoan ( Isaiah 19:11, Gr. Tanis) was a chief city and often the capital of Lower Egypt, and Noph (Gr. Memphis, Isaiah 19:13) was another chief city and former capital of the same part of Egypt.