Bible Strands
Isaiah 19:12
Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the rulers and counselors of Egypt, specifically the princes of Zoan and Memphis, after their political strategies have failed to avert divine judgment.
The words — The Hebrew phrase חֲכָמֶ֔י/ךָ (cha.kha.Mei./kha) denotes "your wise men," paired with יָּעַ֛ץ (ya.'Atz), meaning "has he planned." The text directly challenges Egypt's advisors to disclose what the LORD of Hosts has decreed against the nation.
The thread — The challenge echoes in 1 Corinthians 1:20, where Paul asks "Where is the wise man?" to show God overturning human wisdom, and parallels the rhetorical "Where is your..." structure in Judges 9:38. The motif also resonates with Job 11:6, which contrasts human wisdom with God's disclosed secrets.
Why it lands — The verse demands that readers recognize the limits of human counsel when confronted with divine purpose. It requires acceptance that God's plans cannot be uncovered or altered by earthly expertise.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- Judges 9:38 “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
- Job 11:6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
- Isaiah 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
- Isaiah 14:24 The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.
- Isaiah 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
- Isaiah 41:22 “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
- Isaiah 44:7 Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.
- Isaiah 47:10 You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
- Jeremiah 2:28 But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.