Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is a pointed challenge, not just asking about Egypt's wise men, but implicitly mocking their supposed abilities. The phrasing "let them tell you now, and let them know" highlights the futility of their knowledge; they couldn't predict, let alone prevent, the judgment that God had already decreed.
Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a "burden" against Egypt, detailing the impending judgment and chaos that will befall the nation due to internal strife and divine displeasure. This judgment will dismantle their power, dry up their resources, and leave them vulnerable. The text then directly addresses Pharaoh, questioning the effectiveness of his counselors and the supposed wisdom of Egypt.
Egypt was known for its ancient wisdom and learned scholars. But when God's judgment loomed, their supposed expertise proved useless. Where did all that wisdom go?
Isaiah 19:12 directly challenges Egypt's claim to wisdom. The prophet taunts Pharaoh, asking about his wise men, magicians, and counselors. These were the people who claimed to understand the future through astrology, magic, or deep policy.
But in the face of God's judgment, their pretenses crumble. The commentaries highlight that these wise men couldn't foresee, predict, or avert the divine purpose.
The greatest 'wise men' in the world couldn't figure it out. Why? Because the ultimate plan belongs to the Lord of Hosts alone. What does this mean for us?
The central focus of Isaiah's challenge isn't just the failure of Egypt's wise men, but the certainty of God's purpose. The verse emphatically states, 'what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.'
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Understand the original words
YHWH Ṣəbā’ōt · Hebrew Proper Noun
Refers to the Almighty Creator, the Commander of the armies of heaven, and the sovereign Ruler over all earthly nations and events.
yā‘aṣ · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the divine plan or intentional decree of God; it emphasizes that history is not accidental but unfolds according to the purposes of the Creator.
This prophecy addresses Egypt during a period of intense geopolitical upheaval, marked by the rise and fall of empires like Assyria and Babylon, culminating in its conquest by Persia. Isaiah's challenge to Egypt's wise men highlights their inability to foresee or prevent these divinely ordained judgments, underscoring the sovereignty of the Lord of Hosts over even the most powerful earthly kingdoms.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants and increasing the geopolitical instability in the region. Egypt, often a player in regional conflicts, would have been closely watching these events.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, besieging Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is spared, the campaign demonstrates Assyria's formidable power and its ambitions in the region, impacting Egyptian perceptions of regional security.
c. 671 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Egypt
The Assyrian Empire, under Esarhaddon and later Ashurbanipal, invades and occupies parts of Egypt, installing vassal rulers. This period of foreign domination would have been a profound shock to Egyptian pride and a stark demonstration of divine judgment.
c. 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, allied with the Medes, destroys the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, ending the Assyrian Empire. This power shift creates a new geopolitical landscape, with Babylon becoming the dominant force in the Near East.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
The Babylonian Empire, led by Nebuchadnezzar II, destroys Jerusalem and exiles a significant portion of the population. This event has profound implications for Judah and its relationship with its neighbors, including Egypt, which had previously been involved in Judean affairs.
c. 550-539 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great establishes the Persian Empire, which eventually conquers the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The rise of Persia creates another major power dynamic that impacts Egypt and the entire Near East.
c. 525 BC— this verse
Persian Conquest of Egypt
The Persian Empire conquers Egypt, making it a satrapy (province) of the vast Achaemenid Empire. This subjugation represents a significant loss of Egyptian autonomy and would have been seen as a fulfillment of prophetic warnings about Egypt's vulnerability.
This passage echoes the challenge in Isaiah 19:12, directly calling out false gods and their prophets to predict the future and prove their divine authority, contrasting them with God's sovereign plans.
Jeremiah 10:23This verse highlights human limitations in guiding one's own steps, a stark contrast to the supposed wisdom of Egypt's counselors, emphasizing that true direction comes only from God.
Daniel 2:10-11Daniel confronts the Babylonian king by stating that no wise man, astrologer, or sorcerer can reveal the king's dream and its meaning, mirroring Isaiah's critique of human wisdom against divine purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:20The Apostle Paul contrasts the 'wisdom of the wise' with God's 'foolishness,' which is wiser than human wisdom, directly addressing the futility of relying on human intellect when God's purposes are at play.
pooleIsaiah 19:12: "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."
Thy wise men; who pretended that either by their deep policy, or by their skill in astrology or magic, they could certainly foresee things to come.
barnesIsaiah 19:12: "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."
Where are they? - This whole verse is an appeal by the prophet to the king of Egypt respecting the counselors and soothsayers of his kingdom. The sense is, 'a time of distress and danger is evidently coming upon Egypt. They pretend to be wise; and there is now occasion for all their wisdom, and opportunity to evince it. Let them show it. Let them…
This verse is a pointed challenge, not just asking about Egypt's wise men, but implicitly mocking their supposed abilities. The phrasing "let them tell you now, and let them know" highlights the futility of their knowledge; they couldn't predict, let alone prevent, the judgment that God had already decreed.
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a "burden" against Egypt, detailing the impending judgment and chaos that will befall the nation due to internal strife and divine displeasure. This judgment will dismantle their power, dry up their resources, and leave them vulnerable. The text then directly addresses Pharaoh, questioning the effectiveness of his counselors and the supposed wisdom of Egypt.
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a "burden" against Egypt, detailing the impending judgment and chaos that will befall the nation due to internal strife and divine displeasure. This judgment will dismantle their power, dry up their resources, and leave them vulnerable. The text then directly addresses Pharaoh, questioning the effectiveness of his counselors and the supposed wisdom of Egypt.
"Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt." — This verse is a pointed challenge, not just asking about Egypt's wise men, but implicitly mocking their supposed abilities. The phrasing "let them tell you now, and let them know" highlights the fu…
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Last reviewed October 2026