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;
English Standard Version (ESV)
While we often think of "spirit" as referring to courage or enthusiasm, here it means their inherent wisdom and intellectual prowess, the very thing Egypt was famed for. This isn't just a loss of bravery; it's a divine stripping away of their renowned intellect, leaving them utterly bewildered.
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;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy unfolds following God's declaration that He will bring judgment upon Egypt, causing internal conflict and turmoil. As the Egyptians descend into chaos and their usual wisdom fails, they will desperately turn to occult practices and false deities for guidance. This desperate search for help highlights their complete abandonment of God and reliance on deceptive powers in their time of crisis.
Egypt was renowned for its wisdom and intellectual prowess. But when God intervenes, even the greatest human ingenuity fails.
The verse describes the 'spirit' of Egypt as being 'emptied out.' This 'spirit' isn't just their mood, but their collective intelligence, their famed wisdom, and their capacity for sound counsel.
When human plans crumble, where do people turn? This verse paints a stark picture of Egypt's desperate and misguided search for answers.
The verse details the desperate measures taken when Egypt's own wisdom and counsel fail: they turn to a variety of forbidden spiritual practices.
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Understand the original words
ruach · Hebrew Noun
In a theological sense, this refers to the inner life, disposition, courage, or mental state of a person or group, often subject to God's judgment or divine intervention.
bala' · Hebrew Verb
The act of confusing, frustrating, or rendering ineffective the plans and strategies of human beings, particularly those who act in opposition to God's will.
'ittim · Hebrew Noun
Those who practice forbidden occult arts, attempting to manipulate spiritual forces or seek hidden knowledge apart from the revealed word of God.
'ob · Hebrew Noun
Those who claim to communicate with spirits or seek information from the dead; such practices are strictly prohibited in Scripture as they bypass God and engage with demonic forces.
yidde'oni · Hebrew Noun
One who seeks to inquire of the dead; this practice is condemned as an abomination because it rejects God as the sole source of life and wisdom.
This prophecy against Egypt unfolds against a backdrop of repeated foreign invasions and internal fragmentation. The verse highlights the spiritual and intellectual confusion that grips a nation when its political and military might collapses, leading its people to desperately seek help from hollow idols and occult practices.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Dominance in Egypt
Egypt was fractured into competing petty kingdoms and largely fell under the influence or direct control of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, a period of weakness and instability.
c. 671 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Egypt
Esarhaddon of Assyria invaded and conquered much of Egypt, placing Kushite rulers on the throne as vassals. This marked a period of foreign domination and internal strife.
Mid-7th century BC
Rise of Psamtik I
Psamtik I, a ruler from Sais, gradually expelled the Assyrians and reunified Egypt, ushering in the Saite Dynasty. This period saw a resurgence of Egyptian pride and a return to older traditions.
Late 7th century BC
Egyptian Resurgence and Alliances
Under the Saite Dynasty, Egypt experienced a revival of power and engaged in complex international politics, including alliances with Greek mercenaries and involvement in Mesopotamian affairs.
605 BC— this verse
Battle of Carchemish
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, decisively defeated the Egyptian army at Carchemish. This loss marked the end of Egypt's major foreign policy ambitions and signaled the rise of Babylonian power.
c. 525 BC
Persian Conquest of Egypt
The Achaemenid Persian Empire, led by Cambyses II, conquered Egypt, ending the Saite Dynasty and incorporating Egypt into its vast empire. This was another period of foreign rule.
This verse describes God pouring out the people of Judah and breaking them, similar to how Isaiah describes the 'spirit' of Egypt being 'emptied out' or poured out.
Isaiah 8:19This passage also addresses people who consult mediums and spiritists, a practice condemned by God, paralleling the Egyptians' reliance on these forbidden sources of counsel in Isaiah 19:3.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12This section of the Law explicitly prohibits the practices of sorcery, divination, and consulting the dead, which the Egyptians in Isaiah 19:3 are turning to in their desperation.
Psalm 107:27This psalm describes sailors being tossed by a storm and their 'skill' or 'wisdom' being 'swallowed up,' which echoes the sense of wisdom and counsel being destroyed or consumed as described in Isaiah 19:3.
Exodus 7:22The magicians of Egypt are depicted in Exodus performing supernatural feats through their 'secret arts,' similar to the 'charmers' and 'wizards' mentioned in Isaiah 19:3, highlighting Egypt's long history of relying on occult practices.
cambridgeIsaiah 19:3: "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards."
3 . the spirit of Egypt shall fail ] lit. be poured out , cf. Jeremiah 19:7 . “Spirit” is here used of intellectual power, as “heart” in Isaiah 19:1 denotes courage. I will destroy ] or “swallow up,” “annihilate,” but see on ch. Isaiah 3:12 . In their desperation the Egyp…
clarkeIsaiah 19:3: "And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards."
They shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards - And thei schul asken their symulacres, and their debynouris, and their devyl clepers, and their devyl sacristers. - Old Bible. The import of the original words…
While we often think of "spirit" as referring to courage or enthusiasm, here it means their inherent wisdom and intellectual prowess, the very thing Egypt was famed for. This isn't just a loss of bravery; it's a divine stripping away of their renowned intellect, leaving them utterly bewildered.
This prophecy unfolds following God's declaration that He will bring judgment upon Egypt, causing internal conflict and turmoil. As the Egyptians descend into chaos and their usual wisdom fails, they will desperately turn to occult practices and false deities for guidance. This desperate search for help highlights their complete abandonment of God and reliance on deceptive powers in their time of crisis.
This prophecy unfolds following God's declaration that He will bring judgment upon Egypt, causing internal conflict and turmoil. As the Egyptians descend into chaos and their usual wisdom fails, they will desperately turn to occult practices and false deities for guidance. This desperate search for help highlights their complete abandonment of God and reliance on deceptive powers in their time of crisis.
"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;" — While we often think of "spirit" as referring to courage or enthusiasm, here it means their inherent wisdom and intellectual prowess, the very thing Egypt was famed for. This isn't just a loss of bra…
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Last reviewed October 2026