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Isaiah 19:3

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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.

And the spirit {H7307} of Egypt {H4714} shall fail {H1238} in the midst {H7130} thereof; and I will destroy {H1104} the counsel {H6098} thereof: and they shall seek {H1875} to the idols {H457}, and to the charmers {H328}, and to them that have familiar spirits {H178}, and to the wizards {H3049}.

The courage of Egypt will ebb away within it, I will reduce its counsel to confusion. They will consult idols and mediums, ghosts and spirits.

Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.

And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of it; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek unto the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Commentary

Isaiah 19:3 is part of a prophetic oracle delivered by the prophet Isaiah concerning Egypt, detailing God's judgment upon this powerful ancient nation. This verse specifically describes the internal turmoil and spiritual desperation that would afflict Egypt as a direct consequence of divine intervention, leading its people away from sound counsel and towards forbidden practices.

Context

Chapter 19 of Isaiah is a significant prophecy against Egypt, depicting a time when the Lord would "ride upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt" (Isaiah 19:1). The prophecy outlines a period of civil strife, economic collapse, and spiritual confusion. Historically, Egypt was a dominant regional power, and Israel often faced the temptation to rely on Egypt for military alliances rather than trusting in God. This prophecy serves as a warning against such reliance and demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations, even those as mighty as Egypt.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse powerfully illustrates God's active role in bringing about the collapse of a nation's strength and wisdom. The phrase "I will destroy the counsel thereof" highlights that no human plan or political strategy can withstand God's ultimate will. This underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms.
  • Futility of Idolatry and Occultism: A central message of the verse is the desperate and futile turn to false gods and forbidden spiritual practices when human wisdom fails. The Egyptians, in their distress, would seek answers from "idols," "charmers," "familiar spirits," and "wizards." This reflects a common human tendency to seek solutions outside of God when facing overwhelming challenges, often leading to deeper spiritual bondage.
  • Spiritual Decline and Desperation: The "spirit of Egypt shall fail" indicates a profound loss of morale, courage, and national identity. This spiritual vacuum leads to reliance on deceptive and demonic sources, which the Law of Moses strictly forbade for Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses distinct terms for the forbidden practices:

  • Charmers: From the Hebrew lahaš (לַחַשׁ), referring to whispering, incantations, or magical spells.
  • Familiar spirits: From the Hebrew 'ob (אֹב), which denotes a necromancer or a medium who claims to consult with the dead. This practice was considered an abomination to the Lord.
  • Wizards: From the Hebrew yidde'onim (יִדְּעֹנִים), meaning those who claim to possess secret knowledge or divination.
These terms collectively describe various forms of occultism and divination, all condemned in Scripture as attempts to gain knowledge or power apart from God, often through demonic influence.

Practical Application

Isaiah 19:3 carries timeless lessons for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder:

  • Trust in God Alone: When faced with personal or national crises, the temptation to seek unconventional or forbidden solutions can be strong. This verse warns against relying on human ingenuity, political maneuvering, or spiritual practices outside of God's revealed will. Our ultimate trust must be in the Lord alone.
  • Beware of False Spiritualities: In times of uncertainty, people may turn to various forms of modern "idols" (money, power, fame) or contemporary occult practices (astrology, New Age spirituality, certain forms of divination). The Bible consistently teaches that these lead to spiritual emptiness and deception, just as they did for ancient Egypt.
  • God's Judgment on Rebellion: The passage underscores that God is sovereign over all nations and will bring judgment upon those who reject Him and embrace spiritual darkness. This serves as a call for spiritual discernment and a commitment to worship and serve the one true God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 8:19 (7 votes)

    And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

  • Daniel 2:2 (5 votes)

    Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

  • 1 Chronicles 10:13 (4 votes)

    So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit, to enquire [of it];

  • Proverbs 21:30 (3 votes)

    ¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

  • Isaiah 44:25 (3 votes)

    That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

  • Isaiah 14:27 (2 votes)

    For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

  • Ezekiel 22:14 (2 votes)

    Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken [it], and will do [it].