Isaiah 19 13

Isaiah 19:13 kjv

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 thereof.

Isaiah 19:13 nkjv

The princes of Zoan have become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also deluded Egypt, Those who are the mainstay of its tribes.

Isaiah 19:13 niv

The officials of Zoan have become fools, the leaders of Memphis are deceived; the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray.

Isaiah 19:13 esv

The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have made Egypt stagger.

Isaiah 19:13 nlt

The officials of Zoan are fools,
and the officials of Memphis are deluded.
The leaders of the people
have led Egypt astray.

Isaiah 19 verses

Isaiah 19 13 Meaning

The princes of Zoan (an ancient Egyptian city) and Memphis (another significant Egyptian city) have become foolish. They are misguided counselors who mislead Pharaoh, offering ignorant advice that is destructive to Egypt. Their "wise counsel" has become "foolish counsel," leading the nation astray.

Isaiah 19 13 Context

This verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle against Egypt in Isaiah chapter 19. The chapter describes a series of divine judgments and subsequent restoration for Egypt. The specific focus here is on the corrupt and ineffective leadership within Egypt. Zoan and Memphis were prominent ancient cities in Egypt, symbolizing the nation's centers of power and counsel. The prophecy highlights how internal corruption and misguided leadership would contribute to Egypt's downfall and vulnerability to foreign powers. This section precedes a prophecy of Egypt's eventual turn to the Lord.

Isaiah 19 13 Word Analysis

• וּפְרוּאֵי (u·p̄ərû·’ê): "And the princes" - Hebrew conjunction "ו" (wa), meaning "and." "פְּרוּאֵי" (pəru’îm) is the construct state of "pəru’îm," meaning "princes" or "chiefs." This refers to the ruling elite and counselors.
• צֹעַן (Tzō·’an): "Zoan" - A significant ancient city in the Nile Delta, known for its political and religious importance.
• וּמֶמְפִּיס (u·Mêm·pîs): "and Memphis" - Another major ancient capital of Egypt, located south of Cairo.
• יְהוֹלְלוּ (yə·hō·lê·lû): "make foolish" or "play the fool" - From the root "הוֹלֵל" (hōlêl), meaning to be foolish, to rave, to act madly. The Hiphil causative stem implies causing others to be foolish or to act foolishly.
• יוֹעֲצֵי (yō·’ă·tzer-): "counselors of" - The construct state of "yō‘eṣîm" (counselors) from the root "yā‘aṣ" (to counsel). These are advisors to the ruler.
• פַּרְעֹה (Par‘·ōh): "Pharaoh" - The title for the ruler of Egypt.
• הֲתַפֵּל (ha·ta·pêl): "have made foolish" or "misled" - From the root "תָּפַל" (tāp̄al), often meaning to be dull, stupid, or to play the fool. In the Hiphil stem, it means to make foolish, mislead, or bewilder.
• פֶּ֣תִי (pe·tî): "foolish" or "stupid" - From the root "פָּתַה" (pāṯāh), meaning to be open, naive, or easily persuaded, often in a negative sense of foolishness or being led astray.
• מַטּוּ (mat·tû): "have misled" or "perverted" - From the root "מָטָה" (māṭāh), meaning to turn aside, deviate, or pervert.
• שֵׁבֶט (she·vɛṭ): "tribe" or "staff" - Here, it likely refers to a guiding rod or a representative of authority, metaphorically signifying counsel or guidance. The idea is that the "family" or lineage of Pharaoh, represented by these foolish counselors, has misled him.

Words-group Analysis

• "The princes of Zoan and Memphis have made foolish the counselors of Pharaoh": This phrase highlights the deep-seated corruption within Egypt's leadership. Not only are the top advisors foolish, but even the "princes" (often representing the older, more established counsel or powerful figures) from key cities have actively contributed to this widespread intellectual and moral decay in governance. The text implies a cascading effect of foolishness from the highest echelons downwards.

• "each household of the wise have misled him": The repetition of "misled" ("הֲתַפֵּל," "מַטּוּ") underscores the pervasive nature of this deception. It wasn't a single error, but a systemic failure of wisdom and integrity across the board, affecting the very "families" or "households" (שֵׁבֶט can imply lineage or even a branch of government) that were supposed to offer sound guidance. This indicates a national crisis stemming from a profound lack of discernment and a departure from truth.

Isaiah 19 13 Bonus Section

The verse illustrates the biblical principle that a nation's well-being is intimately tied to the wisdom and integrity of its leaders. The concept of "foolish counsel" implies not just ignorance, but also pride and a disregard for divine principles. The choice of Zoan and Memphis, historically significant centers of Egyptian power, emphasizes that even the most esteemed institutions can fall prey to corruption. This serves as a warning against relying solely on human intellect or worldly wisdom apart from divine guidance, a theme echoed in both Old and New Testaments (e.g., Proverbs 14:8, 1 Corinthians 1:20). The verse indirectly polemicizes against Egyptian gods or wisdom traditions that failed to provide true discernment to their leaders, highlighting the superiority of Yahweh's counsel.

Isaiah 19 13 Commentary

Isaiah 19:13 reveals a stark indictment of Egypt's ruling class. The chief advisors and princes of its most important cities (Zoan and Memphis) are not only foolish but actively corrupt the counsel given to Pharaoh. Their advice is not merely bad; it's a deliberate misleading, perverting wisdom. This depicts a scenario where the very pillars of governance are compromised, leading the nation toward disaster. The Hebrew terms used convey a sense of intellectual and moral decay, where self-deception and flawed reasoning prevail. This situation points to the consequences of rejecting true wisdom, which, according to scripture, originates from God. Ultimately, this national delusion precedes a period of significant judgment, but also a future of repentance and renewed relationship with God.