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Isaiah 19:12
ESV Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
NIV Where are your wise men now? Let them show you and make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt.
NASB Well then, where are your wise men? Please let them tell you, And let them understand what the Lord of armies Has planned against Egypt.
CSB Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you and reveal what the Lord of Armies has planned against Egypt.
NLT Where are your wise counselors, Pharaoh? Let them tell you what God plans, what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is going to do to Egypt.
KJV 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.

What does Isaiah 19:12 mean?

The prophecy from the Lord against Egypt (Isaiah 19:1) now openly mocks their supposedly impressive human intelligence (Isaiah 19:11). Egypt was famous for its literature, architecture, agriculture, and wise men, but Isaiah is calling their bluff. His oracle puts a challenge to Egypt's king, the Pharaoh: Ask your counselors to tell you what the Lord has planned to do to Egypt.

The intended response is that even the most learned of Egypt's scholars cannot give Pharaoh one clue about God's plans for Egypt. For the people of Israel, this sarcastic question would call to mind stories of Moses. His confrontations with the Pharaoh of Egypt and his wise men of that time were part of Israel's exodus from slavery (Exodus 7:10–13). Then, as now, the Lord showed His power was far superior to that of the occultists and well-educated Egyptians. They could perform tricks, but they could not match the power and plagues the Lord God of Israel (Exodus 8:17–19; 9:11).
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