Isa 19:3 | JFB | STEP | 3. spirit — wisdom, for which Egypt was famed ( ); answering to "counsel" in the parallel clause. fail —literally, "be poured out," that is, be made void ( ). They shall "seek" help from sources that can afford none, "charmers," &c. ( ). charmers —literally, "those making a faint sound"; the soothsayers imitated the faint sound which was attributed to the spirits of the dead (see on ).

Isaiah 19:3

3. spirit—wisdom, for which Egypt was famed (Isa 31:2; 1Ki 4:30; Ac 7:22); answering to "counsel" in the parallel clause.

fail—literally, "be poured out," that is, be made void (Jer 19:7). They shall "seek" help from sources that can afford none, "charmers," &c. (Isa 8:19).

charmers—literally, "those making a faint sound"; the soothsayers imitated the faint sound which was attributed to the spirits of the dead (see on Isa 8:19).