Wise Men

How Nave’s arranged it

• Of EgyptGenesis 41:8Genesis 41:24Exodus 7:11
• Solomon1 Kings 4:29–34
• Of BabylonDaniel 4:18Daniel 5:8
• Of the East (the Magi)Matthew 2:1–12
• See Wisdom

The passages, in Bible order (7)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 41:8

   In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 41:82 voices

   “His spirit was troubled - It cannot but put us into a concern to receive any extraordinary message from heaven. And his magicians were puzzled; the rules of their art failed them; these dreams of Pharaoh did not fall within the compass of them. This was to make Joseph's performance by the Spirit of God the more admirable.

   “Called for all the magicians - חרטמים chartummim. The word here used may probably mean no more than interpreters of abstruse and difficult subjects; and especially of the Egyptian hieroglyphics, an art which is now entirely lost. It is most likely that the term is Egyptian, and consequently its etymology must remain unknown to us.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 41:8→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 41:24

   And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.”

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Exodus 7:11

   But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts.

   ›Commentary on Exodus 7:112 voices

   “Three names for the magicians of Egypt are given in this verse. The “wise men” are men who know occult arts. The “sorcerers” are they who “mutter magic formulae,” especially when driving away crocodiles, snakes, asps, etc. It was natural that Pharaoh should have sent for such persons. The “magicians” are the “bearers of sacred words,” scribes and interpreters of hieroglyphic writings.

   “Moses had been originally instructed in the learning of the Egyptians, and was suspected to have improved in magical arts in his long retirement. The magicians are therefore sent for to vie with him.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 7:11→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 1 Kings 4:29–34

   And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 4:29–342 voices

   “[Greek philosophers] took these ideas from Solomon, since it was long before them in age and time that he first gave these teachings through the Spirit of God. The Greeks have brought them forth as their own discoveries, and they have also included them in their books of instructions and left them to be handed down to their successors.

   “Largeness of heart - What we call “great capacity.” The expression which follows is common in reference to numerical multitude 1Ki 4:20, but its use here to express mere amplitude or greatness is unique.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 4:29–34→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Daniel 4:18

   This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Daniel 5:8

   So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.

   ›Commentary on Daniel 5:81 voice

   “Then came in all the king’s wise men - The classes above referred to, Dan 5:7. But they could not read the writing - The character was an unknown character to them. It may have been a character which was not found in any language, and which made the power of Daniel to read it the more remarkable, or it may have been, as suggested in the notes at Dan 5:7, a foreign character with which they had no acquaintance, though familiar to Daniel.

   Everything gathered on Daniel 5:8→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Matthew 2:1–12

   After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

   ›Commentary on Matthew 2:1–122 voices

   “It is not known who these wise men were. Their names and dwelling-place are alike kept back from us. We are only told that they came “from the east.” Whether they were Chaldeans or Arabians we cannot say. Whether they learned to expect Christ from the ten tribes who went into captivity, or from the prophecies of Daniel, we do not know. It matters little who they were. The point which concerns us most is the rich instruction which their history conveys.

   “That truth that is tradition has wisely remembered them almost as unknown quantities, as mysterious as their mysterious and melodious names: Melchior, Caspar, Balthazar.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 2:1–12→

   Verse page →Original language →