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

   “And it came to pass in the morning, that his spirit was troubled,....

   “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.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 41:241 voice

   “And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears,.... See Gill on Gen 41:7, and I told this unto the magicians; just in the same manner as he had to Joseph: but there was none that could declare it unto me; the meaning of it; what all this should signify or portend.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 41:24→

   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

   “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers,....

   “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.

   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.

   “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much,....

   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.”

   ›Commentary on Daniel 4:182 voices

   “This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen - This is the dream which I saw. He had detailed it at length as it appeared to him, without pretending to be able to explain it. Forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom ... - Dan 4:7. But thou art able ... - See the notes at Dan 4:9.

   “This dream I King Nebuchadnezzar have seen,....

   Everything gathered on Daniel 4:18→

   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 5:82 voices

   “Then came in all the king's wise men,....

   “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

   “We think the Evangelist first wrote, as we read in the Hebrew, 'Judah,' not 'Judæa.' For in what other country is there a Bethlehem, that this needs to be distinguished as in 'Judæa?' But 'Judah' is written, because there is another Bethlehem in Galilee. They knew that such a star would rise by the prophecy of Balaam, whose successors they were. But whether they were Chaldæans, or Persians, or came from the utmost ends of the earth, how in so short a space of time could they arrive at Jerusalem?

   “Now when Jesus was born,.... Several things are here related respecting the birth of Christ, as the place where he was born, in Bethlehem of Judea; so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zabulon, Jos 19:

   Everything gathered on Matthew 2:1–12→

   Verse page →Original language →