Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

King James Version

Isaiah 19:14

The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Drunkenness;   War;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Egypt;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Drunkenness;   Tirhakah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Medicine;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Demon, Demoniacal Possession, Demoniacs;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Egypt;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Drunkenness;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of confusion.The leaders have made Egypt stagger in all she does,as a drunkard staggers in his vomit.
Hebrew Names Version
The LORD has mixed a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Mitzrayim to go astray in every work of it, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
English Standard Version
The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
New American Standard Bible
The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, As a drunken person staggers in his vomit.
New Century Version
The Lord has made the leaders confused. They have led Egypt to wander in the wrong ways, like drunk people stumbling in their own vomit.
Amplified Bible
The LORD has mixed a spirit of distortion within her; Her leaders have caused Egypt to stagger in all that she does, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
World English Bible
Yahweh has mixed a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work of it, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The Lorde hath mingled among them the spirite of errours: and they haue caused Egypt to erre in euery worke thereof, as a drunken man erreth in his vomite.
Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh has mixed within her a spirit of distortion;They have led Egypt astray in all that it does,As a drunken man strays into his vomit.
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord has confused Egypt; its leaders have made it stagger and vomit like a drunkard.
Complete Jewish Bible
Adonai has mixed up their minds with a spirit that distorts judgment, so they make Egypt stagger in whatever she does, like a drunk staggering in his vomit.
Darby Translation
Jehovah hath mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst thereof; and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunkard staggereth in his vomit.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord confused them, so they wander around and lead Egypt the wrong way. Everything they do is wrong. They are like drunks rolling in their vomit.
George Lamsa Translation
The LORD has mingled a spirit of deceit within her; and it has caused the Egyptian to err in all his works, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
Good News Translation
The Lord has made them give confusing advice. As a result, Egypt does everything wrong and staggers like a drunk slipping on his own vomit.
Lexham English Bible
Yahweh has mixed a spirit of confusion into her midst, and they have caused Egypt to stagger in all of its doings, as when a drunkard staggers in his vomit.
Literal Translation
Jehovah has mixed a perverse spirit in her midst; and they led astray Egypt in all his work; as a drunkard strays in his vomit.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the LORDE hath made Egypte droncke with the sprete of erroure, and they shal vse it in all matters: eue like as a dronke ma goeth spewinge aboute.
American Standard Version
Jehovah hath mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Bible in Basic English
The Lord has sent among them a spirit of error: and by them Egypt is turned out of the right way in all her doings, as a man overcome by wine is uncertain in his steps.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The LORD hath mingled within her a spirit of dizziness; and they have caused Egypt to stagger in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
King James Version (1611)
The Lord hath mingled a peruerse spirit in the midst thereof: and they haue caused Egypt to erre in euery worke thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In the middest of it hath the Lorde powred the spirite of wickednesse: and they haue deceaued Egypt in euery worke therof, euen as a drunken man staggereth in his vomite.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For the Lord has prepared for them a spirit of error, and they have caused Egypt to err in all their works, as one staggers who is drunken and vomits also.
English Revised Version
The LORD hath mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her: and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord meddlid a spirit of errour in the myddis therof; and thei maden Egipt for to erre in al his werk, as a drunkun man and spuynge errith.
Update Bible Version
Yahweh has mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work thereof, as a drunk man staggers in his vomit.
Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst of it: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work of it, as a drunken [man] staggereth in his vomit.
New English Translation
The Lord has made them undiscerning; they lead Egypt astray in all she does, so that she is like a drunk sliding around in his own vomit.
New King James Version
The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
New Living Translation
The Lord has sent a spirit of foolishness on them, so all their suggestions are wrong. They cause Egypt to stagger like a drunk in his vomit.
New Life Bible
The Lord has mixed a troubled spirit within her. They have led Egypt the wrong way in all that it does, as a drunk man walks from side to side in what he has spit up.
New Revised Standard
The Lord has poured into them a spirit of confusion; and they have made Egypt stagger in all its doings as a drunkard staggers around in vomit.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Yahweh, hath infused in her midst, a spirit of perverseness, - And they have led Egypt astray into all his own doings, As a drunken man staggereth into his own vomit;
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord hath mingled in the midst thereof the spirit of giddiness: and they have caused Egypt to err in all its works, as a drunken man staggereth and vomiteth.
Revised Standard Version
The LORD has mingled within her a spirit of confusion; and they have made Egypt stagger in all her doings as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah hath mingled in her midst A spirit of perverseness, And they have caused Egypt to err in all its work, As a drunkard erreth in his vomit.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.

Contextual Overview

1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. 2 And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. 3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. 4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts. 5 And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. 6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. 7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. 8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish. 9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. 10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

hath mingled: Isaiah 19:2, Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 29:14, Isaiah 47:10, Isaiah 47:11, 1 Kings 22:20-23, Job 12:16, Ezekiel 14:7-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

perverse spirit: Heb. spirit of perverseness

as a: Isaiah 28:7, Isaiah 28:8, Isaiah 29:9, Job 12:25, Jeremiah 25:15, Jeremiah 25:16, Jeremiah 25:27, Jeremiah 48:26

Reciprocal: Judges 9:23 - God 2 Chronicles 10:15 - the cause 2 Chronicles 18:22 - the lord hath Job 17:4 - General Psalms 99:1 - be moved Psalms 107:27 - stagger Isaiah 24:20 - reel Isaiah 30:28 - to sift Isaiah 40:23 - General Obadiah 1:8 - even

Cross-References

Genesis 19:4
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Genesis 19:8
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
Genesis 19:12
And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Genesis 19:17
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Genesis 19:22
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Genesis 19:28
And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.
Genesis 19:30
And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
Exodus 9:21
And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.
Exodus 12:31
And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord , as ye have said.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof,.... A spirit of error, as the Targum, Septuagint, and Arabic versions; or of giddiness, as the Vulgate Latin: this he mingled in a cup for them, and poured it out, and gave them it to drink; and an intoxicating cup it was, such as men are made drunk with; to which the allusion is, as the last clause of the verse shows; so that the infatuation and want of wisdom in their counsels were from the Lord; who, because of the vain boasts of their wisdom in righteous judgment, gave them up to judicial blindness, stupidity, and folly:

and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof; both in religious and civil affairs, leading them into superstition and idolatry, to which they were of old inclined and addicted, and forming such schemes and projects, and putting them upon such works, as were very detrimental to the nation. Some think this refers to the twelve tyrants, who disagreeing among themselves, being actuated by a perverse spirit, greatly distracted the people; though rather it may refer to the times of Necho, and to his project in cutting a canal for the bringing of the Nile to the Red sea before mentioned, in which he lost several thousands of men without accomplishing it; and of his predecessor, in besieging Ashdod twenty nine years ere he took it w:

as a drunken [man] staggereth in his vomit; who is so very drunk, that his head is quite giddy, and cannot walk upright, but staggers as he goes, and vomits as he staggers, and falls down, and is rolled in it, as the Targum; just like such a man were the princes and governors of the Egyptian provinces.

w Herodot. l. 2. c. 157, 158.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The Lord hath mingled - The word מסך mâsak, “to mingle,” is used commonly to denote the act of mixing spices with wine to make it more intoxicating Proverbs 9:2, Proverbs 9:5; Isaiah 5:22. Here it means that Yahweh has poured out into the midst of them a spirit of giddiness; that is, has produced consternation among them. National commotions and calamities are often thus traced to the overruling providence of God (see the note at Isaiah 19:2; compare Isaiah 10:5-6).

A perverse spirit - Hebrew, ‘A spirit of perverseness.’ The word rendered ‘perverse’ is derived from עוה ‛âvâh, “to be crooked or perverted.” Here it means, that their counsels were unwise, land such as tended to error and ruin.

To err as a drunken man ... - This is a very striking figure. The whole nation was reeling to and fro, and unsettled in their counsels, as a man is who is so intoxicated as to reel and to vomit. Nothing could more strikingly express, first, the “fact” of their perverted counsels and plans, and secondly, God’s deep abhorrence of the course which they were pursuing.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 19:14. In the midst thereof — בקרבם bekirbam; so the Septuagint, and perhaps more correctly." - Secker. So likewise the Chaldee.


 
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