Lexical Summary ivim: Avvites Original Word: עַוְעֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance perverse From avah; perversity -- X perverse. see HEBREW avah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom avah Definition distorting, warping NASB Translation distortion (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עִוְעִים noun plural abstract distorting, warping (for *עַוְעֲוִים); — רוּחַ עִוְעִים Isaiah 19:14 temper of distorting, i.e. warped judgment. Topical Lexicon Definition and Occurrence The word denotes a state of moral and mental distortion that God sovereignly releases as judgment. It is found once, in Isaiah 19:14, where the prophet declares, “The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion; Egypt has made Egypt stagger in all she does, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit” (Berean Standard Bible). Historical Setting in Isaiah 19 Isaiah prophesies against Egypt, the regional superpower that had often enticed Judah to trust in political alliances rather than in the LORD (Isaiah 30:1–5; 31:1). The “spirit of distortion” assures that Egypt’s famed wisdom will fail; military, religious, and civil leaders will misread events, issue conflicting counsel, and guide the nation into self-destructive policies. History records successive internal revolts and external invasions (Assyrian, then later Persian) that fulfilled the oracle. The single occurrence of the term thus stands as a chilling reminder that when a people persist in idolatry, God may pass sentence not by instant annihilation but by removing clear thought and sound judgment. Theological Themes • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment Scripture repeatedly testifies that God can employ spiritual agents to accomplish His purposes of retribution or restraint. Just as “the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets” (1 Kings 22:23) and “will send them a powerful delusion” (2 Thessalonians 2:11), so He may grant or withdraw clarity of mind. • Moral Cause and Effect Perversity is both the cause and the result of rejecting God. Egypt’s distortion mirrors the pattern in Romans 1:28: “God gave them over to a depraved mind.” Sin darkens understanding; judicial darkening intensifies sin. • Contrast with the Spirit of Truth Isaiah later promises that God’s Servant will possess “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding” (Isaiah 11:2). Jesus fulfils that promise and sends “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). The term therefore highlights the antithesis between the Spirit given to believers and the spirit of distortion poured out upon rebels. Canonical Parallels Genesis 11:7 – confusion of language at Babel Deuteronomy 28:28 – “madness, blindness, and confusion of mind” as covenant curse Psalm 107:27 – sailors “reeled and staggered like drunkards” under divine tempest Romans 1:21–22 – futile thinking and darkened hearts 2 Thessalonians 2:11 – delusion on those who refuse the love of the truth Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Discernment: Leaders must heed James 1:5, seeking God’s wisdom lest strategic decisions be warped by hidden sin. Christological and Eschatological Outlook Where Isaiah exposes the futility of Egypt’s wisdom, the New Testament reveals Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). At His return, every false spirit will be silenced, and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” (Habakkuk 2:14). Until that day, believers walk by the Spirit, test the spirits (1 John 4:1), and proclaim the gospel that rescues people from pervasive deception to everlasting truth. Forms and Transliterations עִוְעִ֑ים עועים ‘iw‘îm ‘iw·‘îm ivImLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 19:14 HEB: בְּקִרְבָּ֖הּ ר֣וּחַ עִוְעִ֑ים וְהִתְע֤וּ אֶת־ NAS: her a spirit of distortion; They have led KJV: hath mingled a perverse spirit INT: within her a spirit of distortion have led Egypt 1 Occurrence |
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