The wise men and the sorcerers were not present at first, for they had to be summoned, or “called for.” But they were evidently not far away, for they served as special advisors to the Pharaoh. The wise men were probably priests who supervised the practice of “magic.” One may also express this as “the people who had great knowledge about magic,” or even “the people who had secret powers to perform magic.” The sorcerers were their assistants who were trained to use herbs and mix potions in order to cast spells and interpret signs.

In ancient Egypt “magic,” or the practice of secret arts, was a respected profession and became highly specialized. Whether beneficial or harmful, it occurs in most cultures, and there will be terms for it and the people who perform it. Both the wise men and the sorcerers were considered magicians. Although three terms are used, only two groups are identified. The first two terms are specific, the third is generic. In some languages, including English, it is difficult to find equivalent terms, for their meanings overlap. Good News Translation uses only two terms, “wise men and magicians,” but Translator’s Old Testament identifies them as “magicians and sorcerers.” The clause did the same by their secret arts may also be expressed as “they used their secret powers to do the same thing.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .