The three clauses in this verse are parallel. It is typical of Isaiah’s style to use synonymous expressions.

The princes of Zoan have become fools is similar to the line that opens this subsection. The Hebrew verb form translated have become fools has a reflexive meaning, it may be rendered “have made fools of themselves.”

And the princes of Memphis are deluded: Memphis was the capital city and the king’s residence throughout most of Egypt’s history, dating back to the fourth millennium B.C. It was located on the west bank of the Nile River, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of the modern city of Cairo. The Hebrew name for Memphis is Noph (so Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, NIV footnote|prj:NIV84.Isa 19.13). The Hebrew verb translated are deluded is also reflexive, so it may be rendered “fool themselves.”

Those who are the cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray: The cornerstones of her tribes is literally “the corners of her staffs/rods.” It may seem a strange expression, but a staff/rod was the symbol of a tribe, like a national or regional flag. It represented a tribe. The sense of tribes here is probably not the same as in “the twelve tribes of Israel.” New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch are helpful with “provinces.” New International Version has “peoples,” and Revised English Bible says “clans.” The pronoun her refers to Egypt. It is typical of Hebrew to use feminine pronouns for cities and nations. The Hebrew word for cornerstones also occurs in 28.16, where it refers to the most important stone in a building. It is used figuratively here for the most important group in a province, that is, its leaders. These leaders have led Egypt astray. Their advice to Pharaoh was worse than useless; it was actually harmful since it led the nation in the wrong direction.

Several translation examples for this verse are:

• The officials in Zoan have made fools of themselves,
the leaders of Memphis have deluded themselves,
those who are the cornerstones of the provinces have led Egypt astray.

• The officials of Zoan are fools,
the nobles of Noph lack good sense,
the chiefs of the clans have led the nation astray.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .