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Bible Encyclopedias
Jannes and Jambres
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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1. Egyptian Magicians
These are the names of two magicians in ancient Egypt, who withstood Moses before Pharaoh. This is the only place where the names occur in the New Testament, and they are not mentioned in the Old Testament at all. In Exodus 7:11 , Exodus 7:22 Egyptian magicians are spoken of, who were called upon by Pharaoh to oppose Moses and Aaron: "Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments." Jannes and Jambres were evidently two of the persons referred to in this passage. It should be observed that the word translated here "magicians" occurs also in Genesis 41:8 in connection with Pharaoh's dreams: Pharaoh "sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof." the Revised Version margin reads for "magicians" "or sacred scribes." The Hebrew word is
2. Mentioned by Pliny and Others
Jannes and Jambres, one or both, are also mentioned by Pliny (23-79 ad), by Apuleius (circa 130 ad), both of whom speak of Moses and Jannes as famous magicians of antiquity. The Pythagorean philosopher Numenius (2nd century ad) speaks of Jannes and Jambres as Egyptian
3. Traditions
There are many curious Jewish traditions regarding Jannes and Jambres. These traditions, which are found in the Targum and elsewhere, are full of contradictions and impossibilities and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding this impossibility in the matter of date, they were said to have withstood Moses 40 years previously at the court of Pharaoh, to whom it was also said, they so interpreted a dream of that king, as to foretell the birth of Moses and cause the oppression of the Israelites. They are also said to have become proselytes, and it is added that they left Egypt at the Exodus, among the mixed multitude. They are reported to have instigated Aaron to make the golden calf. The traditions of their death are also given in a varying fashion. They were said to have been drowned in the Red Sea, or to have been put to death after the making of the golden calf, or during the slaughter connected with the name of Phinehas.
4. Origen's Statement
According to Origen ( Comm . on Matthew 27:8 ) there was an apocryphal book - not yet rediscovered - called "The Book of Jannes and Jambres." Origen's statement is that in 2 Timothy 3:8 Paul is quoting from that book.
5. Derivation
In the Targumic literature "Mambres" occurs as a variant reading instead of "Jambres." It is thought that Jambres is derived from an Aramaic root, meaning "to oppose," the participle of which would be Mambres. The meaning of either form is "he who opposes." Jannes is perhaps a corruption of Ioannes or Iohannes (John).
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Jannes and Jambres'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/j/jannes-and-jambres.html. 1915.
