What are Egyptian magicians called?

Asked 3 years ago

The Egyptians had magicians who unsuccessfully tried to recreate the 10 plagues sent by God and directed by Moses. Were they really called magicians in their times, or was there another name for them?

Scribes Egyptian magicians Bible

Petal Mashraki

Thursday, December 09, 2021

In the Old Testament, we read about Egyptian magicians (Scribes or Hartummim). Pharoah tells his magicians to replicate Moses' turning a staff into a snake and the ten plagues. They were unsuccessful. Jewish tradition holds that the magicians were Jannes and Jambres. They are only named once in Scripture, in Timothy II 3:8.