Identity of Jannes and Jambres in Exodus
Jannes and Jambres are traditionally identified as the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses during the Exodus narrative, though their names do not appear in the Old Testament account itself [1, 2, 4]. The New Testament, specifically 2 Timothy 3:8, is the primary biblical source that names these individuals, stating, "Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of corrupt mind, who are disqualified regarding the faith" [3]. This verse draws a parallel between the ancient opponents of Moses and false teachers in Paul's own time [3, 5].
The Old Testament book of Exodus describes a series of confrontations between Moses and Pharaoh's court, where Egyptian sorcerers attempted to replicate the miracles performed by Moses and Aaron. For instance, when Aaron cast down his staff and it became a serpent, Pharaoh's wise men and sorcerers did the same with their secret arts, each casting down his staff, which also became serpents [Exodus 7:11-12]. Similarly, they were able to reproduce the plague of blood [Exodus 7:22] and the plague of frogs [Exodus 8:7]. However, their power had limits; they could not replicate the plague of gnats and were forced to concede, "This is the finger of God" [Exodus 8:18-19] [4]. They also could not stand before Moses during the plague of boils [Exodus 9:11]. While these passages detail the actions of the Egyptian magicians, they do not provide their names [4].
The names Jannes and Jambres are believed to have originated from "the unwritten teaching of the Jews" or Jewish tradition [3, 6]. Eusebius, in his Preparation of the Gospel, quotes Numenius, who refers to Jannes and Jambres as "sacred scribes" [3]. This suggests that the names were well-known within Jewish circles by the time of Paul, allowing him to use them as a recognizable reference point for his audience [3, 6]. Paul's use of these traditional names in 2 Timothy 3:8 indicates that he considered them sufficiently established to serve as an illustration of resistance to divine truth [3].
The nature of the magicians' power is a point of discussion among commentators. Some suggest that "demonic power might have been involved," enabling them to perform their feats [4]. Others propose that "some sleight of hand was being practiced," particularly in the early stages of their opposition [4]. The fact that they eventually acknowledged the "finger of God" when they could not reproduce the gnats plague suggests that their own abilities were not divine in origin and had limitations [4]. Adam Clarke notes that the "contention between Moses and Aaron and the magicians of Egypt has become famous throughout the world," with tradition preserving not only the account but also the names of the key figures involved [6].
The context of 2 Timothy 3:8 is a warning against false teachers who will arise in the "last days." Paul describes these individuals as "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power" [2 Timothy 3:2-5]. He then explicitly connects their resistance to the truth with the historical opposition of Jannes and Jambres to Moses [2 Timothy 3:8]. This comparison serves to underscore the nature and futility of such opposition, as just as Jannes and Jambres' folly was evident to all, so too would be the folly of these false teachers [2 Timothy 3:9].
The mention of Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy highlights the continuity of spiritual conflict throughout history. The resistance faced by Moses from these magicians is presented as a prototype for the resistance to truth that believers would encounter in later generations [3]. The passage in 2 Timothy 3:7 also describes those who are "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth," which John Gill interprets as a consequence of both unqualified teachers and the personal sins and lusts of the learners themselves [5]. The example of Jannes and Jambres thus serves as a historical precedent for understanding the nature of spiritual deception and opposition to God's messengers.
The significance of naming Jannes and Jambres, even if their names are not found in the Exodus account, lies in their role as archetypal figures of opposition to God's work. Their story, preserved through tradition and affirmed by Paul, illustrates that even those who possess significant worldly power or magical abilities are ultimately powerless against the true power of God. Their eventual failure and acknowledgment of divine intervention underscore the supremacy of God's power over any human or demonic imitation [4].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jannes — and Jam'bres, the names of two Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses. Exod 7:9-13; 2Tim 3:8,9. (B.C. 1492.)”
- 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:8: 3:8 Jannes and Jambres are, according to tradition, the names of the Egyptian sorcerers who opposed Moses (see Exod 7:8-13; 8:18; 9:11).”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:8: Now--Greek, "But"; it is no wonder there should be now such opponents to the truth, for their prototypes existed in ancient times [ALFORD]. Jannes . . . Jambres--traditional names of the Egyptian magicians who resisted Moses (Exo 7:11, Exo 7:22), derived from "the unwritten teaching of the Jews" [THEODORET]. In a point so immaterial as the names, where Scripture had not recorded them, Paul takes the names which general opinion had assigned the magicians. EUSEBIUS [Preparation of the Gospel], quotes from NUMENIUS, "Jannes and Jambres were sacred scr”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 7:11: 7:11 these Egyptian magicians did the same thing (see also 7:22; 8:7): While demonic power might have been involved, it is also possible that some sleight of hand was being practiced. When they could not reproduce the plague of gnats, they declared that it was “the finger of God” (8:19), indicating that their own actions were not a manifestation of divine power. While the Egyptian magicians are not identified by name, tradition gives their names as Jannes and Jambres (see 2 Tim 3:8).”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:7: Ever learning,.... Some new notion and practice or another: and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; partly because of the teachers, which they heap up to themselves, who are unapt to teach, are blind and ignorant guides, and know not the truth, but are enemies to it, and resist it; and partly because of themselves, the sins they are laden, and the lusts they are led away with, which hinder them from coming to the knowledge of the truth. Ever learning,.... Some new notion and practice or another: and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; pa”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 7:25: And seven days were fulfilled - So we learn that this plague continued at least a whole week. The contention between Moses and Aaron and the magicians of Egypt has become famous throughout the world. Tradition in various countries has preserved not only the account, but also the names of the chief persons concerned in the opposition made by the Egyptians to these messengers of God. Though their names are not mentioned in the sacred text, yet tradition had preserved them in the Jewish records, from which St. Paul undoubtedly quotes Ti2 3:8, where, speaking of the ene”