Original Word: חַרְטֹם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chartom
Pronunciation: khar-TOME
Phonetic Spelling: (khar-tome')
KJV: magician
NASB: magicians
Word Origin: [from the same as H2747 (חֶרֶט - graving tool)]

1. a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles)

magician

From the same as cheret; a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles) -- magician.

see HEBREW cheret

Word Origin
from the same as cheret
Definition
an engraver, writer
NASB Translation
magicians (11).

[חַרְטֹם] noun masculine^{Exodus 7:22} engraver, writer, only in derived sense of one possessed of occult knowledge, diviner, astrologer, magician (probably = ם + חֶרֶט, see Di Ol^{§ 216, 5} Sta^{§§ 295, 327 a}) **the fact that the word is always applied to Egyptian magicians, except Daniel 2:2 (late), suggests Egyptian origin, but no agreement among Egyptologists: Harkavy^{Jas., 1870, Mars-Avril, 169} proposes χαρ, speak + tum, hidden = teller of hidden things; Wied^{Samml 44} thinks Hebrew word perhaps imitating an Egyptian cher-‰em-t, he who holds the book; FC Cook^{'Speaker's' Comm. i. 279} proposes cher-tum = bearer of sacred words. — only plural absolute חַרְטֻמִּים Genesis 41:24 4t.; חַרְטֻמִּם Exodus 8:15; Exodus 9:11; construct חַרְטֻמֵּי Genesis 41:8 2t.; —

1 magicians of Egypt Genesis 41:8 (E; "" חֲכָמִים), Genesis 41:24 (E), Exodus 8:3; Exodus 8:14; Exodus 8:15; Exodus 7:11 ("" חֲכָמִים, מְכַשְּׁפִים), Exodus 7:22; Exodus 9:11 (twice in verse) (all P).

2 magicians of Babylon Daniel 2:2 ("" אַשָּׁפִים, מְכַשְּׁפִים, כַּשְׂדִּים).

II. חרט (√ of following; relation to I. חרט obscure).

חַרְטֹם noun masculine magician (Biblical Hebrew id quod, √ I. חרט); — absolute Daniel 2:10; plural absolute חַרְטֻמִּין Daniel 2:27; Daniel 5:11; מַּיָא- Daniel 4:4,6.

Root and Ancient Near Eastern Context

חַרְטֹם (charṭom) identifies a class of ritual experts prominent in Egyptian and later Babylonian culture: court magicians, scribal-astrologers, and practitioners of occult arts. Archaeology and ancient texts portray them as scholars of sacred writings, divination, and medical-spiritual incantations. Their status was prestigious, yet entirely dependent on the favor of the king they served.

Biblical Usage

Scripture references this term eleven times, always in royal courts and always in tension with the revelation of God. Whether under Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar, the חַרְטֻמִּים stand as human counterfeits to divine wisdom. Their impotence before God’s servants exposes the limitations of occult power and the supremacy of Yahweh’s word.

Role in the Joseph Narrative (Genesis 41)

When Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams shatter royal serenity, “he sent for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. But no one could interpret them for Pharaoh” (Genesis 41:8). Joseph, a Hebrew prisoner, succeeds where the court elite fail, declaring, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Genesis 41:16). The encounter testifies that insight into the future belongs to God alone (compare Genesis 41:24). Pharaoh’s subsequent exaltation of Joseph prefigures the gospel theme that God “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Role in the Plagues of Egypt (Exodus 7–9)

1. Counterfeit Signs (Exodus 7:11, 7:22; 8:7). The magicians duplicate Aaron’s staff-to-serpent sign, the Nile’s transformation to blood, and the plague of frogs. The text underscores Satan’s capacity to mimic, yet never originate, miraculous works.
2. Point of Defeat (Exodus 8:18–19). At the plague of gnats the magicians “tried with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not” (8:18). Their confession—“This is the finger of God” (8:19)—marks a decisive surrender.
3. Public Humiliation (Exodus 9:11). When boils afflict Egypt, “the magicians could not stand before Moses” (9:11); the very agents who once stood proudly beside Pharaoh now writhe in judgment. Their physical inability to “stand” illustrates spiritual incapacity before the holiness of God (cf. Psalm 1:5).

Appearance in the Exile Narrative (Daniel 1:20; 2:2)

Nebuchadnezzar gathers “the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans” (Daniel 2:2) to disclose and interpret his dream, but they require the dream’s contents first—an admission of their limitations. Daniel and his friends, endued with “knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and wisdom” (Daniel 1:17), surpass the magicians “ten times” (1:20) because “the God of heaven” reveals mysteries. The scene universalizes the Exodus principle: in any empire or era, occult wisdom collapses before divine revelation.

Theological Reflection

1. Revelation versus Manipulation. The חַרְטֹם seeks to manipulate spiritual power; the prophet receives divine disclosure.
2. God’s Sovereign Supremacy. Each narrative ends with pagan rulers acknowledging the superiority of Yahweh.
3. Anticipation of the Gospel. Joseph and Daniel prefigure Christ, in whom “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The futility of the magicians foreshadows the defeat of demonic powers at the cross (Colossians 2:15).

Practical Ministry Implications

• Discernment: Spiritual leaders must distinguish between true prophetic revelation and occult counterfeit.
• Evangelism: The impotence of the חַרְטֹם encourages confidence in proclaiming a gospel that stands unrivaled.
• Spiritual Warfare: Believers confront real but limited demonic powers; victory lies in submission to God’s authority (James 4:7).
• Discipleship: Like Joseph and Daniel, cultivate faithfulness in obscure places; God may elevate humble servants to confront cultural powers with truth.

Summary

חַרְטֹם embodies human reliance on occult wisdom that invariably fails before the living God. From Genesis to Daniel the biblical testimony is consistent: divine revelation triumphs, establishing God’s glory and advancing His redemptive purposes.

בַּֽחֲרְטֻמִּ֖ם בחרטמם הַֽחֲרְטֻמִּ֖ים הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֔ים הַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֗ים הַֽחַרְטֻמִּים֙ הַחַרְטֻמִּ֧ים החרטמים חַרְטֻמֵּ֥י חרטמי לַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֜ים לחרטמים ba·ḥăr·ṭum·mim bachartumMim baḥărṭummim chartumMei ha·ḥar·ṭum·mîm ha·ḥăr·ṭum·mîm hachartumMim haḥarṭummîm haḥărṭummîm ḥar·ṭum·mê ḥarṭummê la·ḥar·ṭum·mîm lachartumMim laḥarṭummîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts