Isaiah 30:7

Isaiah 30:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her "Rahab who sits still."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Egypt’s promises are worthless! Therefore, I call her Rahab— the Harmless Dragon.

Context of Isaiah 30:7

5everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.” 6A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation, to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing. 8Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. 9For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.

Isaiah 30:7 word by word

וּמִצְרַ֕יִם הֶ֥בֶל וָרִ֖יק יַעְזֹ֑רוּ לָכֵן֙ קָרָ֣אתִי לָזֹ֔את רַ֥הַב הֵ֖ם שָֽׁבֶת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• shall helpעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826
• in vainהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• and to no purposeרִיקrîyq · vainH7385
• therefore have I criedקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• concerning thisזֹאתzô'th · thisH2063
• Theirהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
• strengthרַ֫הַבrahab · RahabH7293
• to sit stillשֶׁ֫בֶתshebeth · cessationH7674

Cross-references for Isaiah 30:7

• Isaiah 31:1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord.
• Jeremiah 37:7“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me, ‘Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt.
• Isaiah 30:15This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
• Isaiah 2:22Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?
• Isaiah 7:4Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.
• Isaiah 28:12to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen.
• Exodus 14:13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
• Psalms 76:8From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—
• Psalms 118:8It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
• Lamentations 3:26it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
• Hosea 5:13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.

Commentaries on Isaiah 30:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Their strength is to sit still "Rahab the Inactive" - The two last words, שבת הם hem shabeth, joined into one, make the participle pihel המשבת hammeshabbeth . I find the learned Professor Doederlein, in his version of Isaiah, and note on this place, has given the same conjecture; which he speaks of as having been formerly published by him. A concurrence of different persons in the same conjecture adds to it a greater degree of probability.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7For the Egyptians shall help in vain - That is, if they enter into the alliance, they shall not be able to defend you from the invader. The other member of the sentence would seem to imply that they would make promises of aid, and would even boast of being able to deliver them, but that they would fail in their promises. Therefore have I cried - Therefore have I the prophet cried, that is, I do call her so. Concerning this - Concerning this country; that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Rahab Who Sits Still: In ancient mythology, Rahab was an enemy of the good gods and appeared as a fearsome creature, similar to a giant crocodile (see Isaiah 27:1; 51:9; Job 41:1–34). By calling Egypt futile, the prophet meant it would not help Judah.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. "Egypt is vanity, and to no purpose will they help" [G. V. Smith]. strength--Hebrew, Rabah, a designation for Egypt (Is 51:9; Psa 87:4), implying her haughty fierceness; translate, "Therefore I call her Arrogance that sitteth still." She who boasted of the help she would give, when it came to the test, sat still (Is 36:6). English Version agrees with Is 30:15; Is 7:4.Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 30:7

• Confidence
• Isaiah
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Rahab

In the dictionaries

• Dispersion
• Ensign
• Hezekiah
• Note
• Ordain
• Stay
• Dragon
• Evil
• Isaiah
• Rahab

Commentaries on Isaiah 30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings