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.
• New International Version (NIV)to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.
• 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.

Context of Isaiah 30:7

5they will all be ashamed of a people who cannot profit them. They are neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.” 6The burden concerning the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of trouble and anguish, in which are lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent, they are carrying their riches on the backs of young donkeys, their treasures on camel humps, to a people who cannot profit them. Egypt’s help is futile and pointless. Therefore I have called her “Rahab who just sits.” 8Now go, write it on a tablet for them and inscribe it in a scroll, so that it may be as a witness for the last day, forever. 9For this is a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to obey the Torah of Adonai.

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 31:1Oy , those going down to Egypt for help. They are relying on horses, trusting in chariots since they are many, and in horsemen since they are very mighty, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel nor seek Adonai!
• Jeremiah 37:7Thus says Adonai, the God of Israel, thus will you say to the king of Judah, who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Now, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, will return to Egypt into their own land.
• Isaiah 30:15For thus says Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Israel: “By repentance and rest you are saved, in quietness and trust is your strength— but you were not willing.”
• Isaiah 2:22Stop trusting in mankind —whose breath is in his nose— for what is he really worth?
• Isaiah 7:4and say to him, ‘Keep calm and be quiet. Do not fear nor be faint-hearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, nor of the son of Remaliah,
• Isaiah 28:12To whom He said, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary, here is repose”— but they would not listen.
• Exodus 14:13But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see the salvation of Adonai, which He will perform for you today. You have seen the Egyptians today, but you will never see them again, ever!
• Psalms 76:8You are awesome, yes You are! Who can stand in Your presence once You are angry?
• Psalms 118:8It is better to take refuge in Adonai than to trust in man.
• Lamentations 3:26It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of Adonai.
• Hosea 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent envoys to a warring king. But he cannot heal you nor will he cure your wound.

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