Do Not Go Down to Egypt

Isaiah 30

1 "Ah, n stubborn children," declares the Lord,
o "who carry out a plan, but not mine,
and who make p an alliance, 1 but not of my Spirit,
that they may add sin to sin;
 2 q who set out to go down to Egypt,
without asking for my direction,
to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh
and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!
 3 r Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,
and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
 4 For though his officials are at s Zoan
and t his envoys reach u Hanes,
 5 everyone comes to shame
through v a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
but shame and disgrace."

6 An w oracle on x the beasts of y the Negeb.
Through a land of trouble and anguish,
from where come the lioness and the lion,
the adder and the z flying fiery serpent,
they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,
and their treasures on the humps of camels,
to a people that cannot profit them.
 7 Egypt's a help is worthless and empty;
therefore I have called her
b "Rahab who sits still."

  1. Cross References
    Isaiah 1:2
    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: "Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.
    Isaiah 1:4
    Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.
  2. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:15
    Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?
  3. Cross References
    Isaiah 25:7
    And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 31:1
    Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!
    Isaiah 36:6
    Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:7
    Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her "Rahab who sits still.
    Isaiah 20:5
    Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:11
    The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wisest counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings"?
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 17:15
    But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 43:7
    And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.
  9. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:7
    Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her "Rahab who sits still.
    Jeremiah 2:36
    How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.
  10. Cross References
    Isaiah 13:1
    The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 51:9
    Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord ; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
    Psalms 68:30
    Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 8:26
    Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 8:15
    Who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 36:6
    Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
  15. Cross References
    Isaiah 51:9
    Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord ; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Next Book Next Book