The Meaning of Isaiah 30:7 Explained

Isaiah 30:7

KJV: For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

YLT: Yea, Egyptians are vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: 'Their strength is to sit still.'

Darby: For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I named her, Arrogance, that doeth nothing.

ASV: For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still.

Discover Isaiah 30:7

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 30:7?

MEANING: What does Isaiah 30:7 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:7 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 30:7?

What is the context of Isaiah 30:7?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still.

What does Isaiah 30:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Egypt, of all nations, would not be a help to God"s people. She would live up to the nickname that the Lord had given her (cf. Psalm 87:4). "Rahab" means pride, turbulence, arrogance, boastfulness. There is no intended connection with Rahab the harlot ( Joshua 2). In popular Ugaritic legend, Rahab was a sea monster, or a dragon. Her promises of help would be worth nothing. Rahab was a "do nothing" ally.

Context Summary

Isaiah 30:1-17 - Fatal Reliance On Human Aid

Toward the close of the 8th century, b.c. Jerusalem sent ambassadors to seek help from Egypt against Assyria, in distinct defiance of God's repeated warnings. Isaiah denounced this as adding sin to sin. Even though their princes reached Zoan and Hanes, capital cities, and succeeded in their object, it would not help them. The beasts of burden might traverse the deserts with presents and bribes, but all would be in vain. These truths, however, were unpalatable, and the politicians endeavored to silence the prophet, Isaiah 30:9-11. All sin recoils on the sinner. At first his efforts seem to protect him, but soon the wall begins to bulge, then it totters, finally it falls. The true policy, urged by Isaiah in Isaiah 30:15, would be to renounce these efforts for Egyptian help and return to rest in the loving care of God. In returning and rest they would be saved! Oh, that we were more quiet and calm in the face of danger, hushing our fears, stilling our throbbing hearts, and leaning back on the everlasting arms! God cannot fail you, ye fearful saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 30

¹ The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt
⁸ And contempt of God's word
¹⁸ God's mercies toward his church
²⁷ God's wrath and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:7 mean?

For Egypt in vain and to no purpose Shall help therefore I have called this [one] Rahab- Hem- Shebeth

וּמִצְרַ֕יִם הֶ֥בֶל וָרִ֖יק יַעְזֹ֑רוּ לָכֵן֙ קָרָ֣אתִי לָזֹ֔את רַ֥הַב הֵ֖ם שָֽׁבֶת

וּמִצְרַ֕יִם	For Egypt
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: מִצְרַיִם Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
הֶ֥בֶל	in vain
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: הֶבֶל Sense: vapour, breath.
וָרִ֖יק	and to no purpose
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular Root: רִיק Sense: emptiness, vanity, empty, idle, vain.
יַעְזֹ֑רוּ	Shall help
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: עָזַר Sense: to help, succour, support.
קָרָ֣אתִי	I have called
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular Root: קָרָא Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לָזֹ֔את	this [one]
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, feminine singular Root: זׄאת Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
רַ֥הַב	Rahab-
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: רַהַב Sense: pride, blusterer.
הֵ֖ם	Hem-
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: הֵם Sense: they, these, the same, who.
שָֽׁבֶת	Shebeth
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: שֶׁבֶת Sense: cessation, a sitting still.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 30:7?

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Similar Scriptures for Isaiah 30:7

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