Logos Bible Study

Isaiah 30:3–7

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30:3But Pharaoh’s protection will bring you nothing but shame,

and the safety of Egypt’s protective shade nothing but humiliation.

30:4Though his8 officials are in Zoan

and his messengers arrive at Hanes,9

30:5all will be put to shame10

because of a nation that cannot help them,

who cannot give them aid or help,

but only shame and disgrace.”

30:6This is a message11 about the animals in the Negev:

Through a land of distress and danger,

inhabited by lionesses and roaring lions,12

by snakes and darting adders,13

they transport14 their wealth on the backs of donkeys,

their riches on the humps of camels,

to a nation that cannot help them.15

30:7Egypt is totally incapable of helping.16

For this reason I call her

‘Proud one17 who is silenced.’ ”18

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Footnotes

  1. 8 This probably refers to Judah’s officials and messengers.
  2. 9 Zoan was located in the Egyptian delta in the north; Hanes was located somewhere in southern region of lower Egypt, south of Memphis; the exact location is debated.
  3. 10 The present translation follows the marginal (Qere) reading of the Hebrew text; the consonantal text (Kethib) has “made to stink, decay.”
  4. 11 Traditionally, “burden” (so , ); , , , “oracle.”
  5. 12 Heb “[a land of] a lioness and a lion, from them.” Some emend מֵהֶם (mehem, “from them”) to מֵהֵם (mehem), an otherwise unattested Hiphil participle from הָמַם (hamam, “move noisily”). Perhaps it would be better to take the initial mem (ם) as enclitic and emend the form to הֹמֶה (homeh), a Qal active participle from הָמָה (hamah, “to make a noise”); cf. J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (), 1:, n. 9.
  6. 13 Heb “flying fiery one.” See the note at .
  7. 14 Or “carry” (, , , , ).
  8. 15 This verse describes messengers from Judah transporting wealth to Egypt in order to buy Pharaoh’s protection through a treaty.
  9. 16 Heb “As for Egypt, with vanity and emptiness they help.”
  10. 17 Heb “Rahab” (רַהַב, rahav), which also appears as a name for Egypt in Ps 87:4. The epithet is also used in the OT for a mythical sea monster symbolic of chaos. See the note at . A number of English versions use the name “Rahab” (e.g., , , , , ) while others attempt some sort of translation (cf. “a helpless monster”; , “the Harmless Dragon”).
  11. 18 The reads “Rahab, they, sitting.” The translation above assumes an emendation of הֵם שָׁבֶת (hem shavet) to הַמָּשְׁבָּת (hammashbat), a Hophal participle with prefixed definite article, meaning “the one who is made to cease,” i.e., “destroyed,” or “silenced.” See ישׁב.

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame,

and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.

For though his officials are at Zoan

and his envoys reach Hanes,

everyone comes to shame

through a people that cannot profit them,

that brings neither help nor profit,

but shame and disgrace.”

An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb.

Through a land of trouble and anguish,

from where come the lioness and the lion,

the adder and the 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.

Egypt’s help is worthless and empty;

therefore I have called her

“Rahab who sits still.”

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame,

Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.

Though they have officials in Zoan

and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,

everyone will be put to shame

because of a people useless to them,

who bring neither help nor advantage,

but only shame and disgrace.”

A 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.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame,

and refuge in Egypt’s shadow your humiliation.

For though his princes are at Zoan

and his messengers reach as far as Hanes,

everyone will be ashamed

because of a people who can’t help.

They are of no benefit, they are no help;

they are good for nothing but shame and disgrace.

A pronouncement concerning the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and lion,

of viper and flying serpent,

they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people who will not help them.

Egypt’s help is completely worthless;

therefore, I call her:

Rahab Who Just Sits.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,

and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.

For though his power extends to Zoan

and his officials have arrived in Hanes,

all who trust in him will be ashamed.

He will not help you.

Instead, he will disgrace you.”

This message came to me concerning the animals in the Negev:

The caravan moves slowly

across the terrible desert to Egypt—

donkeys weighed down with riches

and camels loaded with treasure—

all to pay for Egypt’s protection.

They travel through the wilderness,

a place of lionesses and lions,

a place where vipers and poisonous snakes live.

All this, and Egypt will give you nothing in return.

Egypt’s promises are worthless!

Therefore, I call her Rahab—

the Harmless Dragon.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And the protection of Pharaoh shall be shame to you,

and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, humiliation.

For his officials are at Zoan,

and his envoys reach to Hanes.

Everyone will start to stink because of a people that cannot profit them,

not for help and not for profiting,

but for shame and also for disgrace.”

An oracle of the animals of the Negev:

Through a land of trouble and distress,

of lioness and lion,

among them are snake and flying serpent;

they carry their wealth on the backs of male donkeys

and their treasures on the humps of camels,

to a people that cannot profit them.

For Egyptians help with vanity and emptiness,

therefore I have called this one “Rahab, they are sitting.”

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame,

And the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

For his princes were at Zoan,

And his ambassadors came to Hanes.

They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them,

Nor be an help nor profit,

But a shame, and also a reproach.

The burden of the beasts of the south:

Into the land of trouble and anguish,

From whence come the young and old lion,

The viper and fiery flying serpent,

They will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses,

And their treasures upon the bunches of camels,

To a people that shall not profit them.

For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose:

Therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

Public Domain