Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
ISAIAH 36:6KJVWhat does Isaiah 36:6 mean?
Isaiah 36:6 warns that relying on Egypt for help is dangerous and unreliable, comparing Egypt to a broken reed that will injure anyone who leans on it. The verse says that trusting Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, will only bring harm to those who depend on him.
In this verse, the Assyrian envoy is speaking to the people of Judah during a siege, trying to convince them not to trust Egypt for military support against Assyria. The image of a "broken reed" is used to show that Egypt appears strong but is actually weak and will fail anyone who depends on it, making the situation even worse.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 36:6
- "trustest" (בָּטַח, batach): This word means to put confidence or hope in something or someone. Here, it highlights the misplaced confidence Judah has in Egypt’s help.
- "staff" (מִשְׁעֶנֶת, mish'enet): This word refers to a support or walking stick. The verse uses it as a metaphor for something people lean on for support, showing that Egypt is not a true support.
- "broken" (רָצוּץ, ratzutz) and "reed" (קָנֶה, qaneh): Together, these words describe Egypt as a damaged and fragile plant stalk, emphasizing its inability to provide real help.
- "pierce" (נָקַב, naqav): This word means to puncture or wound. The verse warns that leaning on Egypt will not only fail to support, but will actually cause harm.
Why Isaiah 36:6 matters
- Isaiah 36:6 clears up the illusion that Egypt was a reliable ally for Judah, showing that appearances of strength can be deceiving.
- The verse emphasizes the seriousness of misplaced trust, especially in political or military alliances, which is a key theme in Isaiah’s warnings.
- This verse connects to the larger narrative, where Judah is pressured to choose between trusting foreign powers or relying on God, setting up the tension for the rest of the chapter.