Isaiah 30:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Egypt 's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her "Rahab who sits still."

NIV: to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.

NASB: Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called her 'Rahab who has been exterminated.'

CSB: Egypt’s help is completely worthless; therefore, I call her: Rahab Who Just Sits.

NLT: Egypt’s promises are worthless! Therefore, I call her Rahab — the Harmless Dragon.

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

NKJV: For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.

Isaiah 30:1–7 opens with God's official complaint against the people of Judah. He compares them to obstinate toddlers for making an alliance with Egypt without seeking His counsel. This is both sinful and foolish: Egypt will not help to protect Judah from the Assyrians. Judah's representatives will face a dangerous trip to take payments to Egypt across the Negev, but it will all be for nothing. Egypt's help will be worthless. The Lord depicts Egypt as the great and powerful beast Rahab, but says this creature is unmoving and unhelpful.

The Lord describes Judah's people as stubborn children. They think Egypt will protect them from Assyria, instead of trusting Him. But Egypt will be of no help. Judah's leaders ignore God. They demand that prophets only tell them what they want to hear. Those leaders will be surprised by the sudden consequences of faithlessness. The Lord waits for them to turn back to Him and cry for help. When they do, He will provide greatly for them after destroying the Assyrians who are threatening them. The people will sing and celebrate as the Assyrians fall.

Isaiah has been transmitting God's prophecies about Israel, Judah, and other nations. This chapter scolds the southern kingdom of Judah for stubbornness and self-reliance. They make foolish choices instead of relying on the Lord. Egypt will not protect Judah from the Assyrians. But God will take vengeance on the enemy nation one day. Chapter 31 continues to rebuke those who look to human armies instead of God.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 1/8/2026 7:28:13 PM