Isaiah 30:3 kjv
Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Isaiah 30:3 nkjv
Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.
Isaiah 30:3 niv
But Pharaoh's protection will be to your shame, Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace.
Isaiah 30:3 esv
Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation.
Isaiah 30:3 nlt
But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated,
and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.
Isaiah 30 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 30:1 | Woe to the rebellious children... that take counsel, but not of me... | Direct Command of God |
| Isa 30:2 | That walk to go down into Egypt... | Specific Rejection of God |
| Isa 30:3 | Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame... | Egypt's Power as Failure |
| Isa 30:4 | For his princes were at Zoan, and his messengers came to Hanes. | Specific Egyptian Cities |
| Isa 30:5 | They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them... | Uselessness of Egypt's Help |
| Isa 30:6 | The burden of the beasts of the south... into the land of trouble... | Journey to Egypt Dangerous |
| Isa 30:7 | For the Egyptians will help in vain, and to no purpose... | Futility of Egyptian Alliance |
| Isa 2:6 | For they are replenished from the east, and are footmen like the Philistines... | Reliance on Foreign Ways |
| Isa 7:9 | ...if ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. | Need for Faith |
| Isa 20:1-6 | Isaiah walks naked and barefoot as a sign against Egypt. | Divine Judgment on Egypt |
| Jer 2:36 | Why gaddest thou so much to change thy way? Thou shalt be ashamed also of Egypt... | Similar Warning in Jeremiah |
| Jer 46:25-26 | I will punish... Pharaoh... and Egypt, and her gods, and her kings... | Divine Judgment on Egypt |
| Ezek 29:3 | Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD... | Judgment on Pharaoh/Egypt |
| Hosea 7:11 | Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt... | Ephraim's Similar Folly |
| Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. | Trust in God vs. Human Strength |
| Psalm 118:8 | It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. | Trust in God is Superior |
| Prov 3:5 | Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. | Rely on God's Wisdom |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man... | Curse on Trusting Man |
| Luke 12:30 | And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. | Seek God's Provision |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness... | Priority of Seeking God |
| John 14:16 | And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter... | God's Presence and Help |
| 1 Cor 1:25 | Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men... | Divine Wisdom Superiority |
Isaiah 30 verses
Isaiah 30 3 Meaning
This verse describes Judah's people sending ambassadors to Egypt to seek help, despite God's command to rely on Him. It highlights their misguided trust in human strength and their rejection of divine guidance. Their reliance on Egypt is presented as a foolish and ultimately disastrous alliance.
Isaiah 30 3 Context
Isaiah chapter 30 addresses the impending Assyrian threat to Jerusalem and Judah. The people of Judah, instead of trusting God for deliverance, are seeking an alliance with Egypt. God, through Isaiah, rebukes this action. This particular verse highlights the specific diplomatic mission to Egypt and pronounces that the strength and supposed aid from Pharaoh will ultimately result in shame for Judah. The broader context is one of God's covenant relationship with His people, emphasizing their obligation to rely solely on Him and warning against dependence on foreign powers that ultimately proves hollow and detrimental.
Isaiah 30 3 Word analysis
- Therefore (Hebrew: לָכֵ֔ן - lakén) - indicates a consequence or result of their actions.
- shall the strength (Hebrew: עֹ֥ז - ‘oz) - refers to power, might, or force.
- of Pharaoh (Hebrew: פַּרְעֹ֣ה - Par‘ōh) - the king of Egypt, a symbol of human power and worldly might.
- be your shame (Hebrew: בׇ֗שְׁתְּכֶ֥ם - boshetkem) - your shame, your disgrace, what causes you embarrassment or humiliation.
- and his a refuge (Hebrew: וְהַחֵ֥יסֶ֣ה - wəhaḥeseh) - and the refuge, protection, or shelter.
- in the uproar (Hebrew: לַבּ֑וּזָה - labûzah) - this word is complex; it can refer to a taunt, mockery, or contempt. Here, it implies that the supposed refuge in Egypt will become a source of scorn when it fails them.
- he shall be put to shame (Hebrew: יֵבֹ֖שׁ - yēḇōsh) - he will be ashamed; it can refer back to Egypt or Judah.
- by reason of the outcry (Hebrew: לָבְזִי — lavzî or perhaps from root meaning shame or insult) - signifies the shame resulting from the disappointment or distress.
Group of words analysis:
- "strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame": This phrase encapsulates the core message—that their reliance on Egypt's military or political might, instead of God's power, will lead to their humiliation when that power proves inadequate.
Isaiah 30 3 Bonus section
The historical context for this verse involves Judah's strategic considerations against the Assyrian Empire. Egypt, a major power in the region, was often seen as a potential ally. However, Egyptian support was unreliable and politically motivated. Scholars note that Judah's reliance on Egypt represented a spiritual compromise, turning away from God’s covenant and seeking security in pagan alliances and human efforts. This emphasis on God's disappointment in His people’s lack of faith and their pursuit of worldly solutions is a recurring theme in Isaiah and the Old Testament. The prophecy of shame serves as a potent warning against the consequences of idolatry of self-sufficiency and foreign allegiances.
Isaiah 30 3 Commentary
Judah's leaders, facing Assyrian aggression, sought military aid from Egypt. God, through Isaiah, declares this alliance futile. The "strength of Pharaoh" signifies Egypt's power, its armies, and its political influence, which Judah trusted. However, this trust is misplaced; it will result in "shame." Egypt's promised help is compared to a "refuge" which will offer no true protection but rather expose Judah to greater mockery and disgrace during the "uproar" (likely the conflict with Assyria). Egypt itself, or at least its boasted strength, will be "put to shame" by its inability to help. The people who turned to Egypt for security will find themselves disgraced and vulnerable because they rejected God's promise of protection.