For though their princes are at Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
Parallel translations
- WEB For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors have come to Hanes.
- KJV For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
- NKJV For his princes were at Zoan, And his ambassadors came to Hanes.
- NASB “For their officials are at Zoan And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes.
- NLT For though his power extends to Zoan and his officials have arrived in Hanes,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Judah's officials have already traveled to Egyptian cities Zoan and Hanes to secure the alliance. It matters because it shows their commitment to a doomed strategy.
Overview
This verse pictures Judah's envoys pressing deep into Egypt, their princes at Zoan and ambassadors reaching Hanes. The detail underscores how far they have gone in trusting Egypt rather than waiting on God. The diplomatic effort, however earnest, is futile because it is pursued apart from the LORD's will.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Isa 19:11The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
- Isa 57:9You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.
- Jer 43:7So they entered the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, and they went as far as Tahpanhes.
- Hos 7:16They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
- 2 Kgs 17:4But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King So of Egypt, and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.
- Ezek 30:18The day will be darkened in Tahpanhes when I break the yoke of Egypt and her proud strength comes to an end. A cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.
- Num 13:22They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.
- Hos 7:11–12So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
- Ezek 30:14I will lay waste Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and execute judgment on Thebes.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 30:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.