For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
Parallel translations
- WEB For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors have come to Hanes.
- BSB For though their princes are at Zoan and their envoys have arrived in 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 19:11Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
- Isa 57:9And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
- Jer 43:7So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
- Hos 7:16They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
- 2 Kgs 17:4And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
- Ezek 30:18At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
- Num 13:22And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
- Hos 7:11–12Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
- Ezek 30:14And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.
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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.