everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them. They cannot be of help; they are good for nothing but shame and reproach.”
Parallel translations
- WEB They shall all be ashamed because of a people that can’t profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.”
- KJV They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
- NKJV They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them, Or be help or benefit, But a shame and also a reproach.”
- NASB “Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who do not benefit them, Who are not a help or benefit, but a source of shame and also disgrace.”
- NLT all who trust in him will be ashamed. He will not help you. Instead, he will disgrace you.”
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
All who rely on Egypt will be ashamed, for Egypt cannot help but only brings reproach. It matters because dependence on those who cannot save leads to disgrace.
Overview
God sums up the verdict on the Egyptian alliance: the partner Judah courts is unprofitable, offering no real help and only shame and reproach. The promised aid is worthless. The passage warns God's people in every age against leaning on what cannot deliver, directing them instead to the only sure Savior.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Jer 2:36How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
- Isa 30:7Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.
- Isa 20:5–6Those who made Cush their hope and Egypt their boast will be dismayed and ashamed.
- Isa 31:1–3Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.
- Isa 30:16“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.
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 30:5 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.