For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
Parallel translations
- WEB For Egypt helps in vain, and to no purpose; therefore I have called her Rahab who sits still.
- BSB Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.
- NKJV For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose. Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.
- NASB Even Egypt, whose help is vain and empty. Therefore, I have called her “Rahab who has been exterminated.”
- NLT Egypt’s promises are worthless! Therefore, I call her Rahab— the Harmless Dragon.
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
Egypt's help is empty and useless, so God names her 'Rahab who sits still.' It matters because the mighty ally is exposed as all bluster and no action.
Overview
The LORD declares Egypt's aid vain and gives her a mocking title, Rahab (a name for a proud sea-monster) who merely 'sits still'—all reputation, no rescue. Egypt looks fearsome but will do nothing. The verse strips away the illusion of human power, redirecting trust to the God who truly acts to save His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Isa 2:22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
- Lam 3:26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
- Isa 31:1–5Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
- Ps 118:8–9It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
- Hos 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
- Isa 7:4And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
- Exod 14:13And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
- Isa 51:9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
- Isa 28:12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
- Jer 37:7Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
- Isa 30:15For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
- Ps 76:8–9Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
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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 30:7 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.