Keraia
Isaiah 36

Isaiah 36:6

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem · Isaiah 36:1–22
Read Isaiah 36

Translations

Modern
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Traditional
Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
Literal
Behold, are you trusting in the staff of this broken reed in Egypt, which a man who leans on it, it will go into his palm and pierce it! So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all those trusting in him.
Latin
Ecce confidis super baculum arundineum confractum istum, super Ægyptum; cui si innixus fuerit homo, intrabit in manum ejus, et perforabit eam: sic Pharao, rex Ægypti, omnibus qui confidunt in eo.

Original

Hebrew
English
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

Notes

Isaiah 36:6

  • Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him: Isaiah argued the same case, pointing to the Lord as the only reliable source of help (Isaiah 31:1–3, 7; 39:7).

  • A kind of reed that breaks easily grows near the Nile (see Ezekiel 29:6–7).

Isaiah 36:4–22

The Assyrian chief of staff tried to use intimidation to negotiate a peaceful settlement. In his first speech (Isaiah 36:4–10), he correctly argued that Egypt could not rescue them but incorrectly accused Hezekiah of misplaced trust in the Lord.

Interestingly, the Assyrian did not view the contest as between the gods of Assyria and the Lord, but rather between Sennacherib (the great king) and the Lord.

Isaiah 36:1–39:8

Jerusalem’s rescue from King Sennacherib of Assyria is a main event in Isaiah 1–39. The Lord promised to save his people. He would remain present with Jerusalem (see 7:14). He would also keep a remnant, a small group who would survive (see study note on Isaiah 10:20).

Much of the land became empty and the population greatly reduced. This happened because Judah made a foolish alliance with Assyria (chapters 7–8). Even so, the Lord did not allow total defeat. He preserved his people through Hezekiah, a faithful king.

Hezekiah faced the same kind of test that King Ahaz had faced. It was a test of trust in the Lord. In chapter 36, the Assyrian officer repeats the word trust as he challenges the people. But Hezekiah had learned from the earlier warnings in chapters 13–35. At least at first, he trusted God and passed the test.

This story also appears in 2 Kings 18:13–20:19.

Events

Parallels

2 Kings 18:13–37 2 Chronicles 32:1–8

People

Pharaoh: Egyptian Pharaoh during Hezekiah's reign

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Assyria, Assyrians Hezekiah Hilkiah History of Israel Inscriptions Isaiah, Book of Joah Kings, Books of First and Second Lachish Micah (Person) Rabshakeh Zedekiah

Topics

Confidence: False Egypt: As a Power Was: Treacherous Egyptians: Alliances With, Forbidden to the Israelites Reed of Weakness