Isaiah 30:1-7

Woe to the Obstinate Nation

1 “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;
2 who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.
3 But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.
4 Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
5 everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.”
6 A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys’ backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation,
7 to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.

Isaiah 30:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 30

This chapter contains a complaint of the Jews for their sins and transgressions; a prophecy of their destruction for them; a promise of grace and mercy, and of happy times, to the saints; and a threatening of utter and dreadful ruin to the wicked. The Jews are complained of for their rebellion against God, their slighting his counsel and protection, their trust in Egypt, and application there for help; whither they went with their riches for safety, but in vain, it being contrary to the will and counsel of God, Isa 30:1-7 next follows a denunciation of ruin and destruction for these things, rebellion, and lying, and vain confidence, as well as for contempt of the word of God, which, that it might appear sure and certain, is ordered to be written in a book, Isa 30:8-12 and this ruin is signified by the sudden falling of a wall, and by the breaking of a potter's vessel into pieces, which can never be used more, Isa 30:13,14 and seeing they rejected the way of salvation proposed by the Lord, and took their own way, first destruction is threatened them, which should be very easily brought about, and become so general, that few should escape it, Isa 30:15-17 and then promises of grace and mercy are made to them that wait for the Lord, Isa 30:18 such as a dwelling place in Zion, hearing their prayers, granting them teachers to instruct them, and the riddance of idolatry from them, Isa 30:19-22 and also many outward blessings, as seasonable rain, good bread corn, fat pastures, good food for cattle, and fruitfulness of mountains and hills, Isa 30:23-25 likewise an amazing degree of spiritual light and glory, and healing of the Lord's people, Isa 30:26 and the chapter is concluded with a threatening Of God's wrath upon the Assyrian, expressed by various similes, as of an angry man, an overflowing torrent, a tempest of thunder, lightning, and hail, and the fire of Tophet, Isa 30:27-33.

Cross References 23

  • 1. S Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 29:15
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 21:18; S Isaiah 1:2
  • 3. S 2 Kings 17:4; S Isaiah 8:12
  • 4. 2 Kings 25:26; Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 36:6; Jeremiah 2:18,36; Jeremiah 42:14; Ezekiel 17:15; Ezekiel 29:16
  • 5. S Genesis 25:22; S Numbers 27:21
  • 6. Isaiah 36:9
  • 7. S Isaiah 4:6
  • 8. Judges 9:8-15
  • 9. ver 5; S Psalms 44:13; Isaiah 20:4-5; Isaiah 36:6
  • 10. S Numbers 13:22; Isaiah 19:11
  • 11. ver 7; Isaiah 20:5; Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 36:6
  • 12. S 2 Kings 18:21
  • 13. S Psalms 108:12; Jeremiah 37:3-5
  • 14. S ver 3; S 2 Kings 18:21; Ezekiel 17:15
  • 15. Isaiah 13:1
  • 16. S Judges 1:9
  • 17. S Exodus 1:13; Exodus 5:10,21; Isaiah 5:30; Isaiah 8:22; Jeremiah 11:4
  • 18. S Isaiah 5:29; Isaiah 35:9
  • 19. S Deuteronomy 8:15
  • 20. S Genesis 42:26; S 1 Samuel 25:18
  • 21. S Isaiah 15:7
  • 22. S 2 Kings 18:21; S Jeremiah 2:36
  • 23. S Job 9:13
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