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Friday, August 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Douay-Rheims Bible

Isaiah 36:6

Lo thou trustest upon this broken staff of a reed, upon Egypt: upon which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharao king of Egypt to all that trust in him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Confidence;   Egyptians;   Reed;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Man;   Security-Insecurity;   Trust in Man;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Egypt;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Isaiah;   Reed;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Confidence;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cane;   Hezekiah;   Isaiah;   Sennacherib;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Rahab (2);   So;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Isaiah;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jerusalem;   Pharaoh;   Rab-Shakeh;   Reed;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Reed ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Rabshakeh ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Egypt;   Hezekiah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Pha'raoh,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Lean;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Reed;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ethiopia;   Reed;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Egypt;   Pharaoh;   Reed;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Look, you are relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who grabs it and leans on it. This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who rely on him.
Hebrew Names Version
Behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Mitzrayim, whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Par`oh king of Mitzrayim to all who trust on him.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
New American Standard Bible
"Behold, you have relied on the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.
New Century Version
Look, you are depending on Egypt to help you, but Egypt is like a splintered walking stick. If you lean on it for help, it will stab your hand and hurt you. The king of Egypt will hurt all those who depend on him.
Amplified Bible
"Listen carefully, you rely on the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.
World English Bible
Behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt, whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Loe, thou trustest in this broken staffe of reede on Egypt, whereupon if a man leane, it will goe into his hand, and pearce it: so is Pharaoh King of Egypt, vnto all that trust in him.
Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, you trust in the staff of this crushed reed, even on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
Is he depending on Egypt and its king? That's the same as leaning on a broken stick, and it will go right through his hand.
Complete Jewish Bible
Look! Relying on Egypt is like using a broken stick as a staff — when you lean on it, it punctures your hand. That's what Pharaoh king of Egypt is like for anyone who puts his trust in him.
Darby Translation
Behold, thou reliest upon the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into his hand, and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him.
Easy-to-Read Version
Are you depending on Egypt to help you? Egypt is like a broken walking stick. If you lean on it for support, it will only stab you and hurt you. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, cannot be trusted by anyone who depends on him for help.
George Lamsa Translation
Behold, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, in the Egyptian; on which, when a man lean, it will go into his hand and pierce it; so is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who trust in him.
Good News Translation
You are expecting Egypt to help you, but that would be like using a reed as a walking stick—it would break and would jab your hand. That is what the king of Egypt is like when anyone relies on him."
Lexham English Bible
Look, you trust in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, which if a man leans on it, goes into his hand and bores through it! Such is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all those who trust in him.
Literal Translation
Behold, you trust on the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt, which if a man leans on it, it goes into his hand and pierces it; so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
lo, Thou puttest thy trust in a broken staff of rede (I meane Egipte) which he that leaneth vpon, it goeth in to his honde & shuteth him thorow. Euen so is Pharao the kinge of Egipte, vnto all the that trust in him.
American Standard Version
Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon 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 on him.
Bible in Basic English
See, you are basing your hope on that broken rod of Egypt, which will go into a man's hand if he makes use of it for a support; for so is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who put their faith in him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon 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 on him.
King James Version (1611)
Loe, thou trustest in the staffe of this broken reede, on Egypt; whereon if a man leane, it will goe into his hand and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Lo, thou puttest thy trust in a broken staffe of reede [I meane] Egypt, which he that leaneth vpon, it goeth into his hande and shooteth it through: euen so is Pharao the kyng of Egypt vnto all them that trust in hym.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Behold, thou trustest on this bruised staff of reed, on Egypt: as soon as a man leans upon it, it shall go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharao king of Egypt and all that trust in him.
English Revised Version
Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon 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 on him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Lo! thou tristist on this brokun staf of rehed, on Egipt, on which if a man restith, it schal entre in to his hoond, and schal perse it; so doith Farao, the kyng of Egipt, to alle men that tristen in hym.
Update Bible Version
Look, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even 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 on him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; on which if a man lean, it will enter his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.
New English Translation
Look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If someone leans on it for support, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him!
New King James Version
Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
New Living Translation
On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!
New Life Bible
See, you are trusting in Egypt, whose power is like a broken piece of grass. If a man rests against it, it will cut into his hand. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
New Revised Standard
See, you are relying on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lo! thou dost trust on the support of this bruised cane, on Egypt, whereon if a man lean it will enter his hand and lay it open, - So, is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust upon him.
Revised Standard Version
Behold, you are relying on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.
Young's Literal Translation
`Lo, thou hast trusted on the staff of this broken reed -- on Egypt -- which a man leaneth on, and it hath gone into his hand, and pierced it -- so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt to all those trusting on him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Behold, you rely on the staff of this crushed reed, even on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.

Contextual Overview

1 And it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, that Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against all the fenced cities of Juda, and took them. 2 And the king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaces from Lachis to Jerusalem, to king Ezechias with a great army, and he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the way of the fuller’s field. 3 And there went out to him Eliacim the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder. 4 And Rabsaces said to them: Tell Ezechias: Thus saith the great king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence wherein thou trustest? 5 Or with what counsel or strength dost thou prepare for war? on whom dost thou trust, that thou art revolted from me? 6 Lo thou trustest upon this broken staff of a reed, upon Egypt: upon which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharao king of Egypt to all that trust in him. 7 But if thou wilt answer me: We trust in the Lord our God: is it not he whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away, and hath said to Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar? 8 And now deliver thyself up to my lord the king of the Assyrians, and I will give thee two thousand horses, and thou wilt not be able on thy part to find riders for them. 9 And how wilt thou stand against the face of the judge of one place, of the least of my master’s servants? But if thou trust in Egypt, in chariots and in horsemen: 10 And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up against this land, and destroy it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Isaiah 20:5, Isaiah 20:6, Isaiah 30:1-7, Isaiah 31:3, 2 Kings 17:4, 2 Kings 18:21, Jeremiah 37:5-8, Ezekiel 29:6, Ezekiel 29:7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 18:24 - thy trust Psalms 118:9 - than to put Proverbs 25:19 - General Song of Solomon 8:5 - leaning Isaiah 30:2 - walk Isaiah 31:1 - to them Isaiah 36:9 - and put Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed Ezekiel 17:15 - in Ezekiel 17:17 - shall

Cross-References

Genesis 12:5
And he took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all the substance which they had gathered, and the souls which they had gotten in Haran: and they went out to go into the land of Chanaan. And when they were come into it,
Genesis 13:6
Neither was the land able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, and they could not dwell together.
Genesis 13:11
And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other.
Genesis 17:8
And I will give to thee, and to thy seed, the land of thy sojournment, all the land of Chanaan, for a perpetual possession, and I will be their God.
Genesis 25:23
And he answering, said: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be divided out of thy womb, and one people shall overcome the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.
Genesis 28:4
And give the blessings of Abraham to thee, and to thy seed after thee: that thou mayst possess the land of thy sojournment, which he promised to thy grandfather.
Genesis 32:3
And he sent messengers before him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, to the country of Edom:
Ezekiel 27:13
Greece, Thubal, and Mosoch, they were thy merchants, they brought to thy people slaves and vessels of brass.
Revelation 18:13
And cinnamon and odours and ointment and frankincense and wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and beasts and sheep and horses and chariots: and slaves and souls of men.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt,.... His ally and auxiliary; and which is rightly called "the staff of a broken reed", if trusted to, and leaned upon, being weak and frail, and an insufficient ground of confidence to depend upon; the allusion seems to be to the cane or reed which grew upon the banks of the river Nile, in Egypt:

whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it; the splinters of the broken reed being leaned on, will enter into a man's hand, and do him harm, instead of being a help to him to walk with:

so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him; pernicious and harmful, instead of being useful and helpful.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Lo, thou trustest - It is possible that Sennacherib might have been apprised of the attempt which had been made by the Jews to secure the cooperation of Egypt (see the notes at Isaiah 30:1-7; Isaiah 31:1 ff), though he might not have been aware that the negotiation was unsuccessful.

In the staff of this broken reed - The same comparison of Egypt with a broken reed, or a reed which broke while they were trusting to it, occurs in Ezekiel 29:6-7. Reeds were doubtless used often for staves, as they are now. They are light and hollow, with long joints. The idea here is, that as a slender reed would break when a man leaned on it, and would pierce his hand, so it would be with Egypt. Their reliance would give way, and their trusting to Egypt would be attended with injury to themselves (compare Isaiah 30:5, Isaiah 30:7; Isaiah 31:3).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 36:6. The staff of this broken reed — A weakened, faithless ally.

On Egypt — The Bodl. MS. adds מלך melech, the king of Egypt; and so perhaps the Chaldee might read.

It will go into his hand, and pierce it — Will take subsidy after subsidy, and do nothing for it.


 
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