Isaiah 36:6

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.

Lo, thou trustest {H982} in the staff {H4938} of this broken {H7533} reed {H7070}, on Egypt {H4714}; whereon if a man {H376} lean {H5564}, it will go {H935} into his hand {H3709}, and pierce {H5344} it: so is Pharaoh {H6547} king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714} to all that trust {H982} in him.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Isaiah 36:6 KJV delivers a powerful warning against misplaced trust, using the vivid metaphor of a "broken reed" to describe the unreliability of earthly alliances, specifically Egypt.

Context

This verse is spoken by Rabshakeh, the field commander of Sennacherib, King of Assyria, during his siege of Jerusalem in the reign of King Hezekiah (around 701 BC). The Assyrians were a dominant military power, and Hezekiah had sought an alliance with Egypt to resist them. Rabshakeh's speech was a psychological tactic, aimed at demoralizing the people of Judah and undermining their faith in both God and their proposed Egyptian allies. He highlights the folly of trusting in Egypt, portraying it as a weak and dangerous support.

Key Themes

  • Misplaced Trust: The central theme is the danger and futility of relying on unreliable human or worldly powers instead of God. Egypt, though seemingly powerful, is depicted as utterly incapable of providing true support, much like a broken reed.
  • Consequences of False Reliance: The imagery of the reed piercing the hand emphasizes that such trust does not merely fail but actively harms those who depend on it. This warns against seeking security in sources that ultimately prove destructive.
  • Divine Sovereignty (Implied): While spoken by an enemy, the truth of Rabshakeh's statement indirectly points to God's ultimate sovereignty and the foolishness of trusting in anything less than Him. The narrative ultimately shows that Judah's deliverance came not from Egypt, but from the LORD (see Isaiah 37:36).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "broken reed" (Hebrew: ืงึธื ึถื” ืจึธืฆื•ึผืฅ - qaneh ratzutz) is highly descriptive. A qaneh is a stalk or reed, common in marshy areas like the Nile Delta. A "broken" reed is not only incapable of providing support but also, when leaned upon, splinters and pierces the hand. This imagery perfectly conveys the painful and damaging outcome of relying on Egypt, or any unreliable earthly power.

Practical Application

Isaiah 36:6 serves as a timeless caution for believers today. We are often tempted to place our hope and security in unstable worldly systems, financial prosperity, political leaders, or human promises. This verse reminds us that:

  • God is Our True Source of Strength: Our ultimate trust should always be in the Lord, who is a steadfast and unfailing support, unlike the "broken reed" of human endeavors (Psalm 20:7).
  • Worldly Supports Can Harm: Relying on temporary or flawed human solutions can not only disappoint but also cause significant pain and spiritual injury, just as the reed pierces the hand.
  • Examine Your Trust: It encourages introspection: Where do we truly place our confidence? Is it in fleeting earthly resources, or in the eternal, unchanging God? As Jeremiah 17:5 warns, "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man..."
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 29:6

    And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I [am] the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

  • Ezekiel 29:7

    When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.

  • Isaiah 20:5

    And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

  • Isaiah 20:6

    And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [is] our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?

  • 2 Kings 17:4

    And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as [he had done] year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

  • Jeremiah 37:5

    Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 37:8

    And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
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