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Isaiah 30:6

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The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence [come] the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people [that] shall not profit [them].

The burden {H4853} of the beasts {H929} of the south {H5045}: into the land {H776} of trouble {H6869} and anguish {H6695}, from whence come the young {H3833} and old lion {H3918}, the viper {H660} and fiery {H8314} flying {H5774} serpent {H8314}, they will carry {H5375} their riches {H2428} upon the shoulders {H3802} of young asses {H5895}, and their treasures {H214} upon the bunches {H1707} of camels {H1581}, to a people {H5971} that shall not profit {H3276} them.

A prophecy about the animals in the Negev: In a land of trouble and anguish, of lionesses and roaring lions, of vipers and poisonous flying serpents, they carry their riches on donkeys' backs and their treasures on camels' humps to a people who will not help them.

This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.

The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

Commentary

Isaiah 30:6 opens a prophetic oracle concerning Judah's misguided reliance on Egypt for help against the encroaching Assyrian Empire. The verse vividly portrays the dangerous journey and the ultimate futility of their efforts.

Context

At this specific historical juncture, the Kingdom of Judah, under King Hezekiah, was under immense pressure from the powerful Assyrian Empire. Instead of placing their full trust in God for deliverance, Judah's leaders were actively seeking a military and political alliance with Egypt, a formidable power to their south. This verse is part of a larger prophecy (Isaiah 30-31) where God, through the prophet Isaiah, condemns this lack of faith and warns against relying on human strength or foreign alliances instead of divine protection. The "land of trouble and anguish" refers to the harsh, dangerous wilderness path leading to Egypt, while the "beasts of the south" allude to the treacherous nature of that region and its inhabitants, including Egypt itself.

Key Themes

  • Misplaced Trust: The central message is Judah's profound error in placing their hope and resources in an alliance with Egypt rather than in the Lord. The act of carrying "riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels" illustrates the great effort, expense, and valuable tribute Judah was willing to expend on this ill-fated venture.
  • Futility of Human Schemes: Despite the significant investment and perilous journey, the verse emphatically declares that the people (Egypt) "shall not profit them." This highlights the ultimate uselessness and emptiness of plans and alliances conceived apart from God's will, a theme powerfully echoed in Isaiah 31:1, which warns against those who "go down to Egypt for help."
  • Divine Warning and Danger: The striking imagery of "the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent" underscores the inherent dangers of the desert journey to Egypt, and metaphorically, the treacherous and ultimately harmful nature of the alliance itself. This vivid description paints a picture of a path fraught with peril, both literal and spiritual.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "burden" (Hebrew: massa) often signifies a prophetic oracle or a weighty pronouncement, frequently one of judgment or impending doom. Its use here emphasizes the solemnity and gravity of the message God is delivering to Judah.
  • The phrase "fiery flying serpent" (Hebrew: saraph me'opheph) refers to a highly venomous snake, possibly a type of cobra or viper, whose bite causes intense burning pain, or perhaps a winged creature, highlighting the extreme danger and deadliness of the desert region. This specific detail further intensifies the sense of a perilous and ill-advised journey.

Practical Application

Isaiah 30:6 serves as a timeless and profound reminder that true security, lasting help, and ultimate deliverance come from God alone, not from human alliances, material wealth, or worldly power. For believers today, this verse encourages:

  • Trusting God Above All: When faced with overwhelming challenges or threats, the temptation to seek quick, human-centric solutions or rely on worldly resources can be strong. This passage calls us to instead trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding.
  • Discerning Futile Paths: It prompts us to discern carefully whether our strategies and pursuits are aligned with God's will. Any path chosen apart from Him, no matter how logical or appealing it seems, will ultimately "not profit" us, as also seen in Psalm 20:7, which contrasts reliance on chariots and horses with trusting in the name of the Lord.
  • Seeking Divine Counsel: The verse implicitly encourages seeking God's counsel and relying on His sovereign provision, rather than engaging in schemes that lead to "trouble and anguish" and ultimately yield no benefit.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 8:15 (9 votes)

    Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where [there was] no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

  • Isaiah 46:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages [were] heavy loaden; [they are] a burden to the weary [beast].

  • Isaiah 46:2 (4 votes)

    They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

  • Jeremiah 11:4 (4 votes)

    Which I commanded your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

  • 1 Kings 10:2 (3 votes)

    And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

  • Hosea 8:9 (3 votes)

    For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

  • Hosea 8:10 (3 votes)

    Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.