KJV King James Version
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
2 Kings 18:21
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB 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.
WEB World English Bible
Now, behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand, and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
ASV American Standard Version
Now, 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 unto all that trust on him.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Now, lo, thou hast trusted for thee 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.
Surrounding context — 2 Kings 18
18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
19 And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence [is] this wherein thou trustest?
20 Thou sayest, (but [they are but] vain words,) [I have] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: [is] not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
עַתָּ֡הH6258 · at.tahnowהִנֵּ֣הH2009 · hin.nehbeholdבָטַ֣חְתָּH982 · ba.tachto trustלְּךָ֡H9031 · kayouעַל־H5921 · aluponמִשְׁעֶנֶת֩H4938 · mish.e.nahsupportהַקָּנֶ֨הH7070 · qa.nehbranchהָרָצ֤וּץH7533 · ra.tsatsto crushהַזֶּה֙H2088 · zehthisעַל־H5921 · aluponמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714 · mits.ra.yimEgyptאֲשֶׁ֨רH834 · a.sherwhichיִסָּמֵ֥ךְH5564 · sa.makhto supportאִישׁ֙H376 · ishmanעָלָ֔יוH5921 · aluponוּבָ֥אH935 · boto come (in): comeבְכַפּ֖וֹH3709 · kaphpalmוּנְקָבָ֑הּH5344 · na.qavto pierceכֵּ֚ןH3651 · kenrightפַּרְעֹ֣הH6547 · par.ohPharaohמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428 · me.lekhkingמִצְרַ֔יִםH4714 · mits.ra.yimEgyptלְכָֽל־H3605 · kolallהַבֹּטְחִ֖יםH982 · ba.tachto trustעָלָֽיו׃H5921 · alupon
Cross-references
Isaiah 30:7For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still.Ezekiel 29:6-7And 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.Isaiah 30:2-3That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!Isaiah 31:1-3Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!Jeremiah 46:17They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt [is but] a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.2 Kings 17:4And 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.Isaiah 36:6Lo, 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.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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