Isaiah 36:6
ESV
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.
NIV
Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him.
NASB
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.
CSB
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.
NLT
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!
KJV
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.
NKJV
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.
What does Isaiah 36:6 mean?
King Sennacherib of Assyria sent a messenger to King Hezekiah of Judah (Isaiah 36:1). Assyria stands poised to complete its destruction of Judah by destroying Jerusalem. There, the remnant of Judah's population now hides behind the walls. The messenger mockingly asked Hezekiah who he trusts to save him and Jerusalem from defeat.Now the messenger, the Rabshakeh (Isaiah 36:3), reveals that he knows exactly who Judah once hoped to rely on. Hezekiah had formed an alliance with the Egyptians (2 Kings 18:19–21), paying the Pharaoh a treasure to protect Judah from the Assyrians. Isaiah warned Judah's leaders that it was a foolish alliance that would be of no use in the end (Isaiah 30:1–17). The prophet has been proved right once more. The Egyptians were badly defeated by the Assyrians making their way to destroy Jerusalem.
Now the Rabshakeh unknowingly agrees with the prophet Isaiah about Egypt. The Assyrian official compared Egypt to a fragile stick that will break and stab the hand of someone who leans on it. That's what happens to everyone who trusts the king of Egypt, so says Assyria's messenger. Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled and supported by Judah's great enemy.
Isaiah knows Hezekiah should have put his trust in the Lord God, instead. But the Assyrian field commander would not agree with that.
