Isaiah 30:4 (GNV)

Passage

For his princes were at Zoan, and his Ambassadours came vnto Hanes.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 30:2 Which walke forth to goe downe into Egypt (and haue not asked at my mouth) to strengthen them selues with the strength of Pharaoh, and trust in the shadowe of Egypt.

Isaiah 30:3 But the strength of Pharaoh shalbe your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

Isaiah 30:4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his Ambassadours came vnto Hanes.

Isaiah 30:5 They shalbe all ashamed of the people that cannot profite them, nor helpe nor doe them good, but shalbe a shame and also a reproche.

Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the South, in a land of trouble and anguish, from whence shall come the yong and olde lyon, the viper and fierie flying serpent against them that shall beare their riches vpon the shoulders of the coltes, and their treasures vpon the bounches of the camels, to a people that cannot profite.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "princes", "zoan", "ambassadours", "came", "vnto", and "hanes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "princes" and "zoan", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "But the strength of Pharaoh shalbe your..." into verse 5's "They shalbe all ashamed of the people...", so "princes" and "zoan" belong inside that flow. In Isaiah context, the local focus is the Holy One of Israel, judgment and restoration, the servant of the LORD, and Zion's hope.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "princes" and "zoan" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.