Isaiah 30:7 (YLT)

Passage

Yea, Egyptians <FI>are<Fi> vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: `Their strength <FI>is<Fi> to sit still.'

Nearby Context

Isaiah 30:5 All he made ashamed of a people that profit not, Neither for help, not for profit, But for shame, and also for reproach!

Isaiah 30:6 The burden of the beasts of the south. Into a land of adversity and distress, Of young lion and of old lion, Whence <FI>are<Fi> viper and flying saraph, They carry on the shoulder of asses their wealth, And on the hump of camels their treasures, Unto a people not profitable.

Isaiah 30:7 Yea, Egyptians <FI>are<Fi> vanity, and in vain do help, Therefore I have cried concerning this: `Their strength <FI>is<Fi> to sit still.'

Isaiah 30:8 No, go in, write it on a tablet with them, And on a book engrave it, And it is for a latter day, for a witness unto the age,

Isaiah 30:9 That a rebellious people <FI>is<Fi> this, sons--liars, Sons not willing to hear the law of Jehovah.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "egyptians", "vanity", "vain", "help", "therefore", "cried", "concerning", and "strength". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "egyptians" and "vanity", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "The burden of the beasts of the..." into verse 8's "No go in write it on a...", so "egyptians" and "vanity" 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 "egyptians" and "vanity" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.