The Meaning of Isaiah 30:3 Explained

Isaiah 30:3

KJV: Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

YLT: And the strength of Pharaoh Hath been to you for shame, And the trust in the shadow of Egypt confusion,

Darby: For to you the protection of Pharaoh shall be a shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt a confusion.

ASV: Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore shall the strength  of Pharaoh  be your shame,  and the trust  in the shadow  of Egypt  [your] confusion. 

What does Isaiah 30:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The safety they had sought would prove to be a delusion. The supposed protection that Pharaoh offered would result in the disappointment of hope, and the shelter that Egypt promised would turn to disgrace. The Pharaoh at this time was Shabako, a Nubian. The Egyptians were not even strong enough to provide a native Egyptian to rule them. This was a weak period in Egyptian history. I am assuming that the historical context of this prophecy was shortly before Sennacherib"s invasion of Jerusalem in701 B.C.

Context Summary

Isaiah 30:1-17 - Fatal Reliance On Human Aid
Toward the close of the 8th century, b.c. Jerusalem sent ambassadors to seek help from Egypt against Assyria, in distinct defiance of God's repeated warnings. Isaiah denounced this as adding sin to sin. Even though their princes reached Zoan and Hanes, capital cities, and succeeded in their object, it would not help them. The beasts of burden might traverse the deserts with presents and bribes, but all would be in vain. These truths, however, were unpalatable, and the politicians endeavored to silence the prophet, Isaiah 30:9-11. All sin recoils on the sinner. At first his efforts seem to protect him, but soon the wall begins to bulge, then it totters, finally it falls. The true policy, urged by Isaiah in Isaiah 30:15, would be to renounce these efforts for Egyptian help and return to rest in the loving care of God. In returning and rest they would be saved! Oh, that we were more quiet and calm in the face of danger, hushing our fears, stilling our throbbing hearts, and leaning back on the everlasting arms! God cannot fail you, ye fearful saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 30

1  The prophet threatens the people for their confidence in Egypt
8  And contempt of God's word
18  God's mercies toward his church
27  God's wrath and the people's joy, in the destruction of Assyria

What do the individual words in Isaiah 30:3 mean?

therefore shall be your the strength of Pharaoh shame and trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be [your] humiliation
וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם מָע֥וֹז פַּרְעֹ֖ה לְבֹ֑שֶׁת וְהֶחָס֥וּת בְּצֵל־ מִצְרַ֖יִם לִכְלִמָּֽה

וְהָיָ֥ה  therefore  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לָכֶ֛ם  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
מָע֥וֹז  the  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָעֹוז 
Sense: place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold.
פַּרְעֹ֖ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
לְבֹ֑שֶׁת  shame 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
וְהֶחָס֥וּת  and  trust 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָסוּת  
Sense: refuge, shelter.
בְּצֵל־  in  the  shadow 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צֵל  
Sense: shadow, shade.
מִצְרַ֖יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
לִכְלִמָּֽה  shall  be  [your]  humiliation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: כְּלִמָּה  
Sense: disgrace, reproach, shame, confusion, dishonour, insult, ignominy.