The Meaning of Isaiah 30:5 Explained

Isaiah 30:5

KJV: They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

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

Darby: They were all ashamed of a people that did not profit them, nor were a help or profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

ASV: They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They were all ashamed  of a people  [that] could not profit  them, nor be an help  nor profit,  but a shame,  and also a reproach. 

What does Isaiah 30:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Nevertheless, the Judahites were bound to be ashamed because the Egyptians would not help them fight against the Assyrians. Unwilling to humble themselves, Yahweh would humble His people by humiliating them.
"From the feared killer (Assyria) they seek help in the proved killer (Egypt)! It is ever so when alternatives to the Lord"s salvation are chosen." [1]

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 30:5 mean?

All - they were ashamed of a people not [who] could benefit them Or be help or s benefit but a shame and also a reproach -
כֹּ֣ל [הבאיש] (הֹבִ֔ישׁ) עַל־ עַ֖ם לֹא־ יוֹעִ֣ילוּ לָ֑מוֹ לֹ֤א לְעֵ֙זֶר֙ וְלֹ֣א לְהוֹעִ֔יל כִּ֥י לְבֹ֖שֶׁת וְגַם־ לְחֶרְפָּֽה ס

[הבאיש]  - 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
(הֹבִ֔ישׁ)  they  were  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּאַשׁ  
Sense: to have a bad smell, stink, smell bad.
עַ֖ם  a  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יוֹעִ֣ילוּ  [who]  could  benefit 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָעַל  
Sense: (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail.
לֹ֤א  Or  be 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לְעֵ֙זֶר֙  help 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵזֶר  
Sense: help, succour.
וְלֹ֣א  or  s 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לְהוֹעִ֔יל  benefit 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: יָעַל  
Sense: (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail.
לְבֹ֖שֶׁת  a  shame 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
וְגַם־  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
לְחֶרְפָּֽה  a  reproach 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 30:5?

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