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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "broken reed" isn't just a general metaphor for weakness; it's a specific image of something that was once potentially supportive but has failed, implying a betrayal of reliance and potentially causing harm. This highlights that the threat isn't just Egypt's inability to help, but its capacity to actively injure those who depend on it.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, has arrived at Jerusalem's walls, demanding surrender from King Hezekiah. He scornfully dismisses Hezekiah's reliance on God and mocks Judah's attempts to gain military aid from Egypt, a once-powerful nation now weak and divided. Rabshakeh uses a vivid metaphor to illustrate that depending on Egypt for help is like leaning on a fragile, broken reed that will pierce the hand of anyone who trusts it.
Why would an entire nation's strategy hinge on a source as unreliable as a 'broken reed'?
Rabshakeh uses a powerful metaphor to describe Judah's misplaced trust in Egypt. He compares Egypt to a 'broken reed staff.' Imagine trying to lean on a reed that's already cracked and weak – it wouldn't just fail to support you; it would snap and likely injure your hand in the process.
This imagery highlights the inherent weakness and unreliability of human alliances when they are put in place of divine trust. Egypt, despite its historical significance and military presence, was internally divided and politically unstable at this time. Their 'help' would not only be ineffective but actively harmful, causing 'piercing' pain to those who depended on them.
This serves as a stark warning: relying on political maneuvering, military might, or any human strategy without acknowledging God's sovereignty is like leaning on a reed that's destined to break. The outcome will be not just failure, but injury.
What makes Egypt seem like a strong ally, and why is that perception so dangerous?
Rabshakeh’s taunt reveals how worldly powers, like Egypt, present a facade of strength that can be incredibly deceptive. They might offer what appears to be a solution – chariots, horsemen, and promises of aid – appealing to our fears and desires for security.
However, the core message is that this perceived strength is ultimately hollow. Egypt's 'Pharaoh' (a title used here generically for the Egyptian ruler) is not a true source of deliverance but a source of harm. The 'piercing' isn't just physical; it represents the deep disappointment, betrayal, and loss that comes from misplaced trust in human systems.
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This is a timeless warning: systems, nations, or even individuals that operate without God's foundation, no matter how impressive they seem, are ultimately unreliable. Their promises can lead us away from the only true source of safety and strength, leaving us wounded and exposed.
Understand the original words
batach · Hebrew Verb
A core biblical concept denoting reliance, confidence, and hope placed in an object, person, or God. In a theological sense, it describes the surrender of one's security to a source other than one's own efforts.
qaneh ratsuts · Hebrew Noun phrase
A metaphor for something or someone that is unstable, unreliable, and treacherous. In Scripture, it signifies the futility of depending on worldly powers for defense rather than God.
Par'oh · Hebrew Noun
The title for the monarch of Egypt. In the Bible, Pharaoh often represents human pride, worldly power, and an anti-covenant authority that opposes the purposes of God.
Rabshakeh's taunt about Egypt as a 'broken reed' highlights Judah's desperate diplomatic gamble. In a time of overwhelming Assyrian might, Egypt, though internally divided and weakened, was Judah's only significant potential ally, despite its unreliability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its citizens. This event heightens the fear of Assyrian power in Judah and sets the stage for later interactions.
c. 705-701 BC
Hezekiah's Rebellion
King Hezekiah of Judah, encouraged by Egypt, rebels against Assyrian rule. This defiance directly provokes the Assyrian king Sennacherib's invasion.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
Sennacherib king of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many fortified cities and approaching Jerusalem.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Rabshakeh's Embassy to Jerusalem
Sennacherib's envoy, Rabshakeh, delivers a defiant and threatening ultimatum to Jerusalem, mocking Judah's reliance on Egypt.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Army Devastated
A devastating plague strikes the Assyrian army encamped outside Jerusalem, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw his forces. This miraculous event saves Jerusalem.
c. 681-669 BC
Reign of Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal
Following Sennacherib's death, his successors continue Assyrian dominance, though the empire's power eventually begins to wane.
This passage uses the same powerful imagery of Egypt as a 'broken reed' that will pierce the hand of anyone who trusts it, highlighting the unreliability of Egypt as an ally.
Isaiah 30:1-5Isaiah previously warned Judah against seeking help from Egypt, describing their alliance as seeking strength in shame and futility, reinforcing the message of the current verse.
Isaiah 31:1-3Here, Isaiah directly rebukes Judah for trusting in Egypt for horses and chariots, calling their reliance on human strength and foreign powers a rejection of the Lord's protection.
Jeremiah 17:5-6This passage contrasts the cursed fate of those who trust in humans and turn away from the Lord with the blessedness of those who rely on Him, underscoring the spiritual danger of misplaced trust.
barnesIsaiah 36:6: "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."
Lo, thou trustest - It is possible that Sennacherib might have been apprised of the attempt which had been made by the Jews to secure the cooperation of Egypt (see the notes at Isaiah 30:1-7 ; Isaiah 31:1 ff), though he might not have been aware that the negotiation was unsuccessful. In the staff of thi…
clarkeIsaiah 36:6: "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."
The staff of this broken reed - A weakened, faithless ally. On Egypt - The Bodl. MS. adds מלך melech, the king of Egypt; and so perhaps the Chaldee might read. It will go into his hand, and pierce it - Will take subsidy after subsidy, and do nothing for it.
The phrase "broken reed" isn't just a general metaphor for weakness; it's a specific image of something that was once potentially supportive but has failed, implying a betrayal of reliance and potentially causing harm. This highlights that the threat isn't just Egypt's inability to help, but its capacity to actively injure those who depend on it.
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, has arrived at Jerusalem's walls, demanding surrender from King Hezekiah. He scornfully dismisses Hezekiah's reliance on God and mocks Judah's attempts to gain military aid from Egypt, a once-powerful nation now weak and divided. Rabshakeh uses a vivid metaphor to illustrate that depending on Egypt for help is like leaning on a fragile, broken reed that will pierce the hand of anyone who trusts it.
The Assyrian commander, Rabshakeh, has arrived at Jerusalem's walls, demanding surrender from King Hezekiah. He scornfully dismisses Hezekiah's reliance on God and mocks Judah's attempts to gain military aid from Egypt, a once-powerful nation now weak and divided. Rabshakeh uses a vivid metaphor to illustrate that depending on Egypt for help is like leaning on a fragile, broken reed that will pierce the hand of anyone who trusts it.
"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." — The phrase "broken reed" isn't just a general metaphor for weakness; it's a specific image of something that was once potentially supportive but has failed, implying a betrayal of reliance and potent…
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Last reviewed October 2026