2 Kings 18:21

19 And Rab-shakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?

20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.

22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
KJV
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
WEB
Now, behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt. If a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
ASV
Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
DARBY
Now behold, thou reliest upon the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into his hand and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him.
BLB
Now behold, You are trusting for yourself on the staff of this broken reed—on Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. Thus [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
ÅB
Nuvel, du setter din lit til Egypt, denne knekkede rørstav, som når en støtter seg på den, går inn i hans hånd og gjennomborer den; slik er kongen i Egypt Farao for alle dem som setter sin lit til ham.
OTB
Se nå, du har stolt på staven av denne brukne røren, på Egypt, som, hvis en mann lener seg på den, vil gå inn i hånden hans og gjennombore den. Slik er farao, kongen av Egypt, for alle som stoler på ham.
B1930
Nuvel, du setter din lit til Egypten, denne knekkede rørstav, som når en støtter sig på den, går inn i hans hånd og gjennemborer den; således er kongen i Egypten Farao for alle dem som setter sin lit til ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 30:7

    For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 29:6–7

    And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 30:2–3

    That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 17:4

    And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 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.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 31:1–3

    Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 46:17

    They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

    Read in context