2 Kings 18:21

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Now look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If a man leans for support on it, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Isa 30:7 : 7 Egypt is totally incapable of helping. For this reason I call her‘Proud one who is silenced.’”
  • Isa 30:2-3 : 2 They travel down to Egypt without seeking my will, seeking Pharaoh’s protection, and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade. 3 But Pharaoh’s protection will bring you nothing but shame, and the safety of Egypt’s protective shade nothing but humiliation.
  • Ezek 29:6-7 : 6 Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the LORD because they were a reed staff for the house of Israel; 7 when they grasped you with their hand, you broke and tore their shoulders, and when they leaned on you, you splintered and caused their legs to be unsteady.
  • 2 Kgs 17:4 : 4 The king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was planning a revolt. Hoshea had sent messengers to King So of Egypt and had not sent his annual tribute to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria arrested him and imprisoned him.
  • Isa 31:1-3 : 1 Egypt Will Disappoint Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt’s many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the LORD. 2 Yet he too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin. 3 The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The LORD will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish.
  • Isa 36:6 : 6 Look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If someone leans on it for support, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him!
  • Jer 46:17 : 17 There at home they will say,‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is just a big noise! He has let the most opportune moment pass by.’

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Isa 36:4-7
    4 verses
    96%

    4The chief adviser said to them,“Tell Hezekiah:‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says:“What is your source of confidence?

    5Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?

    6Look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If someone leans on it for support, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him!

    7Perhaps you will tell me,‘We are trusting in the LORD our God.’ But Hezekiah is the one who eliminated his high places and altars and then told the people of Judah and Jerusalem,‘You must worship at this altar.’

  • 2 Kgs 18:19-20
    2 verses
    81%

    19The chief adviser said to them,“Tell Hezekiah:‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says:“What is your source of confidence?

    20Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting that you would dare to rebel against me?

  • Ezek 29:6-7
    2 verses
    77%

    6Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the LORD because they were a reed staff for the house of Israel;

    7when they grasped you with their hand, you broke and tore their shoulders, and when they leaned on you, you splintered and caused their legs to be unsteady.

  • 2 Kgs 18:22
    76%

    22Perhaps you will tell me,‘We are trusting in the LORD our God.’ But Hezekiah is the one who eliminated his high places and altars and then told the people of Judah and Jerusalem,‘You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem.’

  • Isa 30:2-3
    2 verses
    76%

    2They travel down to Egypt without seeking my will, seeking Pharaoh’s protection, and looking for safety in Egypt’s protective shade.

    3But Pharaoh’s protection will bring you nothing but shame, and the safety of Egypt’s protective shade nothing but humiliation.

  • 2 Kgs 18:24
    76%

    24Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen.

  • Isa 36:9
    75%

    9Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen.

  • Isa 31:1
    73%

    1Egypt Will Disappoint Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt’s many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the LORD.

  • Ezek 30:21-22
    2 verses
    73%

    21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Look, it has not been bandaged for healing or set with a dressing so that it might become strong enough to grasp a sword.

    22Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and I will break his arms, the strong arm and the broken one, and I will make the sword drop from his hand.

  • Ezek 31:18
    72%

    18Which of the trees of Eden was like you in majesty and loftiness? You will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lower parts of the earth; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword! This is what will happen to Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign LORD.’”

  • Isa 31:3
    72%

    3The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The LORD will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish.

  • Jer 46:25
    71%

    25The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel says,“I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes. I will punish Egypt, its gods, and its kings. I will punish Pharaoh and all who trust in him.

  • Jer 2:36-37
    2 verses
    71%

    36Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.

    37Moreover, you will come away from Egypt with your hands covering your faces in sorrow and shame because the LORD will not allow your reliance on them to be successful and you will not gain any help from them.

  • Isa 37:10-11
    2 verses
    71%

    10“Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this:‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says,“Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.”

    11Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?

  • 2 Chr 32:10
    70%

    10“This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says:‘Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?

  • Ezek 31:2
    70%

    2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes:“‘Who are you like in your greatness?

  • 2 Kgs 19:10-11
    2 verses
    70%

    10“Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this:‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says,“Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.”

    11Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?

  • Isa 30:7
    70%

    7Egypt is totally incapable of helping. For this reason I call her‘Proud one who is silenced.’”

  • Ezek 30:24-25
    2 verses
    70%

    24I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and I will place my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan like the fatally wounded before the king of Babylon.

    25I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD when I place my sword in the hand of the king of Babylon and he extends it against the land of Egypt.

  • Isa 19:15-17
    3 verses
    70%

    15Egypt will not be able to do a thing, head or tail, shoots or stalk.

    16At that time the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and fear because the LORD of Heaven’s Armies brandishes his fist against them.

    17The land of Judah will humiliate Egypt. Everyone who hears about Judah will be afraid because of what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is planning to do to them.

  • Jer 42:15-16
    2 verses
    70%

    15If you people who remain in Judah do that, then listen to the LORD’s message. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel has said,‘If you are so determined to go to Egypt that you go and settle there,

    16the wars you fear will catch up with you there in the land of Egypt. The starvation you are worried about will follow you there to Egypt. You will die there.

  • Isa 10:24
    69%

    24So here is what the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies, says:“My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of Assyria, even though they beat you with a club and lift their cudgel against you as Egypt did.

  • Jer 37:7
    69%

    7“This is what the LORD God of Israel has said,‘This is what you must say to the king of Judah who sent you to seek my help.“Beware, Pharaoh’s army that was on its way to help you is about to go back home to Egypt.

  • Ezek 30:6
    69%

    6“‘This is what the LORD says: Egypt’s supporters will fall; her confident pride will crumble. From Migdol to Syene they will die by the sword within her, declares the Sovereign LORD.

  • Isa 19:13
    69%

    13The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis are misled; the rulers of her tribes lead Egypt astray.

  • Ezek 29:2
    69%

    2“Son of man, turn toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

  • Jer 25:19
    69%

    19I made all of these other people drink it: Pharaoh, king of Egypt; his attendants, his officials, his people,

  • Jer 17:5
    69%

    5Individuals Are Challenged to Put Their Trust in the Lord The LORD says,“I will put a curse on people who trust in mere human beings, who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength, and whose hearts have turned away from the LORD.

  • Hos 7:16
    69%

    16They turn to Baal; they are like an unreliable bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because their prayers to Baal have made me angry. So people will disdain them in the land of Egypt.

  • Ezek 30:4
    69%

    4A sword will come against Egypt and panic will overtake Ethiopia when the slain fall in Egypt and they carry away her wealth and dismantle her foundations.

  • Jer 7:8
    68%

    8“‘But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.

  • Dan 11:42
    68%

    42He will extend his power against other lands; the land of Egypt will not escape.

  • Zech 10:11
    68%

    11The LORD will cross the sea of storms and will calm its turbulence. The depths of the Nile will dry up, the pride of Assyria will be humbled, and the domination of Egypt will be no more.

  • Isa 19:1
    68%

    1The Lord Will Judge Egypt This is an oracle about Egypt: Look, the LORD rides on a swift-moving cloud and approaches Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him; the Egyptians lose their courage.

  • Jer 44:30
    68%

    30I, the LORD, promise that I will hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies who are seeking to kill him. I will do that just as surely as I handed King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his enemy who was seeking to kill him.’”

  • Jer 42:19
    68%

    19“The LORD has told you people who remain in Judah,‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now.