2 Kings 18:21

18:20 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? sayest: or, talkest vain: Heb. word of the lips I have: or, but counsel and strength are for the war

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. trustest: Heb. trustest thee

KJV

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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.

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.

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

18:22 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?

What does 2 Kings 18:21 mean?

2 Kings 18:21 is a verse in the book of 2 Kings, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בָּטַח (bâṭach), מִשְׁעֵנָה (mishʻênâh), רָצַץ (râtsats). It connects to 5 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Now,

behold,

thou

trustestבָּטַחbâṭach/baw-takh'/H982figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

upon

the

staffמִשְׁעֵנָהmishʻênâh/mish-ay-naw'/H4938support (abstractly), i.e. (figuratively) sustenance or (concretely) a walking-stick

this

bruisedרָצַץrâtsats/raw-tsats'/H7533to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively

reed,קָנֶהqâneh/kaw-neh'/H7070a reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (especially for measuring), shaft, tube, stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard)

even

upon

Egypt,מִצְרַיִםMitsrayim/mits-rah'-yim/H4714Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt

which

manאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

lean,סָמַךְçâmak/saw-mak'/H5564to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)

will

goבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

into

his

hand,כַּףkaph/kaf/H3709the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power

and

pierceנָקַבnâqab/naw-kab'/H5344to puncture, literally (to perforate, with more or less violence) or figuratively (to specify, designate, libel)

it:

PharaohפַּרְעֹהParʻôh/par-o'/H6547Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings

kingמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king

EgyptמִצְרַיִםMitsrayim/mits-rah'-yim/H4714Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt

unto

all

that

trustבָּטַחbâṭach/baw-takh'/H982figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

him.

trustest:

Heb.

trustest

thee

Commentary on 2 Kings 18:21

HENRY_FULL · 2 Kings 18:21

"introduction" This chapter brings us again to the history of the kings of Israel, and particularly of the family of Jehu. We have here an account of the reign, I. Of his son Jehoahaz, which continued seventeen years. 1. His bad character in general ( ver. 1, 2 ), the trouble he was brought into ( ver. 3 ), and the low ebb of his affairs, ver. 7 . 2. His humiliation before God, and God's compassion towards him, ver. 4, 5 , and 23 . 3. His continuance in his idolatry notwithstanding, ver. 6 . 4. His death, ver. 8, 9 . II. Of his grandson Joash, which continued sixteen years. Here is a general account of his reign in the usual form ( ver. 10-13 ), but a particular account of the death of Elisha in his time. 1. The kind visit the king made him ( ver. 14 ), the encouragement he gave the king in his wars with Syria, ver. 15-19 . 2. His death and burial ( ver. 20 ), and a miracle wrought by his bones, ver. 21 . And, lastly, the advantages Joash gained against the Syrians, according to his predictions, ver. 24, 25 . The Reign of Jehoahaz. (

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Kings 12:26

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

1 Kings 14:16

And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

2 Kings 10:29

Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

2 Kings 18:11

And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:

Hosea 5:11

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

Topics

Armies Assyria Pharaoh Rab-Shakeh Reed Sennacherib Trust War

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 2 Kings 18:21.

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.

Ezekiel 29:6

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.

Isaiah 42:3

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. smoking: or, dimly burning quench: Heb. quench it

Frequently asked questions

What does 2 Kings 18:21 say?

2 Kings 18:21 (King James Version) reads: "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. trustest: Heb. trustest thee"

Is 2 Kings 18:21 in the Old or New Testament?

2 Kings 18:21 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 2 Kings.

Reflect

As you read 2 Kings 18:21, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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