Isaiah 30:6 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Isaiah 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
a burden · noun, common masculine singular construct
beasts
בַּהֲמ֣וֹתba.ha.Mot
H929
properly · noun, common feminine plural construct
south
נֶ֑גֶבNe.gev
H5045
the south (from its drought) · proper noun, a place name
land
בְּאֶרֶץ֩be.'e.Retz
H776
the earth (at large · preposition + noun, common feminine singular construct
trouble
צָרָ֨הtza.Rah
H6869
tightness (i.e. figuratively · noun, common feminine singular absolute
anguish
וְצוּקָ֜הve.tzu.Kah
H6695
a strait · conjunction + noun, common feminine singular absolute
young
לָבִ֧יא
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Deuteronomy 8:15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water;…
Isaiah 46:1-2 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden t…
Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye…
Jeremiah 11:4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice,…
1 Kings 10:2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was c…
Hosea 8:9-10 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
Exodus 1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, w…
Exodus 5:10-21 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give yo…
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Isaiah 30:1-7
It was often the fault and folly of the people of the Jews that, when they were insulted by their neighbours on one side, they sought for succour from their neighbours on the other side, instead of looking up to God and putting their confidence in him. Against the Israelites they sought to the Syrians, Ch2 16:2, Ch2 16:3. Against the Syrians they sought to the Assyrians, Kg2 16:7. Against the Assyrians they here sought to the Egyptians, and Rabshakeh upbraided them with so doing, Kg2 18:21. Now observe here,
I. How this sin of theirs is described, and what there was in it that was provoking to God. When they saw themselves in danger and distress, 1. They would not consult God. They would do…
burden--the prophecy as to, &c. [MAURER]; so the Septuagint, the fresh inscription here marks emphatically the prediction that follows. Or, rather, Isaiah sees in vision, the ambassador's beasts burdened with rich presents travelling southwards (namely, to Egypt, Dan 11:5-6), and exclaims, Oh, the burden of treasure on the beasts! &c. (Hos 8:9; Hos 12:1).
land of trouble--the desert between Palestine and Egypt, destitute of water and abounding in dangerous animals (Deu 8:15; Jer 2:6).
flying serpent-- (Isa 14:29), a species which springs like a dart from trees, on its prey.
will carry--rather, present, "carry," namely, as presents to Egypt (Kg1 15:19).
young asses--rather, "full-grow…
The burden of the beasts of the south,.... Some think this begins a new prophecy, and this the name and inscription of it. The Septuagint version is,
"the vision of the four footed beasts in the wilderness;''
and Kimchi's note is,
"this prophecy, which he prophesied, that the beasts of the south should go out, meaning the beasts of the wilderness, and devour those that went to seek help from Egypt;''
but it respects the same thing as before, as appears by what follows; namely, the messengers going down to Egypt, which lay south of Judea, as Jarchi and Kimchi, Ben Melech and Abarbinel, observe, with beasts carrying riches thither, either for safety, or to obtain help from them:
into a la…
The Church Fathers
It is written in Isaiah: "the vision of the quadrupeds in tribulation and distress", and the rest, up to the place where he says: "the riches of the asps will not profit them". Let each one of us consider how great wealth of asps he has borne before this, how great riches of beasts, and how a rational man never sat upon our donkey — not the word of Moses, not of Isaiah, not of Jeremiah, nor of all the rest of the prophets — and he will see that the word of God and reason then sat upon us, when the Lord Jesus came and commanded his disciples that, going, they should untie "the colt of a donkey", which before had been tied up, so that it might walk free.
(Verse 6a) The burden of the beasts of the south. In Hebrew it is called Massa Beemoth (Al. Behemoth) of the Negeb, which the Septuagint translated as 'The Vision of the Quadrupeds in the Desert'. The superior explanation, which we have extensively explained through the replication of the historical text, is the interpretation of this place, according to the prophetic custom, that the burden, that is, the weight and burden of torment and punishment, not only came upon Babylon and the Philistines, and Moab, and Damascus, and Egypt, and the desert sea, but also upon Edom and Arabia, and the valley of Zion, and finally Tyre; but it also came upon the beasts of the south, which the Septuagint translated as quadrupeds in the desert. But the tribe of Judah, which is situated in the southern part, is bordering the wilderness; and those who rejected Jeremiah's prophecy, upon the capture of Jerusalem, refused to dwell in Judah; but they fled to the Egyptians through the desert. And rightly are they called the beasts of the South, or the quadrupeds in the wilderness, because they rejected the knowledge of God, and despising His command, fled to the idols of Egypt, having hope in Pharaoh, to whom whoever leans on, is like one leaning on a reed, which, if broken, will wound the hand of the one leaning on it. Concerning these kinds of animals, the sons of Korah spoke in the psalm: When a man is in honor, he does not understand; he is compared to the foolish animals and becomes like them (Ps. 49:13). And what follows: This is their way; their folly leads them astray, which can rightly be understood in relation to the present chapter, that their way through the desert led to their ruin. I have read, I know, that the animals of the south and the quadrupeds in the desert, who left the borders of Judah and fled into the darkness of Egypt, are referring to the spiritual wickedness in heavenly places; and the rulers of these darknesses, who lost all the wealth and former riches of Egypt in their desire. He said this. We say, according to tropology, that all those who, having abandoned the Creator, have given themselves to the errors of the world, are like quadrupeds in the desert of this age, from which they hope in vain for help, since they have abandoned the true help of God.
Dictionary and topics
Alliances — On the first establishment of the Hebrews in Palestine no connections were formed between them and the surrounding nations. But with the extension of their power under the kings alliances became…
Ass — Frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of, (1.) The she ass (Heb. ‘athon), so named from its slowness (Gen. 12:16; 45:23; Num. 22:23; 1 Sam. 9:3). (2.) The…
Bunch — (1.) A bundle of twigs (Ex. 12:22). (2.) Bunch or cake of raisins (2 Sam. 16:1). (3.) The “bunch of a camel” (Isa. 30:6).
Hezekiah — Whom Jehovah has strengthened. (1.) Son of Ahaz (2 Kings 18:1; 2 Chr. 29:1), whom he succeeded on the throne of the kingdom of Judah. He reigned twenty-nine years (B.C. 726-697). The history of this…
Lions — The most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very numerous there. They had their lairs in the forests (Jer. 5:6; 12:8; Amos…
Seraphim — Mentioned in Isa. 6:2, 3, 6, 7. This word means fiery ones, in allusion, as is supposed, to their burning love. They are represented as “standing” above the King as he sat upon his throne, ready at…
Serpent — (Heb. nahash; Gr. ophis), frequently noticed in Scripture. More than forty species are found in Syria and Arabia. The poisonous character of the serpent is alluded to in Jacob’s blessing on Dan (Gen.…
Viper — In Job 20:16, Isa. 30:6; 59:5, the Heb. word eph’eh is thus rendered. The Hebrew word, however, probably denotes a species of poisonous serpents known by the Arabic name of ‘el ephah. Tristram has…
Ass (Donkey) · . — .
Ass, The Domestic · Was used: In agriculture — Was used: In agriculture
Camel · 8:9;
la.Vi'
H3833
to roar · noun, common masculine singular absolute
lion
וָלַ֣יִשׁva.La.yish
H3918
a lion (from his destructive blows) · conjunction + noun, common masculine singular absolute
viper
אֶפְעֶה֙'ef.'Eh
H660
an asp or other venomous serpent · noun, common masculine singular absolute
fiery
וְשָׂרָ֣ףve.sa.Raf
H8314
burning · conjunction + noun, common masculine singular absolute
flying
מְעוֹפֵ֔ףme.'o.Fef
H5774
to fly · verb, piel active participle, masculine singular absolute
serpent
שָׂרָףsârâph
H8314
burning
carry
יִשְׂאוּ֩yis.'U
H5375
to lift · verb, qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural
riches
חֵֽילֵהֶ֗םchei.le.Hem
H2428
probably a force · noun, common masculine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine plural
shoulders
כֶּ֨תֶףKe.tef
H3802
the shoulder (proper · noun, common feminine singular construct
asses
עֲיָרִ֜ים'a.ya.Rim
H5895
properly · noun, common masculine plural absolute
treasures
אֽוֹצְרֹתָ֔ם'otz.ro.Tam
H214
a depository · noun, common feminine plural construct + pronominal suffix, 3rd person masculine plural
bunches
דַּבֶּ֤שֶׁתda.Be.shet
H1707
a sticky mass · noun, common feminine singular construct
camels
גְּמַלִּים֙ge.ma.Lim
H1581
a camel · noun, common both genders plural absolute
people
עַ֖ם'am
H5971
a people (as a congregated unit) · noun, common masculine singular absolute
profit
יוֹעִֽילוּyo.'I.lu
H3276
properly · verb, hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine plural
The burden of the beasts of the south. After having spoken loudly against the consultations of the Jews about asking assistance from the Egyptians, he ridicules the enormous cost and the prodigious inconveniences which they endured on that account; for at so high a price did they purchase their destruction; and he threatens the same curse as formerly, because unhappily they acted in opposition to the word of God. He mentions "the south," because they journeyed through a southern region, Egypt being situated to "the south" of Judea. He therefore calls them "beasts of burden" on account of the journey, and addresses them in order to pour contempt on men, because it was in vain to speak to them…
The prophet's address is hardly commenced, however, when a heading is introduced of the very same kind as we have already met with several times in the cycle of prophecies against the heathen nations. Gesenius, Hitzig, Umbreit, and Knobel, rid themselves of it by pronouncing it a gloss founded upon a misunderstanding. But nothing is more genuine in the whole book of Isaiah than the words massâ' bahămōth negebh . The heading is emblematical, like the four headings in chapters 21, 22. And the massâ' embraces Isa 30:6, Isa 30:7. Then follows the command to write it on a table by itself. The heading is an integral part of the smaller whole. Isaiah breaks off his address to communicate an ora…
This taunt was against those who were busy trying to please the Egyptians in order to get Egypt’s military support.
30:6 Caravans moved from Judah through the Negev and the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt to avoid the main coast road that was under Assyrian control. It was a dangerous region, filled with lions and poisonous snakes. People would risk their lives to make a worthless alliance. • Being weighed down with riches might refer to money being sent to Egypt to buy that nation’s help.
Rashi on Isaiah 30:6
The burden of the beasts of the southland The burdens on their beasts on the way to the southland (Jonathan), for Egypt is in the south of Eretz Israel, and this is the insult and the derision that they would insult them: See these people, whose burdens of money are laden on their beasts to transport bribes to Egypt for nothing, and they imperil themselves in the deserts, in a land of trouble and anguish, etc.
viper It is a species of deadly snakes, and there are only two of them in the world, a male and a female, which reproduce after seventy years, (i.e. its gestation period is seventy years) (Bechoroth 8a). The flying serpent, too, is a species of snake, not that it has wings with which…
(Vers. 6, 7.) In the land of trouble and distress there will be a lioness and a lion: there will also be venomous snakes and flying serpents. They will carry their riches on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels to a people who cannot help them. Egypt will be useless and in vain for assistance. LXX: In trouble and distress there will be a lion and a lion's cub: then there will be asps and flying snake offspring. They will carry their riches on donkeys and camels to a nation that will not help them. The Egyptians will be empty and useless for your benefit. For the lion, in Hebrew it is written Leis () (also Lehis), and for the flying ruler, which the Seventy translated as flying asps, in Hebrew it is called ἐμπρηστὴς and flying, which we can call the burner, and in Hebrew it is called Saraph (). Again, in that place where we have translated, carrying on the shoulders of the beasts, they have uniformly translated all the animals as foals, that is, the young of donkeys. But the land of tribulation and anguish signifies the very wide desert, through which the remnants of Jerusalem, along with John the son of Careah and the daughters of King Zedekiah, having taken away all they could have, fled to Egypt. Likewise, understand metaphorically the lioness and the lion cub as Jerusalem and its people, as Balaam says in Numbers: Behold the people shall rise up as a lioness, and shall lift itself up as a lion; it shall not rest until it devour the prey, and drink the blood of the slain (Num. XXIII, 24). In Ezekiel it is also written: Take up a lamentation for the prince of Israel, and say: Why has your mother the lioness lain down among lions, and reared her whelps in the midst of young lions? (Ezek. 19:1-2). And lest we think that Holy Scripture truly speaks of the lioness and the lion contrary to the nature of things, that a viper and a flying basilisk should be born of a lioness and a lion, that is, that worse offspring should be generated from evil parents, of whom the Gospel also spoke: Brood of vipers, who has shown you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matt. 3:7). And to the land of Israel it is said: You are a land where it does not rain, nor does the rain come upon you in the day of anger, whose rulers are in its midst, like roaring lions, seizing prey, devouring souls by their power (Above, V). These offspring of vipers, or flying…
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
— 8:9;
Camel, The · Characterised by: The bunches on its back — Characterised by: The bunches on its back
Lion, The · Inhabits: Deserts — Inhabits: Deserts
Reptiles · Mentioned in scripture: Flying fiery serpent — Mentioned in scripture: Flying fiery serpent
Serpent · FIGURATIVE — FIGURATIVE
Viper · A serpent — A serpent
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
