6 All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Yahweh, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Staff of reed - The "reed" was especially appropriate to Egypt as the natural product of its river.
They have been a staff of reed - An inefficient and faithless ally. The Israelites expected assistance from them when Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem; and they made a feint to help them, but retired when Nebuchadnezzar went against them. Thus were the Jews deceived and ultimately ruined, see Ezekiel 29:7.
And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I [am] the LORD, because they have been a staff of (d) reed to the house of Israel.
(d) Read (2-Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6).
And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord,.... Who could eject their king from his kingdom, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy; though he thought no God could, as he boastingly said, before observed:
because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel; alluding to the country of Egypt, which abounded with reeds that grew upon the banks of the river Nile, and other rivers. This signifies that either the Egyptians were weak, and could not help the people of Israel when they applied to them; or rather that they were treacherous and deceitful, and would not assist them, according to agreement; and were even pernicious and hurtful to them, as a broken reed; see Isaiah 36:6. The Targum renders it,
"the staff of a reed broken.''
staff of reed to . . . Israel--alluding to the reeds on the banks of the Nile, which broke if one leaned upon them (see on Ezekiel 29:4; Isaiah 36:6). All Israel's dependence on Egypt proved hurtful instead of beneficial (Isaiah 30:1-5).
*More commentary available at chapter level.