Isaiah31
New King James Version
1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the Lord!
2Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity.
3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together.
4For thus the Lord has spoken to me: “As a lion roars, And a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, He will not be afraid of their voice Nor be disturbed by their noise), So the Lord of hosts will come down To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.
5Like birds flying about, So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it.”
6Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
7For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.
8“Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man, And a sword not of mankind shall devour him. But he shall flee from the sword, And his young men shall become forced labor.
9He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, And his princes shall be afraid of the banner,” Says the Lord, Whose fire is in Zion And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 31.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The sin and folly of seeking help from Egypt. (1-5). God's care for Jerusalem. (6-9).
vv1-5
God will oppose the help sought from workers of iniquity. Sinners may be convicted of folly by plain and self-evident truths, which they cannot deny, but will not believe. There is no escaping the judgments of God; and evil pursues sinners. The Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will appear for the defence of his church. And as birds hovering over their young ones to protect them, with such compassion and affection will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. He will so defend it, as to secure its safety.
vv6-9
They have been backsliding children, yet children; let them return, and their backslidings shall be healed, though they have sunk deep into misery, and cannot easily recover. Many make an idol of their silver and gold, and by the love of that are drawn from God; but those who turn to God, will be ready to part with it. Then, when they have cast away their idols, shall the Assyrian fall by the sword of an angel, who strikes more strongly than a mighty man, yet more secretly than a mean man. God can make the stoutest heart to tremble. But if we keep up the fire of holy love and devotion in our hearts and houses, we may depend upon God to protect us and them.
Key Words
הוֹי: oh!
יָרַד: to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)
מִצְרַיִם: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
עֶזְרָה: aid
שָׁעַן: to support one's self
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
סוּס: a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight)
בָּטַח: figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
רֶכֶב: a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Isaiah 31Explicit prohibition against going down to Egypt to multiply horses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Contrast of human wisdom with God who does not lie or 'call back his words'.
Supported by JFB
Verb for 'passing over' (pesach) directly echoes the sparing of Israel at Passover.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct thematic parallel: trusting in chariots and horses versus the name of God.
Supported by JFB
The immediately preceding context condemning the embassy to Egypt for military alliance.
Supported by John Calvin
Contrasts trusting in mortal princes (flesh) with trusting in the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the roaring lion metaphor representing God's powerful, dramatic intervention.
Supported by JFB
The image of birds hovering to protect their young matches the Lord protecting Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical destruction of Sennacherib's army by the angel (not human sword).
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical background showing Egypt as the primary ancient source for horses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Expresses trust in God over fear of what mortal 'flesh' can do.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates gold and silver idols made 'unto you for a sin'.
Supported by JFB
Connects Jerusalem as the altar-hearth ('furnace') with the name 'Ariel'.
Supported by JFB
Records the immediate retreat of Sennacherib back to Nineveh after the plague.
Supported by JFB