Focused Passage

Isaiah 31:1-9

Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt: The LORD Alone Defends Zion

Isaiah 31 moves from a woe against Judah’s reliance on Egypt’s horses and chariots, to the theological contrast between human flesh and the LORD’s Spirit, to the LORD’s fierce and tender defense of Zion, to a call for deep return, and finally to the fall of Assyria by a sword not of man.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

2 Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers.

3 But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together.

4 For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.

5 Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will shield it and deliver it; He will pass over it and preserve it.”

6 Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel.

7 For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

8 “Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.

9 Their rock will pass away for fear, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Woe ה֣וֹי H1945 Interjection to those who go down הַיֹּרְדִ֤ים H3381 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural to Egypt מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular for help לְעֶזְרָ֔ה H5833 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular who rely יִשָּׁעֵ֑נוּ H8172 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition horses סוּסִ֖ים H5483 Noun - masculine plural who trust וַיִּבְטְח֨וּ H982 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural in עַל־ H5921 Preposition their abundance רָ֗ב H7227 Adjective - masculine singular of chariots רֶ֜כֶב H7393 Noun - masculine singular . . . כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction and in וְעַ֤ל H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition their multitude מְאֹ֔ד H3966 Adverb . . . עָצְמ֣וּ H6105 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural of horsemen פָּֽרָשִׁים֙ H6571 Noun - masculine plural . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction They do not וְלֹ֤א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle look שָׁעוּ֙ H8159 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Holy קְד֣וֹשׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular construct One of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker they do not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle seek דָרָֽשׁוּ׃ H1875 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

Yet ה֤וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular He too וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction [is] wise חָכָם֙ H2450 Adjective - masculine singular and brings וַיָּ֣בֵא H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular disaster רָ֔ע H7451 Adjective - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker He does not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle call back הֵסִ֑יר H5493 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular His words דְּבָרָ֖יו H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular He will rise up וְקָם֙ H6965 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular against עַל־ H5921 Preposition the house בֵּ֣ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the wicked מְרֵעִ֔ים H7489 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural and against וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the allies עֶזְרַ֖ת H5833 Noun - feminine singular construct of evildoers פֹּ֥עֲלֵי H6466 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct . . . אָֽוֶן׃ H205 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 3

Original words

But the Egyptians וּמִצְרַ֤יִם H4714 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular are men אָדָם֙ H120 Noun - masculine singular not וְֽלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle God אֵ֔ל H410 Noun - masculine singular their horses וְסוּסֵיהֶ֥ם H5483 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural are flesh בָּשָׂ֖ר H1320 Noun - masculine singular not וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle spirit ר֑וּחַ H7307 Noun - common singular When the LORD וַֽיהוָ֞ה H3068 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular stretches out יַטֶּ֣ה H5186 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular His hand יָד֗וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular the helper עוֹזֵר֙ H5826 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular will stumble וְכָשַׁ֤ל H3782 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular and the one he helps עָזֻ֔ר H5826 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular will fall וְנָפַ֣ל H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular both כֻּלָּ֥ם H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural will perish יִכְלָיֽוּן׃ס H3615 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun together וְיַחְדָּ֖ו H3162 Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Verse 4

Original words

For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction this is what כֹ֣ה H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֣ה׀ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has said אָֽמַר־ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלַ֡י H413 Preposition | first person common singular Like כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative a lion הָאַרְיֵ֨ה H738 Article | Noun - masculine singular roaring יֶהְגֶּה֩ H1897 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular or a young lion וְהַכְּפִ֜יר H3715 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular over עַל־ H5921 Preposition its prey טַרְפּ֗וֹ H2964 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and though אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative a band מְלֹ֣א H4393 Noun - masculine singular construct of shepherds רֹעִ֔ים H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural is called out יִקָּרֵ֤א H7121 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular against it עָלָיו֙ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular it is not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle terrified יֵחָ֔ת H2865 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular by their shouting מִקּוֹלָם֙ H6963 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural or subdued יַֽעֲנֶ֑ה H6031 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular by their clamor וּמֵֽהֲמוֹנָ֖ם H1995 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural . . . לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle so כֵּ֗ן H3651 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֔וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural will come down יֵרֵד֙ H3381 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular to do battle לִצְבֹּ֥א H6633 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct on עַל־ H5921 Preposition Mount הַר־ H2022 Noun - masculine singular construct Zion צִיּ֖וֹן H6726 Noun - proper - feminine singular [and] וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition its heights גִּבְעָתָֽהּ׃ H1389 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Like birds כְּצִפֳּרִ֣ים H6833 Preposition-k | Noun - common plural hovering overhead עָפ֔וֹת H5774 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural so כֵּ֗ן H3651 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֖וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition will protect יָגֵ֛ן H1598 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Jerusalem יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular He will shield it גָּנ֥וֹן H1598 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute and deliver it וְהִצִּ֖יל H5337 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular He will pass over it פָּסֹ֥חַ H6452 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute and preserve it וְהִמְלִֽיט׃ H4422 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Return שׁ֗וּבוּ H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural to the One לַאֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Preposition-l | Pronoun - relative against whom you have so blatantly הֶעְמִ֥יקוּ H6009 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural rebelled סָרָ֖ה H5627 Noun - feminine singular O children בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

For כִּ֚י H3588 Conjunction on that הַה֔וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular every one אִ֚ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular of you will reject יִמְאָס֗וּן H3988 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun the idols אֱלִילֵ֣י H457 Noun - masculine plural construct of silver כַסְפּ֔וֹ H3701 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וֶאֱלִילֵ֖י H457 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct and gold זְהָב֑וֹ H2091 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative your own לָכֶ֛ם Preposition | second person masculine plural hands יְדֵיכֶ֖ם H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine plural have sinfully חֵֽטְא׃ H2399 Noun - masculine singular made עָשׂ֥וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 8

Original words

Then Assyria אַשּׁוּר֙ H804 Noun - proper - feminine singular will fall וְנָפַ֤ל H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular but not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle by the sword בְּחֶ֣רֶב H2719 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular of man אִ֔ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular a sword וְחֶ֥רֶב H2719 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular will devour them תֹּֽאכֲלֶ֑נּוּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular but not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle one made by mortals אָדָ֖ם H120 Noun - masculine singular They will flee וְנָ֥ס H5127 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular before מִפְּנֵי־ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct the sword חֶ֔רֶב H2719 Noun - feminine singular and their young men וּבַחוּרָ֖יו H970 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular will be put יִהְיֽוּ׃ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural to forced labor לָמַ֥ס H4522 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Their rock וְסַלְעוֹ֙ H5553 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular will pass away יַֽעֲב֔וֹר H5674 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular for fear מִמָּג֣וֹר H4032 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular and their princes שָׂרָ֑יו H8269 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular will panic וְחַתּ֥וּ H2865 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural at [the sight of] the battle standard מִנֵּ֖ס H5251 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular whose אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative fire א֥וּר H217 Noun - masculine singular is in Zion בְּצִיּ֔וֹן H6726 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular whose furnace וְתַנּ֥וּר H8574 Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular is in Jerusalem בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס H3389 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.