Egypt Is No Help; The Lord Will Save Jerusalem
Isaiah 31:1-9
Isa.31.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הוי: INTJ
- הירדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לעזרה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ישענו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויבטחו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- רכב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- רב: ADJ,m,sg
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- פרשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- עצמו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
- ולא: CONJ
- שעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,_,pl
- על: PREP
- קדוש: ADJ,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- דרשו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 31:3 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the chapter: reiterates the point that Egypt and its horses are merely human/flesh and will stumble when the LORD acts—directly continues the argument against relying on Egypt.
- Isaiah 30:1-3 (structural): Closely related oracle: condemns those who go down to Egypt for help and predicts shame and failure for relying on foreign powers instead of seeking the Holy One of Israel.
- Psalm 20:7 (verbal): Parallel wording and contrast of trust: 'Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD'—antithetical to trusting military power rather than God.
- Hosea 7:11 (thematic): Similar theme of Israel seeking foreign allies (Egypt/Assyria) instead of God: depicts the people as foolishly turning to Egypt/Assyria rather than repentance and reliance on Yahweh.
Alternative generated candidates
- Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots—because they are many, and on horsemen, because they are very strong—yet they did not look to the Holy One of Israel and did not seek the LORD.
- Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and put their trust in chariots—because there are many—and in horsemen—because they are very strong; yet they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the LORD.
Isa.31.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וגם: CONJ
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- חכם: ADJ,m,sg
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- דבריו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3m
- לא: PART_NEG
- הסיר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וקם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מרעים: VERB,qal,ptc,,m,pl
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- עזרת: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- פעלי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- און: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 30:1-3 (structural): Same immediate context—condemnation of those who seek help from Egypt; warns that foreign counsel will bring disaster rather than salvation.
- Isaiah 28:14-18 (verbal): Speaks of deceptive counsel and a compact that will not stand—language of ‘counsel’ and impending judgment parallels the idea of wise‑appearing counsel that leads to ruin.
- Hosea 5:13-14 (thematic): Israel and Judah seek Assyria/Egypt for help and so incur greater judgment—parallel critique of trusting foreign powers and the disastrous outcome.
- Proverbs 1:10-19 (thematic): Warning against joining those who plot violence and selfish gain; the motif of evil companions whose counsel leads to bloodshed echoes ‘house of the violent’ and ‘workers of iniquity.’
- Jeremiah 2:18 (thematic): Criticizes reliance on Egypt (the waters of Sihor) as a misguided source of help—parallels Isaiah’s rebuke of seeking foreign aid that produces harm.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moreover, he is wise for evil; he will not change his plans. He will rise against the house of the violent and against the support of those who work wickedness.
- And he is shrewd and brings disaster; his schemes will not be turned aside—he rises against the house of the violent, as the ally of workers of iniquity.
Isa.31.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ומצרים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- אל: NEG
- וסוסיהם: NOUN,m,pl,pr3mp
- בשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יטה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- וכשל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עוזר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונפל: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עזר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויחדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כלם: PRON,3,m,pl
- יכליון: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 30:1-5 (thematic): Same prophetic context—rebuke of Judah for seeking help from Egypt; predicts that reliance on Egyptian power will fail when the LORD acts.
- Isaiah 2:22 (thematic): General exhortation to stop trusting in mere humans echoes the warning that Egypt is 'man and not God' and thus unreliable.
- Psalm 20:7 (verbal): Parallel imagery and contrast: 'Some trust in chariots and some in horses…'—shows the futility of trusting military might rather than the LORD.
- Psalm 33:16-17 (verbal): States explicitly that no king is saved by many troops and that a horse is a vain hope for safety, echoing the point that fleshly help (horses) cannot ultimately save.
- Jeremiah 17:5 (thematic): Declares a curse on those who trust in man and make flesh their strength, paralleling Isaiah’s condemnation of reliance on Egypt (human/flesh) instead of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- For Egypt is man and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. And the LORD will stretch out his hand: the helper will stumble, the one helped will fall, and they will perish together.
- Egypt is a man, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, the one helped will fall; together they will perish.
Isa.31.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- יהגה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- האריה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והכפיר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- טרפו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יקרא: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- מלא: ADJ,m,sg
- רעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מקולם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יחת: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ומהמונם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יענה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- כן: ADV
- ירד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ציון: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- גבעתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Amos 3:8 (verbal): Both use the image of a lion's roar to signify the divine voice/action; Amos: 'The lion has roared—who will not fear?' links the LORD's speech with an unavoidable judgment, echoing Isaiah's lion simile for YHWH's coming.
- Hosea 5:14 (thematic): YHWH compared to a lion/young lion bringing judgment on Israel and Judah—directly parallels Isaiah's simile of the LORD as a lion over his prey when he comes to punish.
- Joel 3:16 (Joel 4:16 in some Bibles) (verbal): 'The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem' closely echoes Isaiah's assertion that the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion—both locate the divine manifestation/judgment on Zion.
- Jeremiah 25:30 (thematic): Speaks of the LORD roaring from on high against the nations ('the LORD will roar from on high'), paralleling Isaiah's motif of the LORD's threatening/roaring presence coming down on Zion to enact judgment.
- Psalm 29:3–9 (thematic): Describes the voice of the LORD as powerful, thunderous, and acting over Zion and the waters—parallels Isaiah's portrayal of YHWH's mighty, lion-like voice and intervention on behalf of Zion.
Alternative generated candidates
- For thus says the LORD: As when a lion and a young lion growl over their prey—though a multitude calls to it, it is not frightened and does not answer the noise—so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
- For thus said the LORD to me: As a lion and a young lion growl over their prey—when a band of shepherds is mustered against him he is not frightened by their voice, nor will he be subdued by their noise—so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
Isa.31.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כצפרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עפות: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,pl
- כן: ADV
- יגן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- גנון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והציל: CONJ+VERB,hifil,perf,3,m,sg
- פסח: ADJ,m,sg
- והמליט: CONJ+VERB,hifil,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 91:4 (verbal): Speaks of God covering with feathers and sheltering under his wings—verbal bird/wing imagery of divine protection parallel to Isaiah's 'like birds flying' protecting Jerusalem.
- Psalm 17:8 (verbal): Petition to be 'kept as the apple of the eye' and 'hidden in the shadow of your wings'—uses the same wing-as-refuge motif found in Isa 31:5.
- Deuteronomy 32:11 (thematic): God's care pictured with an eagle that rouses its nest and spreads its wings to carry its young—an earlier Hebrew image of divine protection by a bird.
- Matthew 23:37 (allusion): Jesus laments over Jerusalem, longing to 'gather your children ... as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings'—New Testament echo of the prophetic bird-protection motif.
- Luke 13:34 (allusion): Parallel lament to Matthew with the same image of gathering under wings, reflecting the prophetic tradition of God protecting Jerusalem like a bird protects its young.
Alternative generated candidates
- Like birds hovering, so will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; he will shield and deliver, he will pass over and rescue.
- Like birds hovering, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, he will spare and rescue.
Isa.31.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- שובו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- לאשר: CONJ
- העמיקו: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,pl
- סרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Hosea 6:1 (verbal): Uses the same root שׁוּב (’return’) as an urgent call to come back to Yahweh—short repentant summons comparable to Isaiah’s שׁוּבוּ.
- Hosea 14:1–2 (verbal): Direct plea, “Return, O Israel,” echoing Isaiah’s call for those who have deeply gone astray to turn back to the Lord.
- Joel 2:12–13 (verbal): A nationwide summons to ‘return to the LORD’ with fasting and repentance; parallels Isaiah’s imperative to repent and abandon sinful ways.
- Jeremiah 3:12–14 (thematic): God’s appeal to wayward Israel to ‘return’ (שׁוּבוּ) and the promise of restoration for the repentant—same theme of Israel’s backsliding and call to repentance.
- Isaiah 55:7 (thematic): General prophetic pattern: call for the wicked/to erring Israel to forsake their way and return to God with the assurance of mercy—theological parallel to Isaiah 31:6’s summons to return.
Alternative generated candidates
- Turn back to the One whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted against.
- Turn back to the One from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
Isa.31.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- ימאסון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלילי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- כספו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m
- ואלילי: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg
- זהבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- ידיכם: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- חטא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 2:20 (verbal): Nearly identical wording — “in that day” men will cast their idols of silver and gold to the moles and to the bats; same image of abandoning idols.
- Psalm 115:4-8 (thematic): Speaks of idols made of silver and gold that cannot speak or act, emphasizing the worthlessness and impotence of metal idols like in Isaiah 31:7.
- Jeremiah 10:3-5 (allusion): Denounces making and worshiping man‑made idols; portrays idols as foolish, aligning with Isaiah’s theme that such images are ultimately worthless.
- 1 Samuel 5:3-5 (thematic): Narrates the humiliation of the Philistine god Dagon (fallen before Israel’s ark), illustrating the impotence and overthrow of idols—parallel to casting idols away.
Alternative generated candidates
- For on that day each will cast away the silver idols and the gold images—those things your hands made as sin.
- For on that day each will cast away his silver idols and his gold idols—the handiwork of your hands, a sin to you.
Isa.31.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ונפל: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אשור: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחרב: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תאכלנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg,suff:1,pl
- ונס: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- מפני: PREP
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ובחוריו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- למס: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 10:12 (thematic): Predicts Assyria’s overthrow as God’s judgment — the instrument (Assyria) becomes the object of punishment, like Isa. 31:8’s depiction of Assyria falling by the sword.
- 2 Kings 19:35 (quotation): Narrates the sudden slaughter of the Assyrian army (185,000) by the LORD/His angel — a non‑human means of destruction echoing 'not a man... a sword not a man' in Isa. 31:8.
- Nahum 3:7 (thematic): Pronounces Nineveh’s disgrace and capture, with leaders and fighters humiliated or taken — parallels Isa. 31:8’s theme of defeat and the fate of Assyrian youths.
- Jeremiah 51:20 (thematic): Speaks of Babylon/Assyria as God’s instrument that will in turn be used and punished by God — similar motif of imperial power turned to judgment in Isa. 31:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- Assyria will fall by the sword—no human hand will save him; the sword will devour him. He will flee before the sword, and his young men will be taken captive.
- Assyria will fall by the sword—not by man; the sword will devour him—not by human hand. He will flee before the sword, and his young men will be taken captive.
Isa.31.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וסלעו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,poss3m
- ממגור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יעבור: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- וחתו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- מנס: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שריו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss3m
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בציון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותנור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 31:1 (structural): Immediate context: condemns reliance on Egypt and horses and sets up the contrast between human refuge and the LORD’s action in Zion—Isa.31:9 concludes that contrast with God’s fire in Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 30:33 (thematic): Uses the image of Tophet/fiery judgment prepared near Jerusalem; parallels the motif of the LORD’s consuming fire associated with the city.
- Ezekiel 22:20 (thematic): Speaks of melting and fumigation in the midst of the city (‘as in a furnace’), echoing the furnace/refining imagery applied to Jerusalem in Isa.31:9.
- Malachi 3:2 (thematic): Describes the LORD as like a refiner’s/fire that tests and purifies—similar metaphor of God’s purging presence in Zion/Jerusalem in Isa.31:9.
- Psalm 18:2 (verbal): Calls the LORD ‘my rock,’ invoking the rock metaphor; Isa.31:9’s language about a rock passing away/being removed contrasts and reworks the rock-as-refuge image.
Alternative generated candidates
- His stronghold will be removed from its place, and his officers will flee; declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
- He will depart from his stronghold and pass away; his officers will be shattered, declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who lean on horses and trust in chariots—because they are many—and in horsemen, because they are very strong; yet they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor do they seek the LORD.
Indeed he is wise and will bring disaster; he will not turn back from his words, but will rise against a house of evildoers and against the support of workers of iniquity.
For Egypt is man and not God, and their horses flesh and not spirit; when the LORD stretches out his hand the helper will stumble and the one helped will fall—together they shall perish.
For thus the LORD says: As when a lion—or a young lion—over its prey, if a band of shepherds is summoned against it, it will not be alarmed by their shouting nor be broken by the noise of them; so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; he will shield and save, he will pass over and bring forth.
Return to the LORD, against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
On that day each will despise his silver idols and his gold idols, the work of your hands, which your fingers made as a sin.
Assyria shall fall by the sword—no human sword; a sword, not of men, shall devour him. He shall flee before the sword, and his young men shall be taken into forced labor.
His rock will be removed from its stronghold and his commanders shall panic, declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.