Isaiah 31
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Wo to them that go down to Egypt - This is a reproof to the Israelites for forming an alliance with the Egyptians, and not trusting in the Lord. And stay on horses "Who trust in horses" - For ועל veal, and upon, first twenty MSS. of Kennicott's, thirty of De Rossi's, one of my own, and the Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate, read על al, upon, without the conjunction, which disturbs the sense.
Open source ↗THE CHIEF STRENGTH OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMIES LAY IN THEIR CAVALRY. (Isa 31:1-9) and stay on horses, and trust in chariots--In their level and fertile plains horses could easily be used and fed (Exo 14:9; Kg1 10:28). In hilly Palestine horses were not so easily had or available. The Jews were therefore the more eager to get Egyptian chariots as allies against the Assyrian cavalry. In Assyrian sculptures chariots are represented drawn by three horses, and with three men in them (see Isa 36:9; Psa 20:7; Dan 9:13).
Open source ↗Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help,.... Or, "O ye that go down", &c.; what poor foolish creatures are you! And in the end what miserable and wretched ones will ye be! Such were the Jewish rulers and people, who either went themselves, or sent ambassadors to the king of Egypt, to supply them with men and horses against the king of Assyria, contrary to the express command of God, which forbid them returning to Egypt; and which showed their unmindfulness of deliverance from thence, and their not having a due sense of that mercy upon them; as well as their so doing exposed them to the danger of being drawn into the superstitions and idolatries of that people: and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; having their dependence upon, and placing their confidence in, the strength and numbers of the cavalry of the Egyptians: but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord; they did not look unto the Lord with an eye of faith, nor seek him by prayer and supplication; or ask any counsel or instruction of him, as the Targum paraphrases the last clause; so that their sin lay not only in their confidence in the creature, but in their neglect of the Lord himself; and so all such persons are foolish and miserable, that trust in an arm of flesh, that place their confidence in creature acts, in their own righteousness, duties, and services, and have no regard to the Holy One of Israel, to the holiness and righteousness of Christ, neglect that, and do not submit to it; thus the Targum interprets the former clause of the Word of the Holy One of Israel, the essential Word Christ.
Open source ↗There is nothing to surprise us in the fact, that the prophet returns again and again to the alliance with Egypt. After his warning had failed to prevent it, he wrestled with it in spirit, set before himself afresh the curse which would be its certain fruit, brought out and unfolded the consolation of believers that lay hidden in the curse, and did not rest till the cursed fruit, that had become a real thing, had been swallowed up by the promise, which was equally real. The situation of this fourth woe is just the same as that of the previous one. The alliance with Egypt is still in progress. "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely upon horses, and put their trust in chariots, that there are many of them; and in horsemen, that there is a powerful multitude of them; and do not look up to the Holy One of Israel, and do not inquire for Jehovah! And yet He also is wise; thus then He brings evil, and sets not His words aside; and rises up against the house of miscreants, and against the help of evil-doers. And Egypt is man, and not God; and its horses flesh, and not spirit. And when Jehovah stretches out His hand, the helper stumbles, and he that is helped falls, and they all perish together." The expression "them that go down" (hayyōredı̄m) does not imply that the going down was taking place just then for the first time. It is the participle of qualification, just as God is called הבּרא. לעזרה with Lamed of the object, as in Isa 20:6. The horses, chariots, and horsemen here, as those of Egypt, which Diodorus calls ἱππάσιμος, on account of its soil being so suitable for cavalry (see Lepsius in Herzog's Cyclopaedia). The participle is combined in the finite verb. Instead of ועל־סוּסים, we also find the reading preferred by Norzi, of על without Vav, as in Isa…
Open source ↗This is the last of four chapters together that begin with woe; and they are all woes to the sinners that were found among the professing people of God, to the drunkards of Ephraim (Isa 28:1), to Ariel (Isa 29:1), to the rebellious children (Isa 30:1), and here to those that go down to Egypt for help; for men's relation to the church will not secure them from divine woes if they live in contempt of divine laws. Observe, I. What the sin was that is here reproved, Isa 31:1. 1. Idolizing the Egyptians, and making court to them, as if happy were the people that had the Egyptians for their friends and allies. They go down to Egypt for help in every exigence, as if the worshippers of false gods had a better interest in heaven and were more likely to have success of earth than the servants of the living and true God. That which invited them to Egypt was that the Egyptians had many chariots to accommodate them with, and horses and horsemen that were strong; and, if they could get a good body of forces thence into their service, they would think themselves able to deal with the king of Assyria and his numerous army. Their kings were forbidden to multiply horses and chariots, and were told of the folly of trusting to them (Psa 20:7); but they think themselves wiser than their Bible. 2. Slighting the God of Israel: They look not to the Holy One of Israel, as if he were not worth taking notice of in this distress. They advise not with him, seek not his favour, nor are in any care to make him their friend. II. The gross absurdity and folly of this sin. 1. They neglected one whom, if they would not hope in him, they had reason to fear. They do not seek the Lord, nor make their application to him, yet he also is wise, Isa 31:2. They are solicitous to get the Egyptians into an alliance…
Open source ↗31:1-3 Isaiah delivered another vision regarding Judah’s negotiations with Egypt, which probably took place in 705–701 BC. During that time, the conquering Assyrians were on the move, threatening Judah. At first, Hezekiah tried political and military means to avert being totally conquered (see 2 Kgs 18:13-16). 31:1 What sorrow: This is the fifth of the six woes (see study note on 28:1–33:24). • Looking to the Lord implies seeking his guidance with a worshipful attitude (see Deut 4:29; Ps 105:3-4).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
הוֹי (hôwy, H1945) — oh! יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt עֶזְרָה (ʻezrâh, H5833) — aid שָׁעַן (shâʻan, H8172) — to support one's self סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) בָּטַח (bâṭach, H982) — figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure רֶכֶב (rekeb, H7393) — a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, H6571) — a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… עָצַם (ʻâtsam, H6105) — to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful… שָׁעָה (shâʻâh, H8159) — to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider,… קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a…
Open source ↗חָכָם (châkâm, H2450) — wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) רָעַע (râʻaʻ, H7489) — properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good… עֶזְרָה (ʻezrâh, H5833) — aid פָּעַל (pâʻal, H6466) — to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
Open source ↗מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עָזַר (ʻâzar, H5826) — to surround, i.e. protect or aid כָּשַׁל (kâshal, H3782) — to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication,… נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete,… יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲרִי (ʼărîy, H738) — a lion כְּפִיר (kᵉphîyr, H3715) — a village (as covered in by walls); also a young lion (perhaps as covered with a mane) הָגָה (hâgâh, H1897) — to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder טֶרֶף (ṭereph, H2964) — something torn, i.e. a fragment, e.g. a fresh leaf, prey, food מְלֹא (mᵉlôʼ, H4393) — fulness (literally or figuratively) רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… חָתַת (châthath, H2865) — properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6031) — to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various… הָמוֹן (hâmôwn, H1995) — a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);…
Open source ↗צִפּוֹר (tsippôwr, H6833) — a little bird (as hopping) עוּף (ʻûwph, H5774) — to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… גָּנַן (gânan, H1598) — to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protect יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense פָּסַח (pâçach, H6452) — to hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also… מָלַט (mâlaṭ, H4422) — properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness);…
Open source ↗שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עָמַק (ʻâmaq, H6009) — to be (causatively, make) deep (literally or figuratively) סָרָה (çârâh, H5627) — apostasy, crime; figuratively, remission
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… מָאַס (mâʼaç, H3988) — to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear אֱלִיל (ʼĕlîyl, H457) — good for nothing, by anal. vain or vanity; specifically an idol כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֵטְא (chêṭᵉʼ, H2399) — a crime or its penalty
Open source ↗אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) נוּס (nûwç, H5127) — to flit, i.e. vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… בָּחוּר (bâchûwr, H970) — properly, selected, i.e. a youth (often collective) מַס (maç, H4522) — properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e. a tax in the form of forced labor
Open source ↗עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) מָגוֹר (mâgôwr, H4032) — a fright (objective or subjective) שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) חָתַת (châthath, H2865) — properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or… נֵס (nêç, H5251) — a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אוּר (ʼûwr, H217) — flame; hence (in the plural) the East (as being the region of light) צִיּוֹן (Tsîyôwn, H6726) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem תַּנּוּר (tannûwr, H8574) — a fire-pot יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.
But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns— broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.
Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth.
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me.
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.