Isaiah 31:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.

NIV: But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together.

NASB: Now the Egyptians are human and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the Lord will stretch out His hand, And any helper will stumble, And one who is helped will fall. And all of them will come to an end together.

CSB: Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord raises his hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

NLT: For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! When the Lord raises his fist against them, those who help will stumble, and those being helped will fall. They will all fall down and die together.

KJV: Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

NKJV: Now 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.

Isaiah 31:1–7 briefly recounts the subjects of the previous chapter. Misery is predicted for those who rely on animals and weapons instead of seeking God. God will cause both Judah and the Egyptians to fall together. After that, though, the Lord will come down to protect Jerusalem. Like a brave lion or a protective bird, He will rescue Jerusalem from disaster.

Isaiah declares "woe" on those in Judah who don't consult the Lord for help against the Assyrians. Instead, they turn to Egypt. They trust in earthly military resources instead of their own God. The Lord will bring disaster on both His sinful people Judah and their helpers the Egyptians. Both will fall. Then the Lord will come down to protect Jerusalem like a lion easily fending off multiple shepherds. Isaiah calls for the people to turn back to the Lord and prophecies that they will cast away their false idols. The Assyrians will be devoured and their king terrified and killed.

Isaiah 30 offers a shorter, poetic retelling of the previous chapter. This begins with a declaration of woe on the people of Judah. They rely on the horses and chariots of Egypt to save them from the Assyrians instead of consulting with the Lord. God will cause His sinful people Judah and their merely mortal helpers the Egyptians to fall together. Then He will protect Jerusalem from the Assyrians as a mother bird protects her nest. The following chapter continues to prophesy, looking ahead to Messiah's reign over the earth.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).