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About this chapterWoe to those who go down to Egypt for help, relying on horses and chariots but not looking to the Holy One of Israel. Though Egypt seems strong, the Egyptians are humans and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, helper and helped will both stumble. Just as a lion growls over its prey and is not frightened by shepherds, the Lord will defend Mount Zion. Like birds hovering, he will protect Jerusalem, shield it, and deliver it. Isaiah calls Israel to return to the God they have deeply rebelled against and to abandon their idols of silver and gold.

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, relying on horses and chariots but not looking to the Holy One of Israel. Though Egypt seems strong, the Egyptians are humans and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, helper and helped will both stumble. Just as a lion growls over its prey and is not frightened by shepherds, the Lord will defend Mount Zion. Like birds hovering, he will protect Jerusalem, shield it, and deliver it. Isaiah calls Israel to return to the God they have deeply rebelled against and to abandon their idols of silver and gold.

Themes

  • Human strength versus God
  • The Lord defends Jerusalem
  • Return from idols

Key verses

Audio Bible · Isaiah 31

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Isaiah 31

Berean Standard Bible9 verses · 2 min read

1Woe 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. 2Yet 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. 3But 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. 4For 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. 5Like 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.” 6Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel. 7For 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. 9Their 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.
Verses in Isaiah 31

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