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Isaiah 31:3

FaithGod's power and sovereignty

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.

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.”

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
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.
WEB
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
ASV
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
DARBY
And the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit; and Jehovah shall stretch forth his hand, and he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together.
BLB
For Egypt [is] is man and not God, and their horses are flesh and not Spirit. And YHWH stretches out His hand, and the helper will stumble, and the one being helped will fall, and together all of them will perish.
ÅB
Og egypterne er mennesker og ikke Gud, og deres hester er kjøtt og ikke ånd, og Herren skal rekke ut sin hånd, og hjelperen skal snuble, og den hjulpne falle, og de skal omkomme alle sammen.
OTB
Egypterne er mennesker og ikke guddommelige; deres hester er kjøtt, ikke ånd. Når Herren strekker ut sin hånd, vil hjelperne snuble, og de som får hjelp vil falle; alle vil gå til grunne sammen.
B1930
Og egypterne er mennesker og ikke Gud, og deres hester er kjøtt og ikke ånd, og Herren skal rekke ut sin hånd, og hjelperen skal snuble, og den hjulpne falle, og de skal omkomme alle sammen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 9:17

    Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

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  • Ezekiel 20:33–34

    As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.

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  • Ezekiel 28:9

    Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ in the presence of those who slay you? You will be only a man, not a god, in the hands of those who wound you.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 15:6

    You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back. So I will stretch out My hand against you and I will destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 33:17

    A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save.

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  • Psalms 9:20

    Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah

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  • Isaiah 30:7

    Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still.

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  • Isaiah 36:9

    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?

    Read in context