Isaiah 31:4
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.
3 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.
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.”
6 Return to the One against whom you have so blatantly rebelled, O children of Israel.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
- WEB
- For the LORD says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so the LORD of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
- ASV
- For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.
- DARBY
- For thus hath Jehovah said unto me: Like as the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, is not afraid of their voice, nor giveth way before the multitude of them; so will Jehovah of hosts come down to war upon mount Zion, and on the hill thereof.
- BLB
- For thus has said YHWH to me: “As the lion roars or the young lion over his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called against him—at their voice he is not afraid and at their clamor he is not alarmed—so YHWH of Hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion, and on her hill.
- ÅB
- For så sa Herren til meg: Slik som en løve, en ungløve, knurrer over sitt rov, om en hel flokk hyrder kalles sammen mot den, og ikke skremmes av deres skrik og ikke blir redd for den støy de gjør, slik skal Herren, hærskarenes Gud, fare ned for å stride mot Sions berg og mot Jerusalem-haugen.
- OTB
- Dette er hva Herren har talt til meg: “Som en løve eller ung løve brøler over sitt bytte, og selv om en flokk av hyrder blir tilkalt mot den, blir den ikke skremt av deres rop eller forstyrret av deres støy, slik vil Herren, Allhærs Gud, stige ned for å føre krig på Sions berg og dens høyde.”
- B1930
- For så sa Herren til mig: Likesom en løve, en ungløve, knurrer over sitt rov, om en hel flokk hyrder kalles sammen mot den, og ikke skremmes av deres skrik og ikke blir redd for den støi de gjør, således skal Herren, hærskarenes Gud, fare ned for å stride mot Sions berg og mot Jerusalem-haugen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 11:10
They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
Read in contextAmos 3:8
The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken— who will not prophesy?
Read in contextZechariah 2:5
For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
Read in contextIsaiah 42:13
The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:
Read in contextZechariah 12:8
On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them.
Read in contextZechariah 14:3
Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.
Read in contextRevelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Read in contextJeremiah 50:44
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
Read in context