Isaiah 31:4

2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

3 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.

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.

5 As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

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 shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

    Read in context
  • Amos 3:8

    The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 2:5

    For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 42:13

    The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 12:8

    In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 14:3

    Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 5:5

    And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 50:44

    Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

    Read in context