Isaiah 31:8

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

⁷ For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.

Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.

⁹ And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

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: “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.
KJV: Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
WEB: “The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
ASV: And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of men, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become subject to taskwork.
DARBY: And Asshur shall fall by the sword, not of a great man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become tributary;
BLB: And Assyria Will fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of man will devour him; and he will flee from from the face of the sword, and his young men will be for forced labor.

ÅB: Og Assur skal falle for et sverd som ikke er en manns, og et sverd som ikke er et menneskes, skal fortære ham, og han skal rømme for sverdet, og hans unge menn skal bli slaver.
OTB: Assyria vil falle for et sverd som ikke er ført av et menneske; et sverd ikke av dødelige vil fortære dem. De vil flykte fra sverdet, og deres unge menn vil bli tvangsarbeidere.
B1930: Og Assur skal falle for et sverd som ikke er en manns, og et sverd som ikke er et menneskes, skal fortære ham, og han skal rømme for sverdet, og hans unge menn skal bli træler.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 14:25
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
Read in context
Genesis 49:15
And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
Read in context
Isaiah 37:7
Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
Read in context
Isaiah 10:16–19
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.
Read in context
2 Kings 19:34–37
For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Read in context
Isaiah 29:5
Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
Read in context
Isaiah 30:27–33
Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
Read in context
Hosea 1:7
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
Read in context