Major Prophets · Chapter 31 of 66

Isaiah 31

Isaiah cries woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, trusting horses and chariots rather than the Holy One of Israel. He reminds them the Egyptians are men and not God, their horses flesh and not spirit; when the Lord stretches out His hand, helper and helped fall together. Yet the Lord will fight for Zion like a lion and shield Jerusalem like hovering birds, calling His people back to Him.

What happens in Isaiah 31

The oracle opens with woe on those who go down to Egypt for help, relying on horses and trusting the number of chariots, but not looking to the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah insists that God too is wise and will bring disaster, rising against evildoers and those who help them. He drives the point home: the Egyptians are men and not God, their horses flesh and not spirit; when the Lord stretches out His hand, both helper and helped fall together.

Then the tone shifts. As a lion growls over its prey, unfrightened by shepherds, so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion, and like hovering birds He will preserve Jerusalem. Isaiah calls the people to turn back to the One against whom they have deeply revolted, for in that day everyone will cast away the idols their own hands made. The Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, fleeing in fear.

Isaiah 31 in context

Like chapter 30, this oracle confronts Judah's temptation under Hezekiah to seek Egyptian help against Assyria instead of trusting God. Isaiah presses the contrast between flesh and spirit, human might and divine power. The imagery of the Lord as a lion and as hovering birds portrays God's fierce yet tender defense of Jerusalem.

The promise that Assyria will fall by no human sword anticipates the deliverance of the city recorded in Isaiah 37, when the Assyrian army was struck down.

Main themes of Isaiah 31

Flesh versus spiritIsaiah states the contrast starkly: the Egyptians are men and not God, their horses flesh and not spirit. Trusting military might means leaning on the perishable against the living God. When the Lord acts, both helper and helped fall together, exposing the folly of relying on flesh rather than God.

The Lord fights for ZionGod is pictured as a lion undaunted by shepherds and as birds hovering over their nest, coming down to fight for and defend Jerusalem. Isaiah portrays God's protection as both fierce and tender. The people do not need Egypt's chariots; the Lord Himself will deliver and preserve His city when they trust Him.

Turn from idolsIsaiah calls the people to turn back to the One from whom they have deeply revolted, promising that in that day everyone will throw away the idols their own hands have made. Deliverance is joined to repentance. Casting away idols and turning to the Holy One is the fitting response to the God who saves.

This is prophecy, God's word to a people who had wandered, full of warning and astonishing hope. As you read, hear both His grief over sin and His promise to restore.

Isaiah 31 (KJV)

1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 2Yet 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. 3Now 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. 4For 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. 5As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. 6Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7For 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. 8Then 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. 9And 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.

Verses to carry from Isaiah 31

“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!”Isaiah 31:1

“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.”Isaiah 31:3

“As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.”Isaiah 31:5

Thematic connection

How Isaiah 31 points to Jesus

This chapter contains no messianic prediction, so the link to Jesus stays thematic, yet its truths run toward Him. Isaiah's contrast, the Egyptians are men and not God, their horses flesh and not spirit, sharpens the gospel call to trust in God rather than the arm of flesh, the same reliance on the Spirit over the flesh that runs through the New Testament. The picture of the Lord as birds hovering to defend Jerusalem echoes Jesus longing to gather Jerusalem's children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

The Holy One who fights for Zion and calls His people back is revealed in Christ, who defends His people and welcomes returning rebels. The summons to cast away idols finds its fullness in the gospel that turns hearts to the living God through His Son.

Questions about Isaiah 31

What does Isaiah mean that the Egyptians are men and not God?

He draws a decisive line between the Creator and the creature. Egypt's soldiers are only human and their horses only flesh, powerless when the Lord acts, while God is Spirit and almighty. To trust such help is to lean on the perishable against the eternal. Isaiah warns that when God stretches out His hand, helper and helped collapse together, so real security is found only in the living God, not in any human might.

How does the image of hovering birds portray God's protection?

Isaiah says that as birds fly and hover over their nest, the Lord of hosts will defend Jerusalem, delivering, passing over, and preserving it. The picture is fierce yet tender, God shielding His people the way a bird covers its young. It reveals protection that is both mighty and intimate. Jesus later takes up similar imagery, longing to gather Jerusalem's children under His wings, revealing the same protective heart of God.

Reflection

Examine where you trust in the arm of flesh, the horses and chariots of your own resources and alliances, rather than looking to the Holy One. Isaiah reminds you that helpers are men and not God. Turn from your idols to the Lord who fights for His people and hovers over them to protect.

A prayer from Isaiah 31

Holy One of Israel, forgive me for trusting flesh and chariots instead of You. You are God and not man, Spirit and not flesh. I turn from my idols back to You. Fight for me, hover over me, and be my only refuge. Amen.

Continue the thread← Isaiah 30 Isaiah 32 →All of Isaiah Who is Jesus?The Kingdom of God Begin with Jesus

← Isaiah 30 Isaiah 32 →

Read the whole Bible with the family

Open it in the app, study it live with someone, and let it lead you to Christ.

Open the Bible Read it together See what God is doing

When you need a wordVerses for joy Verses for anxiety Verses for fear All of Isaiah