Isaiah 31

Isaiah 28–33 is a section made up of a series of warnings that begin with "Woe." Chapter 31 briefly returns to the theme of Isaiah 30, which rebukes Judah's alliance with Egypt. The setting is generally understood to be the reign of Hezekiah, when Assyria was pressing hard upon Judah.

Outline

• Verses 1–3: Woe is pronounced on those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, chariots, and horsemen. They do not seek the Holy One of Israel. The Egyptians are men and not God, and when the LORD stretches out His hand, both the helper and the one helped will fall together.
• Verses 4–5: Like a lion that is not frightened by the shouting of shepherds, the LORD of hosts will fight upon Mount Zion. As a bird spreads its wings to shield its young, He will defend and deliver Jerusalem.
• Verses 6–7: The children of Israel are called to turn back to the LORD. In that day every man will cast away the idols of silver and gold that his own hands have made.
• Verses 8–9: Assyria will fall by the sword, but not by the sword of man. Assyria's princes will be afraid of the ensign (banner). The LORD's fire is in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem.

Key Verses

• Isaiah 31:1 "…stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many…" — This sets up the chapter's central contrast between relying on military power and seeking the LORD.
• Isaiah 31:3 "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God" — A concise summary of the limits of human help.
• Isaiah 31:5 "As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem" — A widely quoted image comparing God's protection to that of a mother bird.

People and Places

• The LORD: Called "the LORD of hosts" and "the Holy One of Israel." "The Holy One of Israel" is a title that appears with characteristic frequency in the book of Isaiah.
• The prophet Isaiah: The speaker referred to as "me" in verse 4.
• Egypt: The powerful nation to the south with which Judah sought an alliance.
• Assyria: The empire to the north that threatened Judah.
• Zion and Jerusalem: The city that the LORD defends.

Points for Reflection

• Many commentators read the phrase in verse 8, "not of a mighty man," as foreshadowing the event in Isaiah 37 in which the angel of the LORD struck the Assyrian camp. Chapter 31 itself, however, does not mention that event directly.
• The Hebrew verb rendered "passing over" in verse 5 is said to share a root with the word for Passover (Pesach). For this reason, the expression is sometimes interpreted as recalling the deliverance of the Exodus.
• The image of the mother bird is often read alongside Jesus' words concerning Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37).
• The "fire" and "furnace" of verse 9 are interpreted as signifying both God's presence in Zion and His judgment against His enemies.

In the Korean Church

Verses 1 and 3 are used as sermon texts on the theme of relying on God rather than on human strength or worldly means.