Isaiah 31:3

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

Now, the Egyptians, are, men, and not, GOD, And their horses, flesh, and not, spirit; When, Yahweh, shall stretch out his hand, Then I he that is giving help, shall stumble And I he that is receiving help shall fall, And together, shall all of them vanish!

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Egyptians are men, not God;their horses are flesh, not spirit.When the Lord raises his hand to strike,the helper will stumbleand the one who is helped will fall;both will perish together.

Hebrew Names Version
Now the Mitzrim are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.

New American Standard Bible
Now the Egyptians are human and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the LORD will stretch out His hand, And any helper will stumble, And one who is helped will fall. And all of them will come to an end together.

New Century Version
The Egyptians are only people and are not God. Their horses are only animals and are not spirit. The Lord will stretch out his arm, and the one who helps will stumble, and the people who wanted help will fall. All of them will be destroyed together.

Amplified Bible
Now the Egyptians are men and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; And the LORD will stretch out His hand, And he (Egypt) who helps will stumble, And he (Judah) who is helped will fall, And all of them will perish together.

World English Bible
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Yahweh shall stretch out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh and not spirite: and when the Lorde shall stretch out his hand, the helper shall fall, and hee that is holpen shal fall, and they shall altogether faile.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the Egyptians are men and not God,And their horses are flesh and not spirit;So Yahweh will stretch out His hand,And he who helps will stumble,And he who is helped will fall,And all of them will come to an end together.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
The Egyptians are mere humans. They aren't God. Their horses are made of flesh; they can't live forever. When the Lord shows his power, he will destroy the Egyptians and all who depend on them. Together they will fall.

Complete Jewish Bible
Now the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses flesh and not spirit. So when Adonai stretches out his hand, both he who helps will stumble, and he who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

Darby Translation
And the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit; and Jehovah shall stretch forth his hand, and he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together.

Easy-to-Read Version
The Egyptians are only human, not God. The horses from Egypt are only animals, not spirit. The Lord will stretch out his arm, and the helper will be defeated. And those who wanted help will fall. They will all be destroyed together.

George Lamsa Translation
Now the Egyptians are men and not God; and their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both the helper shall be overthrown, and he that is helped shall fall down, and they all shall be annihilated together.

Good News Translation
The Egyptians are not gods—they are only human. Their horses are not supernatural. When the Lord acts, the strong nation will crumble, and the weak nation it helped will fall. Both of them will be destroyed.

Lexham English Bible
And the Egyptians are human and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit. And Yahweh stretches out his hand, and the helper will stumble, and the one being helped will fall, and together all of them will come to an end.

Literal Translation
And Egypt is a man, and not God. And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. And Jehovah stretches out His hand, and both he who helps shall fall, and he who is helped shall fall; and they shall all cease together.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Now the Egiptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh and not sprete. And as soone as the LORDE stretcheth out his honde, then shal the helper fall, and he that shulde haue bene helped, and shal altogether be destroyed.

American Standard Version
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

Bible in Basic English
For the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit: and when the Lord's hand is stretched out, the helper and he who is helped will come down together.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit; so when the LORD shall stretch out His hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together.

King James Version (1611)
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 hee that is holpen shall fall downe, and they all shall faile together.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Nowe the Egyptians are men and not God, and their horses fleshe, and not spirite: And assoone as the Lord stretcheth out his hande, then shall the helper fall and he that shoulde haue ben helped, and they shall altogether be destroyed.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
even an Egyptian, a man, and not God; the flesh of horses, and there is no help in them: but the Lord shall bring his hand upon them, and the helpers shall fail, and all shall perish together.

English Revised Version
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is holpen shall fall, and they all shall fail together.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Egipt is a man, and not God; and the horsis of hem ben fleisch, and not spirit; and the Lord schal bowe doun his hond, and the helpere schal falle doun, and he schal falle, to whom help is youun, and alle schulen be wastid togidere.

Update Bible Version
Now Egypt is man, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Yahweh shall stretch out his hand, both he that helps shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 helped shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

New English Translation
The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The Lord will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish.

New King James Version
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together.

New Living Translation
For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! When the Lord raises his fist against them, those who help will stumble, and those being helped will fall. They will all fall down and die together.

New Life Bible
The Egyptians are men, and not God. Their horses are flesh and not spirit. The Lord puts out His hand, and the helper and the one who is helped will fall. All of them will be destroyed together.

New Revised Standard
The Egyptians are human, and not God; their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and the one helped will fall, and they will all perish together.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Egypt is man, and not God: and their horses, flesh, and not spirit: and the Lord shall put down his hand, and the helper shall fall, and he that is helped shall fall, and they shall all be confounded together.

Revised Standard Version
The Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.

Young's Literal Translation
And the Egyptians [are men], and not God, And their horses [are] flesh, and not spirit, And Jehovah stretcheth out His hand, And stumbled hath the helper, And fallen hath the helped one, And together all of them are consumed.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now the Egyptians are men and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the LORD will stretch out His hand, And he who helps will stumble And he who is helped will fall, And all of them will come to an end together.

Contextual Overview

¹ Alas! for them who are going down to Egypt for help, On horses, would rely, - And have trusted - In chariots - because they are many, and In horsemen, because they are very bold, But have not looked unto the Holy One of Israel, And onto Yahweh, have not sought. ² But, he also, is wise, and hath brought in calamity, And his own words, hath he not set aside, - Therefore will he rise up, Against the house of evil-doers, and Against the help of the workers of iniquity. ³ Now, the Egyptians, are, men, and not, GOD, And their horses, flesh, and not, spirit; When, Yahweh, shall stretch out his hand, Then I he that is giving help, shall stumble And I he that is receiving help shall fall, And together, shall all of them vanish! ⁴ For Thus, hath Yahweh said unto me - Like as a lion or a young lion growleth over his prey. Who - though there be called out against him a multitude of shepherds - Will not at their voice, be dismayed, Nor, at their noise, be daunted, So, will Yahweh of hosts come down, to make war over Mount Zion, and over the hill thereof. ⁵ As little mother-birds hovering, so, will Yahweh of hosts throw a covering ever Jerusalem, - Covering, so will he rescue, Passing over, so will he deliver!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Egyptians: Isaiah 36:6, Deuteronomy 32:30, Deuteronomy 32:31, Psalms 9:20, Psalms 146:3-5, Ezekiel 28:9, Acts 12:22, Acts 12:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:4-8

their horses: Psalms 33:17

stretch: Isaiah 9:17, Jeremiah 15:6, Ezekiel 20:33, Ezekiel 20:34

both: Jeremiah 37:7-10

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 8:5 - came 2 Kings 18:24 - thy trust Job 9:13 - the proud helpers Psalms 56:4 - in God I have Psalms 60:11 - vain Psalms 108:12 - for vain Isaiah 29:5 - the multitude Isaiah 31:2 - against the help Jeremiah 17:5 - flesh Jeremiah 46:17 - Pharaoh Ezekiel 22:14 - Thine heart Ezekiel 28:2 - yet Ezekiel 30:6 - They also Hosea 14:3 - we will not

Cross-References

Genesis 13:15
for all the land which thou art beholding - to thee, will I give it, and to thy seed unto times age-abiding;

Genesis 21:22
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech, with Phicol chieftain of his host, spake unto Abraham, saying, - God, is with thee in all that, thou art doing.

Genesis 26:24
And Yahweh appeared unto him the same night, and said, I, am the God of Abraham thy father, - Do not fear for with thee, am, I, And I will bless thee and multiply thy seed, For the sake of Abraham my servant.

Genesis 28:4
And may he give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee, - that thou mayest possess the land of thy sojournings, which God gave to Abraham.

Genesis 28:13
and lo! Yahweh, standing by him, - and he said, I, am Yahweh, God of Abraham thy father and God of Isaac, - The land whereon, thou, art lying, to thee, will I give it and to thy seed;

Genesis 30:25
And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Let me go that I may take my journey, unto my place, and to my land.

Genesis 31:2
And Jacob looked upon the face of Laban, - and lo! it was not with him as afore-time.

Genesis 31:3
Then said Yahweh unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers and to thy kindred, - that I may be with thee.

Genesis 31:5
and said to them, Beholding, am I the face of your father, that it is not towards me as aforetime, - nevertheless, the God of my father, hath been with me;

Genesis 31:13
I, am the GOD of Beth-el, where thou didst anoint a pillar, where thou didst vow to me a vow, - Now, rise, go forth out of this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God,.... Be it that they are mighty, they are not mighty, as God is; and indeed they are but frail, feeble, mortal, and mutable men, and therefore not to be trusted in, and depended on; or to be put upon an equality with God, and even to be preferred to him, as they were by the Jews; and of what use and service could they be unto them, seeing God was against them?

and their horses flesh, and not spirit; only flesh, without an immortal soul or spirit, which man has; and therefore a foolish thing in man to trust in them, who must be entirely guided and directed by them; and much less angelic spirits, or like them, which are incorporeal, invisible, and exceedingly mighty and powerful, which excel all creatures in strength, and are called the mighty angels; these are God's cavalry, his horses and chariots; see Psalms 68:17 Habakkuk 3:8 and what mighty things have been done by them, even by a single one? Witness the destruction of the Assyrian army, in one night, by one of them; wherefore the Egyptian cavalry was not to be named with them q:

When the Lord shall stretch out his hand; as soon as he does it, before he strikes, and when he does this in order to it:

both he that helpeth shall fall; or "stumble", take a false step; meaning the Egyptians, sent for and come forth to help the Jews; but, stumbling and falling themselves, would be but poor assistants to them. Aben Ezra interprets this of the king of Assyria destroying the Egyptians, when he came to Jerusalem:

and he that is holpen shall fall down; the Jews, helped by the Egyptians, who should fall, and be destroyed, though not now; yet hereafter by the Chaldeans, as they were:

and they all shall fail together; both the Egyptians and the Jews.

q So Ben Melech interprets "spirit" of an angel, as he does the word "God" in the preceding clause.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now the Egyptians are men - They are nothing but people; they have no power but such as other people possess. The idea here is, that the case in reference to which they sought aid was one in which “divine” help was indispensable, and that, therefore, they relied on the aid of the Egyptians in vain.

And their horses flesh, and not spirit - There is need, not merely of “physical” strength, but of wisdom, and intelligence, and it is in vain to look for that in mere brutes.

Both he that helpeth - Egypt, whose aid is sought.

And he that is holpen - Judah, that had sought the aid of Egypt. Neither of them would be able to stand against the wrath of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 31:3. He that helpeth (the Egyptians) shall fall and he that is holpen (the Israelites) shall fall down - together.