Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 31

Introduction

Isaiah 31:0

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compareyour subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. Isa. 31-32 is a literary unit that deals with the same historical event as Isaiah 29:15-33. Hezekiah attempted to seek an alliance with Egypt to protect themselves from Assyrian aggression, but in 701 B.C. Senacherib invaded Judah and destroyed forty-six walled cities, though Jerusalem itself was spared.

B. The Anchor Bible has an interesting chart that shows the characteristic prophetic swings between judgment and hope (p. 426).

Verses 1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 31:1-3 1Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD! 2Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster And does not retract His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers And against the help of the workers of iniquity. 3Now 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.

Isaiah 31:1 “Woe” This is the fifth in a series of “woes” that began in Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 29:1, Isaiah 29:15; Isaiah 30:1; Isaiah 31:1; Isaiah 33:1. The term introduces the poetic meter of a funeral lament. See note at Isaiah 5:8.

▣ “who go down to Egypt for help” The people of God were attempting to trust (BDB 105, KB 120, see Special Topic at Isaiah 22:23) in political alliances instead of the power, presence, and promises of YHWH for their help (cf. chapters 28-34).

▣ “horses. . .chariots. . .horsemen” The Assyrians were known for their very large cavalry. Egypt was known for her very large contingent of chariots. Judah was afraid of the Assyrians and was trusting in Egypt instead of God. Humans of all ages must be careful of trusting in the current level of technology or numerical superiority instead of the God of creation and mercy.

▣ “chariots” Egypt exported chariots to all the surrounding countries (cf. 1 Kings 10:29), but they could be effective only on flat land, not the hill country of Judah. See Special Topic: Chariots.

▣ “the Holy One of Israel. . .the LORD” These two terms apply to the Covenant God (cf. Isaiah 1:4). The first refers to His nature as righteous, yet the God that calls sinful humans to be His children.

The second term is the Covenant name for God, “YHWH” (cf. Exodus 3:14). See Special Topic: NAMES FOR DEITY and Special Topic: The Holy One.

▣ “look. . .seek” Both of these VERBS are NEGATED Qal PERFECTS, which denotes a settled condition.

1. look (lit. “to gaze at intently”), BDB 1043, KB 1609, cf. Isaiah 17:7, Isaiah 17:8

2. seek, BDB 205, KB 233, cf. Isaiah 9:13; Isaiah 55:6; Isaiah 58:2; Isaiah 65:10

These VERBS denote an intense personal element (cf. Daniel 9:13).

Isaiah 31:2 “He also is wise and will bring disaster” The NET Bible sees this as a sarcastic comment about Judah's advisors who are seeking help from Egypt. However, the whole verse, not just the last two lines, speaks of YHWH.

▣ “And does not retract His words” When God speaks, His words can be depended on (cf. Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 55:11; Jeremiah 44:29).

▣ “will arise” This VERB (BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal PERFECT) is used anthropomorphically of YHWH rising from His throne to do battle on behalf of His people (cf. Isaiah 14:22) or against His people (cf. Amos 7:9). See Special Topic: Anthropomorphic Language Used for God.

▣ “the house of evil-doers. . .the workers of iniquity” These two phrases refer to Judah (i.e., “he who is helped,” Isaiah 31:0:3e) and her political alliances (i.e., Egypt, “he who helps,” Isaiah 31:0:3d).

Isaiah 31:3 This is a comparison between the frailty of human beings and the eternality of God (El). Specifically here it may refer to Exodus 14:26-31a.

This verse also clearly contrasts God (El) with flesh. God is “spirit” (cf. John 4:24). He can take a human form (theophany), but He is spirit and dwells throughout his creation (cf. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:24). He chooses to fellowship with humble, repentant believers (i.e., Isaiah 66:1-2).

▣ “the LORD will stretch out His hand” This is an anthropomorphic idiom of God's actions. See Special Topic: Anthropomorphic Language Used for God.

▣ “all of them will come to an end together” This VERB (BDB 477, KB 476, Qal IMPERFECT) denotes a complete destruction and end (cf. Isaiah 1:28; Isaiah 16:4; Isaiah 29:20). What looks powerful and long lasting is not! This is similar to the common proverb about the transitoriness of humans as grass (cf. Isaiah 40:6-8; Psalms 90:5-6; Psalms 103:15; Psalms 104:14; James 1:10-11; 1 Peter 1:24).

Verses 4-5

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 31:4-5 4For thus says the LORD to me, “As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, Against which a band of shepherds is called out, And he will not be terrified at their voice nor disturbed at their noise, So will the LORD of hosts come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.” 5Like flying birds so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; He will pass over and rescue it.

Isaiah 31:4 “the lion” This metaphor seems to describe God as powerful and tenacious over His own special place (i.e., temple). If so, it is a reversal of the first strophe (Isaiah 31:1-3).

▣ “the LORD of hosts come down” This VERB (BDB 432, KB 434, Qal IMPERFECT) means “to come down,” “to go down,” “to descend.” It is used several times of YHWH leaving His abode in the heavens and coming to earth

1. to see and respond to the actions of humans, Genesis 11:5, Genesis 11:7; Genesis 18:21

2. to reveal Himself to humans, Exodus 3:8; Exodus 19:11, Exodus 19:18, Exodus 19:20; Numbers 11:17, Numbers 11:25; Numbers 12:5 (two special places where His attributes are listed are Exodus 34:5, Exodus 34:6-7; Nehemiah 9:13, Nehemiah 9:17)

3. to characterize YWWH in several psalms, 2 Samuel 22:10; Psalms 18:9; Psalms 144:5

4. for judgment, Micah 1:3; Micah 1:3 (like #1)

This VERB is spacial (i.e., down), but it is metaphorical when referring to the relationship between heaven and earth (cf. Acts 1:2, Acts 1:9).

Judah went down to Egypt (Isaiah 31:1, same VERB), YHWH comes down to defend Jerusalem even amidst their unbelief. Isaiah uniquely asserts the inviolability of Jerusalem! However, later prophets do not share his optimism of Judah's ability to repent and trust in YHWH (cf. Jeremiah 26:18; Micah 3:11-12; Micah 5:5-6, Micah 5:7-8).

Isaiah 31:5 “Like flying birds” This is a reference to God as tender and loyal like a mother bird (“will protect,” BDB 170, KB 199, both Hiphil IMPERFECT and Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE of the same root to denote intensity). Often times in the Bible, God is described by feminine metaphors (cf. Genesis 1:2; Deuteronomy 32:11; Isaiah 40:31; Hosea 11:4; Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:24).

Notice the things YHWH will do for His people in Isaiah 31:5.

1. will protect, BDB 170, KB 199 Hiphil IMPERFECT

2. will protect, BDB 170, KB 199, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE

3. will deliver, BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil PERFECT

4. will pass over, BDB 820, KB 947, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE

5. will rescue, BDB 572, KB 589, Hiphil PERFECT

▣ “He will pass over” This VERB (BDB 820, KB 947, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE, cf. Exodus 12:11-27) refers to God's protection against human forces. There seems to be an allusion to the Passover event of the Book of Exodus where God, against all human odds, protected and delivered His people.

Verses 6-9

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 31:6-9 6Return to Him from whom you have deeply defected, O sons of Israel. 7For in that day every man will cast away his silver idols and his gold idols, which your sinful hands have made for you as a sin. 8And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, And a sword not of man will devour him. So he will not escape the sword, And his young men will become forced laborers. 9”His rock will pass away because of panic, And his princes will be terrified at the standard,” Declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 31:6 “Return to Him” The VERB is shub (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERATIVE), which basically means “to turn back” or “return.” It can be used of

1. turning from God, Numbers 14:43; Joshua 22:16, Joshua 22:18, Joshua 22:23, Joshua 22:29; Judges 2:19; Judges 8:33; 1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Kings 9:6; Jeremiah 3:19; Jeremiah 8:4

2. turning to God, 1 Kings 8:33, 1 Kings 8:48; 2 Chronicles 15:4; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Psalms 51:13; Psalms 116:7; Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 10:21, Isaiah 10:22; Isaiah 31:6; Jeremiah 3:7, Jeremiah 3:12, Jeremiah 3:14, Jeremiah 3:22; Jeremiah 4:1; Jeremiah 5:3; Hosea 3:5; Hosea 5:4; Hosea 6:1; Hosea 7:10, Hosea 7:16; Hosea 11:5; Hosea 14:1, Hosea 14:2; Amos 4:6, Amos 4:8, Amos 4:9, Amos 4:10, Amos 4:11 (notice esp. Jeremiah 7:0 and Amos 4:0)

3. YHWH initially telling Isaiah that Judah would not/could not repent (cf. Isaiah 6:10), but not for the first time in the book He calls on them to return to Him.

Repentance is not so much an emotion as it is an attitude toward God. It is a reorientation of life from self to Him. It denotes a willingness to change and be changed. It is not the complete cessation of sin, but a daily cessation of known rebellion! It is a reversal of the self-centered results of the Fall of Genesis 3:0. It denotes that the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), though damaged, has been restored! Fellowship with God by fallen humans is possible again.

Repentance in the OT primarily means “change of action,” while “repentance” in the NT primarily means “change of mind.” Both of these are necessary for true biblical repentance. It is also necessary to realize that repentance is both an initial act and an ongoing process. The initial act can be seen in Mark 1:15; Acts 3:16 and 19; 20:21, while the ongoing process can be seen in 1 John 1:9; Revelation 2:0 and 3. Repentance is not an option (cf. Luke 13:3)! See Special Topic: REPENTANCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

▣ “deeply defected” This speaks of Judah's rebellion against YHWH.

1. “deeply,” BDB 770, KB 847, Hiphil PERFECT, this word was used in Isaiah 30:33 to describe the funeral pyre of the King of Assyria. It can also describe sin, as it does here and in Hosea 5:2; Hosea 9:9. It may specifically refer to Judah's “secret” plan to seek help from Egypt (cf. Isaiah 29:15).

2. “defected,” BDB 694, here refers to apostasy, cf. Deuteronomy 13:5; Isaiah 1:5; Isaiah 31:6; Jeremiah 28:16; Jeremiah 29:32

▣ “O sons of Israel” In the Bible the term “Israel” can refer to several things: (l) it can refer to the Patriarch Jacob and his children, (2) it can refer to the Northern Ten Tribes-also called Samaria and Ephraim, or (3) it can refer to Judah. In this context it is #3.

Isaiah 31:7 Israel had become eclectic in her faith and tried to incorporate the Canaanite fertility rites (see Special Topic at Isaiah 17:8) along with her worship of YHWH. This is always a disaster. YHWH will be God or He will be nothing at all.

Isaiah 31:8 “the Assyrian will fall” Assyria was the tool which God used to judge the Northern Ten Tribes (cf. Isaiah 10:5), but God would deal justly with the godless nation of Assyria also (cf. Isaiah 10:12; Isaiah 14:15; Isaiah 30:31-33; Isaiah 37:7). Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, fell to Neo-Babylon in 612 B.C.

▣ “a sword not of man will devour him” Read chapters 36 and 37 of Isaiah, which describe the invasion and siege of Jerusalem under Sennacherib. Notice God's miraculous deliverance (not by human sword) in Isaiah 37:36.

▣ “forced laborers” Defeated armies who survived the battle could be

1. conscripted as mercenaries into the victorious army

2. sold as slaves

3. turned into forced laborers to serve the military

All other inhabitants were forced into slavery (cf. Lamentations 1:1). Slavery was common in the ancient world for debtors or those who were defeated.

Isaiah 31:9 “His rock. . .his princes” These are in a Hebrew parallel relationship, therefore, the term “rock” refers to the king of Assyria (or one of his gods, cf. Deuteronomy 32:31, Deuteronomy 32:37) and his military commanders (i.e., “princes”) terrified at YHWH's “standard” (BDB 651, cf. Isaiah 13:2; Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:12, Jeremiah 51:27) over Jerusalem.

▣ “whose fire. . .furnace” This refers, not to the fire of judgment (although an allusion to Isaiah 30:33 is possible), nor the fire of illumination, but to God's home fireplace, hearth (cf. “Ariel,” Isaiah 29:1, Isaiah 29:2, Isaiah 29:7, which referred to Jerusalem).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. How does Isaiah 31:0 relate to our modern situation of the arms race?

2. Does superior technology and superior force assure the protection of a nation?

3. Why would YHWH be described in feminine terms?

4. Describe repentance. Is it a once-and-for-all act or ongoing experience? Is it basically an attitude or is it a change of actions?

5. Describe how Assyria was defeated by non-human means.