Isaiah 31:1

Translations

Modern

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Traditional

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!

Literal

Woe to those going down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots that are many, and in horsemen that they are very numerous, and they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and YHWH they do not seek.

Latin

Væ qui descendunt in Ægyptum ad auxilium, in equis sperantes, et habentes fiduciam super quadrigis, quia multæ sunt; et super equitibus, quia prævalidi nimis; et non sunt confisi super Sanctum Israël, et Dominum non requisierunt!

Original

Hebrew

English

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Notes

Isaiah 31:1

Woe: This is the fifth of the six woes (see study note on Isaiah 28:1–33:24).
seek the LORD: This suggests seeking God's guidance with a worshipful attitude (see Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 105:3–4).

Isaiah 31:1–3

Isaiah delivered another vision regarding Judah’s negotiations with Egypt, which probably took place in 705–701 BC. During that time, the conquering Assyrians were on the move, threatening Judah. At first, Hezekiah tried political and military means to avert being totally conquered (see 2 Kings 18:13–16).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah Salvation in Isaiah Trusting in Human Strength

Events

Prophecies of Isaiah

Related verses

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.
Deuteronomy 17:16
But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’
Jeremiah 2:13
“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Isaiah 36:9
For how can you repel a single officer among the least of my master’s servants when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?
Psalm 33:16–17
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
Isaiah 30:16
“No,” you say, “we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee! “We will ride swift horses,” but your pursuers will be faster.
Daniel 9:13
Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth.
Isaiah 30:1–7
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.
Amos 5:4–8
For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live!
Isaiah 36:6
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.
Isaiah 9:13
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Horse Isaiah, Book of Zedekiah

Topics

Alliances: Political with Idolaters Forbidden Blessing: Temporal, from God Cavalry: Mounted: On Horses Chariots: The Jews Condemned For: Trusting To Confidence: False Egypt: The Country of: Armies of Egyptians: Alliances With, Forbidden to the Israelites False Confidence in Outward Resources God: Jealous Godlessness: General Scriptures Concerning Horse: Egypt Famous For Horse: Israel Reproved for Keeping Jealousy: Attributed to God Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of War and Other Judgments Seeking God: They Who Neglect Denounced Trust of the Wicked: Israelites Trust: Woe and Curse of False

Isaiah 31:1

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