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The Bible · 710 of 1189

Isaiah 31

1.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! 2. Yet 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. 3. 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. 4. For 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. 5. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

6.Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7. For 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.

8.Then 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. 9. And 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.

Asked of Guide

Why does Isaiah say trusting Egypt is foolish instead of seeking the LORD?

Isaiah says Israel’s reliance on Egypt—its horses, chariots, and horsemen—is foolish because those allies are “men, and not God,” and their strength is merely “flesh, and not spirit.” The chapter describes God acting decisively: he will “come down to fight for mount Zion” and defend Jerusalem like birds flying, so human power cannot substitute for divine help.

The prophet calls Israel to repentance: “Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted,” and promises that idols will be cast away when God rescues his people. This fits Isaiah’s wider argument in Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 2 that genuine security comes through trusting the LORD rather than political or military bargains.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.