Isaiah 31:1 kjv
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!
Isaiah 31:1 nkjv
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, Who trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor seek the LORD!
Isaiah 31:1 niv
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
Isaiah 31:1 esv
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!
Isaiah 31:1 nlt
What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help,
trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers
and depending on the strength of human armies
instead of looking to the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 31 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 30:2 | That they said, “We will ride on horses,” therefore you shall flee; “we will ride on swift steeds,” therefore they who pursue you shall be swift. | Trusting in Egypt vs. God's Power |
| Isa 30:7 | For Egypt’s help is utterly useless and to no purpose; therefore I have called her Rahab the “moth-eaten.” | Egypt's futility |
| Isa 31:3 | Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, both the helper will stagger and the helped will fall, and all of them will fail together. | Men vs. God's Power |
| Jer 2:18 | And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? | Futilty of seeking help from Egypt |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. | Trust in man is cursed |
| Jer 37:7 | Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah, who sent you to me to ask counsel of me, “Behold, Pharaoh’s army that is coming to help you is meant to return to its land, to Egypt. | Egypt's intervention will be futile |
| Jer 46:17 | They cry there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is a mere boast; he lets the appointed time pass.’ | Pharaoh's empty boast |
| Psa 146:3 | Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no salvation. | Not trusting princes |
| Psa 33:17 | The war horse is a false hope for victory, and by its great strength it cannot save. | Horse's false hope |
| Psa 20:7 | Some boast of chariots, and some boast of horses, but we boast of the name of the Lord our God. | Boasting in the Lord |
| Psa 118:8-9 | It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. | Refuge in the Lord |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. | Trusting the Lord in all ways |
| Hos 8:6 | For this very idol is a fraud from Israel; a craftsman made it, but it is not God. It will be shattered in pieces, the calf of Samaria. | Idolatry and false hope |
| 2 Chron 16:7-9 | at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is wholeletly committed to him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” | Similar error of relying on others |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's power surpasses all |
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. | The true Helper |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” | Salvation only in Christ |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, but God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong | God's strength in weakness |
Isaiah 31 verses
Isaiah 31 1 Meaning
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel and do not consult the Lord.
Isaiah 31 1 Context
Chapter 31 of Isaiah directly follows the condemnation of misplaced trust in foreign alliances, particularly Egypt, in chapter 30. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already fallen due to such alliances. Judah, facing the threat of the Assyrian empire, was again being tempted to seek help from Egypt. This verse acts as a strong warning against this diplomatic strategy, contrasting it with reliance on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. The immediate historical backdrop is the ongoing tension between Assyria, Egypt, and the smaller nations like Judah.
Isaiah 31 1 Word Analysis
- Woe (הוֹי - hoy): An interjection expressing grief, distress, or condemnation. It signifies a pronouncement of judgment or misfortune upon those who are the object of this statement.
- to those (אֶל־אֲשֶׁר - 'el-'ăšer): "to those who." This introduces the people or nation against whom the woe is declared.
- go down (יוֹרְדִים - yōrəḏîm): Present participle of the verb "to go down." Implies a deliberate movement into Egypt, perhaps suggesting a descending in status or seeking succlantation by a lesser power. It’s an active decision to seek earthly aid.
- to Egypt (מִצְרַיִם - Miṣrāyim): Refers to the nation of Egypt, a significant power in the ancient Near East, often involved in regional politics and military interventions. Historically, Egypt represented a powerful, albeit often unreliable, ally for Judah.
- for help (לְעֶזְרָה - ləʿezrāh): "for aid" or "for assistance." Specifies the purpose of going down to Egypt.
- and rely (וְנִסְמָכִים - wəniśmāḵîm): "and leaning upon." Indicates dependence and a trusting posture. It conveys a sense of placing one's support or weight upon something or someone.
- on horses (עַל־סוּסִים - ʿal-sûsîm): "upon horses." Refers to cavalry, a significant military asset and symbol of military might and speed in the ancient world.
- and trust (וּבִרְכֶבֶת - ūḇirḵeḇeṯ): "and in chariots." The plural form indicates multiple chariots. Chariots were formidable war machines of the era, representing power, offense, and intimidation.
- because (כִּי־רָבּוּ - kî-rabbû): "because they are many" or "because they are numerous." The reason given for the trust in these military assets. Quantity is seen as the basis of their perceived strength.
- and in horsemen (וּבְפָרָשִׁים — ūḇəpārāšîm): "and in horsemen" or "and by horsemen." Refers to the riders of the horses, the elite military force. This highlights a trust in the sheer number and power of their cavalry.
- because (כִּי־עָצוּ — kî-ʿāṣû): "because they are strong" or "because they are mighty." Further emphasis on the perceived formidable strength of the cavalry.
- but (וְ — wə): A conjunction indicating contrast or exception.
- do not look (לֹא — lō): "not." Negation.
- to the Holy One (אֶל־קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל — 'el-Qəḏōš Yiśrā'ēl): "to the Holy One of Israel." This is a significant title for God in Isaiah, emphasizing His divine purity, separateness, and power. It refers to God's absolute holiness and His covenant relationship with Israel.
- and do not consult (וְלֹא — wəlo): "and not." Negation again.
- the Lord (יְהוָה — Yəhōwāh): The personal covenant name of God. It signifies God's faithfulness and relationship with His people.
Word Groups Analysis
- "Go down to Egypt for help": This phrase signifies seeking assistance from an earthly power that is inherently transient and subordinate to God's ultimate sovereignty. It implies a forsaking of direct reliance on God.
- "Rely on horses and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong": This clause details the specific misplaced trust. The emphasis on numbers ("many") and strength ("strong") highlights a purely human, material, and tactical assessment of power, devoid of spiritual discernment. It represents a faith in military might over divine intervention.
- "But do not look to the Holy One of Israel and do not consult the Lord": This is the crux of the error. The verse directly contrasts reliance on earthly military strength with dependence on God. "Look to" (Hebrew: habat, which implies intent gazing, considering) and "consult" (Hebrew: darash, meaning to seek, inquire, search for) highlight the necessity of actively seeking God's presence and guidance. The "Holy One of Israel" and "the Lord" are not merely descriptive titles but the divine entities with whom a true relationship should exist.
Isaiah 31 1 Bonus Section
The phrase "go down to Egypt" carried significant negative connotations for the Israelites, harkening back to their bondage in Egypt and God's deliverance from it. Reverting to Egypt for aid was akin to returning to slavery or seeking help from their former oppressors, indicating a lack of faith in the God who had already shown His power by freeing them. This act was often seen as a betrayal of their covenant relationship with God. The reference to Egypt's horses and chariots is particularly pointed, as these were symbols of Egyptian military might. Isaiah is effectively saying that Egypt's strength, though impressive, is nothing compared to the Lord's. The emphasis on the "Holy One of Israel" is crucial. It points to God's unique nature—His absolute holiness—which makes Him utterly different from pagan deities and human powers, and therefore the only reliable source of salvation.
Isaiah 31 1 Commentary
This verse serves as a stern rebuke to Judah for placing its ultimate security in the military power and alliances of Egypt, rather than in the Lord. It is a critique of misplaced faith, where humanly devised strategies and material strength are substituted for divine reliance. The emphasis on horses, chariots, and numerous horsemen reflects a worldly approach to security, valuing visible and tangible power. Isaiah contrasts this with the spiritual requirement to look to and consult God, the "Holy One of Israel." This means recognizing His sovereignty, acknowledging His power beyond human comprehension, and actively seeking His will and guidance through prayer and His word. True safety and victory, the verse implies, come not from human might but from divine favor earned through faithfulness and trust. The folly lies in entrusting destiny to forces that are ultimately controlled by God and are themselves susceptible to His power.