Isaiah 31:2 kjv
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.
Isaiah 31:2 nkjv
Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity.
Isaiah 31:2 niv
Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words. He will rise up against that wicked nation, against those who help evildoers.
Isaiah 31:2 esv
And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.
Isaiah 31:2 nlt
In his wisdom, the LORD will send great disaster;
he will not change his mind.
He will rise against the wicked
and against their helpers.
Isaiah 31 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 31:1 | "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses..." | Isa 31:1 (Introductory context) |
| Jeremiah 2:36 | "Why do you go about so much changing your way? You will be ashamed with Egypt..." | Jer 2:36 (Rebuking reliance on Egypt) |
| Psalm 20:7 | "Some boast of chariots, and some of horses, but we boast of the name of the LORD our God." | Psa 20:7 (Contrast with true trust) |
| Psalm 33:16-17 | "No king is saved by the multitude of a mighty army; no warrior escapes by great strength. The warhorse is a false hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save." | Psa 33:16-17 (Worldly strength's futility) |
| Deuteronomy 17:16 | "He shall not have many horses, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt..." | Deut 17:16 (Prohibition against Egyptian alliances) |
| Isaiah 30:16 | "But you said, 'No! We will flee on horses'; therefore you shall flee! And, 'We will ride swift steeds'; therefore your pursuers shall be swift." | Isa 30:16 (Similar prophecy of flight) |
| Jeremiah 17:5-6 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.'" | Jer 17:5-6 (Consequences of human trust) |
| Ezekiel 29:6-7 | "And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of you with your hand, you broke, and put to shame all their standing." | Ezek 29:6-7 (Egypt as a weak staff) |
| Psalm 147:10 | "He does not delight in the strength of a horse, nor take pleasure in the legs of a man." | Psa 147:10 (Lord's perspective on strength) |
| Hosea 1:7 | "But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, by horses, or by horsemen." | Hos 1:7 (Lord saving without military might) |
| 2 Chronicles 32:8 | "With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” | 2 Chron 32:8 (Contrast of strength) |
| Romans 9:16 | "So then it is not of one who wills, nor of one who runs, but of God who shows mercy." | Rom 9:16 (Sovereignty of God) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:25 | "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." | 1 Cor 1:25 (Paradox of divine strength) |
| Ephesians 6:10 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." | Eph 6:10 (Source of true strength) |
| Galatians 5:6 | "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love." | Gal 5:6 (Faith as the active principle) |
| Isaiah 40:31 | "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." | Isa 40:31 (True strength from waiting) |
| Zechariah 4:6 | "Then he answered and said to me: 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.'" | Zech 4:6 (Spirit's power) |
| Jeremiah 46:15 | "What happened to you, that your mighty ones were overthrown? They did not stand, because the LORD had thrust them down." | Jer 46:15 (God's power against might) |
| Psalm 118:8 | "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." | Psa 118:8 (Better to trust God) |
| Isaiah 31:3 | "The Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit." | Isa 31:3 (Reinforces the point) |
Isaiah 31 verses
Isaiah 31 2 Meaning
The Lord declares that the Egyptians, relying on their chariots and horses, are weakened and spiritually feeble, not empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. Their trust is in worldly strength and manpower, which is ultimately insufficient and will lead to their downfall.
Isaiah 31 2 Context
Chapter 31 of Isaiah serves as a strong rebuke against Judah for seeking military alliances and protection from Egypt, rather than relying on the Lord. The prophet's message is delivered in a historical context where the Kingdom of Judah is facing threats from the powerful Assyrian Empire. Instead of trusting in God's promises and power, Judah is tempted to depend on Egypt's military might. This verse specifically addresses the flawed reliance on Egyptian resources, highlighting their superficial strength compared to the omnipresent power of God. Isaiah is arguing that this misplaced trust is futile and will ultimately lead to ruin, as the Egyptians, though appearing powerful, are ultimately weak in themselves.
Isaiah 31 2 Word Analysis
- וְאֶל־(wə’el-): "And to" - Connects this verse to the previous warning, establishing a flow of condemnation against misplaced trust.
- מִצְרַיִם֙ (miṣ·rā·yim): "Egypt" - Refers to the nation and its formidable military strength, particularly its horses and chariots, which were renowned in the ancient world. Egypt represented a tempting worldly power for the Israelites.
- לְעֵ֧זֶר (lə·‘ê·zep): "for help" - Denotes seeking assistance or aid. Judah's action is seen as a turn away from God as their helper.
- וְעַל־(wə·‘al-): "and on" - Further emphasizes reliance.
- סוּסִ֛ים (sū·sîm): "horses" - Specifically referring to cavalry, a significant military force at the time. The strength of a nation's cavalry was a major indicator of its military prowess.
- וְעַל־(wə·‘al-): "and on" - Another conjunction for reliance.
- פָּרָשִׁ֖ים (pā·rā·šîm): "horsemen" - Implies cavalrymen, often mounted warriors, signifying a trained and formidable military component.
- וְכִֽי־(wə·ḵî-): "and because" - Introduces the reason for their lack of spiritual strength.
- הֵ֥ם (hēm): "they" - Pronoun referring back to the Egyptians.
- בָּשָׂ֥ר (bā·śār): "flesh" - Signifies mortal, physical, and temporary human nature and strength. It contrasts with the divine and spiritual nature of God.
- וְלֹא־(wə·lō-): "and not" - A strong negation.
- רוּחַ֙ (rû·aḥ): "Spirit" - Referring to the Holy Spirit of God, the divine power and active agent. The Hebrew word
ruachcan also mean wind or breath, conveying a sense of power and life. - קָדֹ֔שׁ (qā·dôš): "holy" - Attributes holiness to the Spirit, highlighting God's perfect and set-apart nature as the source of true power, distinct from human or Egyptian power.
- וְהִכְרִ֣יס (wə·hiḵ·rîs): "and He shall make (them) stumble" or "bow down" - This verb implies a collapse, a failure, or being made weak. God will cause this reliance on human strength to fail.
- הַסֹּמֵ֖ךְ (has·sō·mêḵ): "the one who leans upon" or "the helper" - Refers to the one seeking support, which is Judah in this context.
Word Group Analysis
- "horses and horsemen": This phrase symbolizes worldly military might and human-based power structures that are not dependent on God. It represents reliance on tangible, physical strength rather than spiritual power.
- "flesh and not Spirit": This is a core antithesis in the verse, directly contrasting human limitation and weakness ("flesh") with divine omnipotence and life-giving power ("Spirit"). It underscores that earthly power is inherently insufficient when compared to God's might.
- "make stumble the one who leans upon": This clause explains the consequence of this misplaced reliance. God will cause the source of their help (Egypt) to fail and bring down those who trust in it.
Isaiah 31 2 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word basar (flesh) is used in the Bible not only for physical body but also metaphorically for humanity in its weakness and sinfulness, often in contrast to the Spirit or divine holiness. This is seen in passages like Psalm 56:4, "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" Similarly, New Testament theology often contrasts "flesh" with "Spirit" (e.g., Romans 8), highlighting the human tendency towards sin and weakness versus God's empowering grace. The imagery of horses was significant in ancient warfare, and by extension, they can represent any impressive human system of power, defense, or status. The rejection of Egyptian alliance and the warning against similar humanistic strategies is a recurring theme in the Old Testament prophetic books.
Isaiah 31 2 Commentary
This verse vividly illustrates the sin of seeking security and help from human institutions rather than from God. The strength of Egypt, epitomized by its horses and cavalry, is presented as formidable by human standards. However, Isaiah pronounces divine judgment on this reliance because it fundamentally misunderstands the source of true power. "Flesh" represents all that is human, mortal, and earthly, while "Spirit" refers to the dynamic, life-giving, and all-powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. The Egyptians' horses, though powerful in war, are ultimately just "flesh" – a temporary and insufficient means of defense. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord are aligned with the Spirit, which grants enduring strength. The consequence for Judah's misplaced trust is that God will cause both Egypt and Judah's reliance on it to fail. This highlights a key principle: true security and power are found exclusively in dependence on God and His Spirit, not in worldly alliances or military strength.