Isaiah 31:3 kjv
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.
Isaiah 31:3 nkjv
Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, Both he who helps will fall, And he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together.
Isaiah 31:3 niv
But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together.
Isaiah 31:3 esv
The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and he who is helped will fall, and they will all perish together.
Isaiah 31:3 nlt
For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God!
Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits!
When the LORD raises his fist against them,
those who help will stumble,
and those being helped will fall.
They will all fall down and die together.
Isaiah 31 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 2:22 | "Cease from man, in whose nostrils is breath, for wherein is he to be accounted of?" | Focus on human frailty vs. God's power |
| Isaiah 8:9-10 | "Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; yea, take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; for God is with us." | Warning against human plans against God |
| Isaiah 19:1 | "The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt..." | God's judgment upon Egypt |
| Isaiah 30:7 | "For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, That they are strength wasted." | Futility of Egyptian aid |
| Isaiah 31:5 | "As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and with his speeding he will preserve it." | God's defense contrasting Egypt's aid |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." | Curse on trusting man |
| Jeremiah 46:11 | "Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be healed." | Hopelessness of Egyptian remedies |
| Jeremiah 46:17 | "They shall cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed." | Pharaoh's power is ephemeral |
| Psalms 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." | Contrast of trust in chariots/God |
| Psalms 146:3-5 | "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:" | Importance of trusting God over man |
| 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 thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rent all their arm: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand." | Egypt as a weak and unreliable staff |
| Hosea 10:13 | "Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men." | Consequence of trusting in own strength |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" | God uses the weak to confound the mighty |
| Galatians 3:3 | "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" | Warning against relying on flesh |
| John 3:36 | "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." | Faith in Christ brings life |
| Romans 8:8 | "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." | Cannot please God by fleshly means |
| 1 John 2:16 | "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." | Dangers of worldly pride/lust |
| Revelation 18:10 | "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come." | Judgment on mighty earthly powers |
| Deuteronomy 17:16 | "But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way." | Israel's prohibition of multiplying horses |
| Proverbs 28:25 | "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely shall be delivered." | Warning against self-reliance |
Isaiah 31 verses
Isaiah 31 3 Meaning
The Egyptians, trusting in chariots and horsemen, are like fleeting shadows and shifting clouds. They possess great strength, but it is mortal and destined to perish because they have relied on human might and forsaken the Lord.
Isaiah 31 3 Context
This verse is found within Isaiah's prophecy against the Kingdom of Judah as they contemplate seeking military aid from Egypt to resist the Assyrian empire. The immediate context is the impending threat of the Assyrian invasion. The prophet Isaiah is tasked by God to deliver a message to Judah, warning them against placing their confidence in Egypt's military might. Earlier in chapter 31, Isaiah has already condemned relying on chariots and horses and announced the Lord's intervention to protect Jerusalem. This verse serves as a vivid illustration of why trusting in Egypt is futile and how precarious their power truly is. Historically, Egypt was a formidable regional power, but it was often politically unstable and its strength was ultimately limited by its human leadership and resources, unlike the omnipotent God of Israel. The polemic is against the political and religious syncretism that relied on pagan alliances and human strength rather than faith in Yahweh.
Isaiah 31 3 Word Analysis
וְגַם (we·gam) - "And also." This conjunction links the following statement to previous warnings. It emphasizes an additional reason or aspect of their folly.
אַנְשֵׁי (an·shei) - "men," "people." Plural of אישׁ (ish), meaning man. Refers to the inhabitants or the people of Egypt.
חֹמֶד (cho·med) - "desire," "splendor," "beauty," "valued." The root is חמד (chamad), meaning to desire or covet. Here, it describes the Egyptians as being "valued" or "esteemed," possibly for their outward show of strength or their worldly resources. It highlights their attractiveness as an ally, but an attractiveness based on the flesh.
וְהַסּוּסִים (we·has·su·sim) - "and the horses." Plural of סוּס (sus), horse. Refers specifically to the cavalry.
לְבָשָׂר (le·va·sar) - "to flesh." Hebrew for flesh. It signifies mortality, weakness, and impermanence. Contrasted with God's spirit and power.
וּבְרוּחַ (u·ve·ru·ach) - "and by spirit." From רוּחַ (ruach), spirit or wind. Here, it's "spirit," often associated with life-breath. The phrase contrasts the mortal breath of men with God's enduring power.
לֹא (lo) - "not." A strong negation.
אֵל (El) - "god." The general term for God, but in context refers to the One True God, Yahweh.
רוּחַ (ru·ach) - "spirit," "breath." Again, spirit. Here it refers to the divine Spirit of God.
מִי (mi) - "who?" An interrogative pronoun. Used here to emphasize the question of God's intervention.
יַצִּילֵם (yatz·tzei·lem) - "will deliver them." From root נצל (natzal), to snatch away, deliver, rescue. Refers to rescuing from peril or destruction.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Men of desire and horses": This phrase (אַנְשֵׁי חֹמֶד וְהַסּוּסִים) captures the essence of human confidence. The "men" represent the people and leadership, while "horses" symbolize military strength, chariots, and visible power – things that seem impressive and desirable in the world's eyes.
- "Flesh and not spirit": The juxtaposition of לְבָשָׂר (le·va·sar - flesh) and רוּחַ (ru·ach - spirit) is crucial. It draws a sharp distinction between the transient, vulnerable nature of humanity and the eternal, all-powerful nature of God. The Egyptian strength is material and temporal; God's power is spiritual and everlasting.
- "Who will deliver them": The rhetorical question (מִי יַצִּילֵם - mi yatz·tzei·lem) underscores the futility of the Egyptian alliance. When a nation is attacked by God, or when God withdraws His favor, no human force, however strong, can save them.
Isaiah 31 3 Bonus Section
The imagery of Egypt as "flesh" against God's "Spirit" resonates with New Testament themes about spiritual warfare and the limitations of carnal strength. The prohibition for Israel to multiply horses, found in Deuteronomy 17:16, is directly relevant here, as it was a specific reminder from God that His people should not depend on military might, especially by imitating Egypt, their former oppressor and a symbol of human power. The prophetic utterance about riding on a "swift cloud" in Isaiah 19:1, pointing to God's sovereign action, also contrasts with Egypt's earthly horses and chariots. The phrase "men of desire" might also subtly hint at the temptations of worldly power and alliances that draw people away from true devotion.
Isaiah 31 3 Commentary
Isaiah vividly illustrates the absolute emptiness of relying on Egypt's strength. The Egyptians, in their proud military might – their soldiers ("men of desire") and their formidable cavalry ("horses") – are likened to things that fade away: a fleeting shadow or the unsteady breath of a mortal being. This is because their power is merely "flesh" (mortal, material, weak) and not the divine "Spirit" (eternal, all-powerful, God Himself). The prophet poses a rhetorical question: if God himself is against you or has removed His protection, who amongst mortal beings can rescue you? This serves as a stark warning against any nation, particularly Judah, that places its ultimate hope in human alliances or military strength instead of the living God. It emphasizes that true security and deliverance come only from the Lord.