Isaiah 31:6 kjv
Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
Isaiah 31:6 nkjv
Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
Isaiah 31:6 niv
Return, you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted against.
Isaiah 31:6 esv
Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel.
Isaiah 31:6 nlt
Though you are such wicked rebels, my people, come and return to the LORD.
Isaiah 31 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and in chariots because they are many… | Isa 30:1-2, 31:3 (Abandoning God for Egypt) |
| Jeremiah 2:36 | Why do you gad about so much to change your way? You will be ashamed also of Egypt as you were ashamed of Assyria. | Jer 2:36-37 (Critique of foreign alliances) |
| Hosea 14:1-2 | Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good..." | Hos 14:1-3 (Call to return to God) |
| Joel 2:13 | Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love... | Joel 2:13 (Emphasis on sincere repentance) |
| Acts 3:19 | Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. | Acts 3:19 (New Testament call to repentance) |
| Psalm 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the abundance of his army; no warrior is delivered by the greatness of his strength. The warhorse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. | Psa 33:16-17 (Trusting in human strength is futile) |
| Psalm 20:7 | Some boast in chariots, and some in horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. | Psa 20:7 (Contrasting worldly reliance with God) |
| Psalm 147:10 | He does not delight in the strength of a horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man. | Psa 147:10 (God's lack of reliance on earthly might) |
| Proverbs 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. | Prov 3:5-6 (Trust in God's guidance) |
| 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. | John 14:26 (The Holy Spirit as guide and teacher) |
| Isaiah 30:15 | For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust is your strength." | Isa 30:15 (Key text on returning and rest) |
| Isaiah 31:4 | For thus says the LORD to me, "As a lion or a young lion growls over its prey and, when called to the attack, is not dismayed by an outcry of shepherds, nor disturbed by the noise of the drove..." | Isa 31:4 (God's protective strength) |
| Isaiah 31:8 | Against it shall the Assyrian fall by a sword, not of man, and a sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. | Isa 31:8 (Assyria's defeat by God's hand) |
| Jeremiah 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." | Jer 17:5 (The curse of relying on man) |
| Deuteronomy 8:17 | lest you say in your heart, "My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth." | Deut 8:17 (Warning against self-reliance) |
| Joshua 24:14 | "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD." | Josh 24:14 (Call to worship the Lord alone) |
| Matthew 11:28 | Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. | Matt 11:28 (Jesus' invitation to rest and refuge) |
| Psalm 62:8 | Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before him; God is a refuge for us. | Psa 62:8 (God as a constant refuge) |
| Isaiah 31:3 | The Egyptians are men, 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 all of them will fail together. | Isa 31:3 (Egypt's weakness compared to God) |
| 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 (Those who wait for God gain strength) |
Isaiah 31 verses
Isaiah 31 6 Meaning
Return to the Lord your God. Israel's pursuit of help from Egypt is a departure from faithfulness to God, who is their true strength and refuge. This verse is a call to repentance and renewed trust in divine power.
Isaiah 31 6 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 31, which is a rebuke of Judah for their reliance on Egypt for military aid against Assyria. The prophet stresses that their true strength and salvation come only from the LORD. The Assyrian empire was a major threat, and Judah was tempted to form an alliance with Egypt, which was seen as a powerful military force. However, Isaiah warns against this political and military entanglement, highlighting the weakness and unreliability of Egypt's horses and chariots in comparison to God's divine power and protection. This chapter, along with the preceding ones, emphasizes a consistent theme throughout Isaiah: the folly of seeking security in human alliances rather than in unwavering trust in God. The original audience, the people of Judah, needed this stern reminder to turn away from their own political strategies and return to their covenantal relationship with the Lord.
Isaiah 31 6 Word analysis
- "Return" (Hebrew: שׁוּבוּ - shuvu)
- Comes from the root word שׁוּב (shuv), meaning to turn back, turn again, repent. It implies a turning from a wrong direction or action to the right one.
- This is a crucial concept in the Old Testament, often used for spiritual repentance and turning back to God from idolatry or sin.
- "you" (Hebrew: בְּנֵי־אַתּוּן - benei-aton). In some manuscripts and translations, it might refer to the inhabitants of Egypt or specifically those involved in the alliance. However, in many widely accepted Hebrew texts and consistent with the surrounding verses (like 31:1 and 31:3 which address the house of Jacob/Israel), this word more broadly addresses the people of Judah, particularly the leaders who orchestrated the alliance.
- It is important to note that the verse is an exhortation to Israel, hence "return, you."
- "your" (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֶיךָ - Elohecha)
- Refers to God, but the possessive pronoun indicates a covenantal relationship. This God is their God, the God who had chosen them and made a covenant.
- This highlights that they are turning away from the very God who has claimed them.
- "God" (Hebrew: יהוה - YHWH, usually transliterated as LORD in English translations, often interpreted as "He who is, the Everlasting One").
- The explicit use of the Tetragrammaton emphasizes the personal and covenantal nature of God.
- "for" (Hebrew: כִּי - ki)
- A conjunction indicating reason or cause. It links the call to return with the reason that follows, explaining why they need to return.
- "you have" (Hebrew: מָעַדְתֶּם - ma'adtem)
- From the root מעד (ma'ad), meaning to stumble, slip, or apostatize. It signifies a severe transgression, a falling away from loyalty and faith.
- It implies a conscious movement away from God's path.
- "stumbled" (Hebrew: בַּעֲוֺנְכֶם - ba'avonchem)
- This phrase actually reads "because of your iniquity." The Hebrew עָוֺן (avon) signifies iniquity, guilt, perversity, and depravity.
- This emphasizes that their stumbling or apostasy is not accidental but a direct consequence of their own wrongful deeds and rebellion against God's commands.
Group of words analysis:
- "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God": This phrase encapsulates a foundational command and theme throughout Scripture. It's not merely a physical movement but a deep-seated spiritual and emotional reorientation towards God. The "you" (plural imperative form of shuv) directly addresses the collective people of Israel. The emphasis on "your God" signifies the violated covenant relationship. This plea echoes God's persistent invitation for His people to reject sin and unfaithfulness and to reaffirm their devotion.
- "for you have stumbled because of your iniquity": This part of the verse explains the spiritual state necessitating the call to return. "Stumbled" (ma'adtem) and "iniquity" ('avonchem) powerfully describe a state of deviation from God's path, a culpable lapse into sin that has led them away from their true source of strength. This sin is not minor but the very "iniquity" that breaks the covenant and causes them to stray.
Isaiah 31 6 Bonus section
The imperative "Return" (shuvu) is repeated often in prophetic literature, particularly to the northern kingdom of Israel before its fall, and to Judah before the Babylonian exile. It reflects God's enduring love and patience, always offering a path back even after grievous sin. The understanding of "iniquity" ('avon) implies not just the act of sin but also the resulting guilt and the perversion of God's intended order. This verse is a microcosm of the larger biblical narrative of human apostasy and God's gracious invitation to repentance and reconciliation. It emphasizes that effective help comes not from turning to powerful earthly entities but from turning to the ultimate power—the LORD.
Isaiah 31 6 Commentary
The call to "Return... to the LORD your God" is paramount. It signifies a complete reversal of direction from reliance on outward strength (like Egyptian horses and chariots, as described in preceding verses) to an inward turning and reliance on God. This act of returning is prompted by the acknowledgment of their "iniquity," which has caused them to "stumble"—a deviation from the path of faithfulness and obedience. This verse functions as a pivotal appeal for repentance, reminding Israel that their security, victory, and well-being are divinely sourced, not found in human alliances or military might. True strength, as hinted in the previous and subsequent verses (e.g., Isa 30:15, "in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust is your strength"), comes from spiritual realignment with the LORD.
Practical usage:
- When facing a daunting problem, first re-examine if personal pride or reliance on worldly means is hindering complete trust in God.
- Acknowledge any unfaithfulness or sin that has led you away from prayer and dependence on God.
- Make a deliberate "turn" back to seeking God's wisdom and strength before engaging in actions or decisions.