Isaiah 31:9 kjv
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.
Isaiah 31:9 nkjv
He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear, And his princes shall be afraid of the banner," Says the LORD, Whose fire is in Zion And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31:9 niv
Their stronghold will fall because of terror; at the sight of the battle standard their commanders will panic," declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31:9 esv
His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic," declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31:9 nlt
Even the strongest will quake with terror,
and princes will flee when they see your battle flags,"
says the LORD, whose fire burns in Zion,
whose flame blazes from Jerusalem.
Isaiah 31 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 31:9 | Its fortress will pass away in terror, its commanders deserted… | Isaiah 31:9 |
| Isaiah 1:31 | the mighty man shall be as tow, and his exploit as a spark; they shall burn together… | Isaiah 1:31 (Self-destruction imagery) |
| Jeremiah 49:22 | Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the jungle of Jordan against the permanent pasture; for He will suddenly drive them away… | Jeremiah 49:22 (Sudden judgment imagery) |
| Ezekiel 20:47 | and say to the forest of the Negeb, 'Hear the word of the LORD; thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you… | Ezekiel 20:47 (Fire imagery against a place) |
| Psalm 76:5 | The stouthearted were stunned, they fell fast asleep. No warrior could lift a hand. | Psalm 76:5 (Defeat of the mighty) |
| Nahum 2:10 | She is empty, and void, and waste… | Nahum 2:10 (Imagery of destruction) |
| Habakkuk 2:8 | Because you have plundered many nations, all the survivors of the peoples shall plunder you… | Habakkuk 2:8 (Consequences of violence) |
| Jeremiah 51:30 | The warriors of Babylon have ceased to fight; they have remained in their strongholds… | Jeremiah 51:30 (Capitulation of warriors) |
| Isaiah 30:17 | and the second shall flee when there is no one pursuing… | Isaiah 30:17 (Fear and scattering) |
| Isaiah 30:5 | All who relied on Egypt are put to shame and disgrace. | Isaiah 30:5 (Reliance on external help) |
| Isaiah 14:26 | For this is the LORD of hosts' purpose, and who can annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? | Isaiah 14:26 (God's sovereign purpose) |
| Romans 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and how inscrutable his ways! | Romans 11:33 (Unsearchable ways of God) |
| Acts 17:24-25 | The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth… | Acts 17:24-25 (God's sovereignty) |
| Deuteronomy 32:36 | For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone… | Deuteronomy 32:36 (God's vindication) |
| Isaiah 6:10 | Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes… | Isaiah 6:10 (Spiritual blindness) |
| Isaiah 29:14 | therefore, behold, I will again do marvelous work among this people… | Isaiah 29:14 (God's continued work) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise… | 1 Corinthians 1:27 (God's ways contrast human reasoning) |
| Isaiah 22:8 | You also looked upon the armor of the house of Lebanon… | Isaiah 22:8 (Critique of material defense) |
| Zephaniah 1:12 | At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs… | Zephaniah 1:12 (Judgment on complacent) |
| Isaiah 10:24-25 | Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians… | Isaiah 10:24-25 (Warning against fear of enemies) |
Isaiah 31 verses
Isaiah 31 9 Meaning
The fortress of the LORD will be destroyed by its own fire, and its soldiers will be scattered. Zion's strength will be consumed by an internal failing.
Isaiah 31 9 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 31, which primarily addresses the folly of the people of Judah for seeking alliances with Egypt (represented by the symbol of the ox) rather than relying on the Lord. The chapter condemns their trust in military strength and foreign aid, highlighting the inadequacy of such reliance in the face of divine judgment. Isaiah contrasts the strength and effectiveness of God with the weakness and ultimate failure of human alliances and fortifications. This particular verse specifically describes the inevitable downfall of these misguided defenses. The historical backdrop likely includes Assyrian threats and Judah's temptation to seek help from Egypt, a powerful but ultimately unreliable ally.
Isaiah 31 9 Word Analysis
- Psillo (Hebrew: סֵלָה, selah) - This word translates to "its fortress" or "its stronghold." It signifies a place of strength and security, but in this context, it refers to the fortifications and military might of Judah.
- Lomoto (Hebrew: מַחֲסֵהוּ, maḥăsehū) - Meaning "its refuge" or "its trust." This points to the misplaced confidence the people had in their physical defenses and foreign alliances, rather than in God.
- Mehhemmi (Hebrew: יִפֶּל, yip-pēl) - Translates to "shall fall." This verb denotes collapse and ruin, indicating the utter destruction of their fortified positions.
- Mehafoz (Hebrew: גַּבְרָיו, gaḇ-rām) - Meaning "its warriors" or "its men of might." This refers to the soldiers and leaders who defended the fortresses.
- Beleyal-laili (Hebrew: וּמֶּרֶכֶב, u-mērekev) - Literally "and its chariot." In the Masoretic Text, this is sometimes understood in a broader sense related to military might and preparedness, implying their instruments of war. However, the Hebrew can also refer to the drivers or commanders of the chariots, which aligns with the subsequent phrase. Some translations read "its commanders," capturing the sense of leadership.
- Shudat (Hebrew: לְהִשָּׁמֵד, lə-hishāmed) - Meaning "to be destroyed" or "to be vanquished." This indicates a complete annihilation, signifying not just a defeat but a utter loss of power.
- Azza (Hebrew: עֹז, `oz) - Meaning "strength," "might," or "power." It refers to the power and resilience of the fortified place.
- Nimsafath (Hebrew: נֶחְפָּשֶׂת, neḥpā-set) - This verb from the root ḥāpas signifies "searched out," "eschewed," or "brought to nought." It implies that their perceived strength would be rendered useless and stripped away.
Word Groups Analysis
- "Its fortress, its refuge": This pairing emphasizes the double reliance that Judah placed on material security – both the physical structures of defense and the trust placed within those systems and potential allies.
- "Shall fall, its warriors and its commanders to be destroyed": This progression describes a total military collapse. First, the stronghold itself succumbs ("shall fall"), and then the men responsible for its defense, from the common soldier ("its warriors") to the leaders ("its commanders"), are utterly annihilated ("to be destroyed").
- "His strength is to be searched out, also his chariots": This phrase describes the stripping away of all capability. Their strength would not only be broken but thoroughly examined and found wanting, their military vehicles rendered useless, highlighting the futility of their preparations.
Isaiah 31 9 Bonus Section
The destruction of their own fortifications and the scattering of their warriors is a powerful testament to God’s sovereignty over nations and their power structures. This verse illustrates that sometimes God's judgment works by allowing the inherent weaknesses and consequences of flawed strategies to manifest fully. The mention of "its fortress" and "its refuge" speaks to the pride and self-sufficiency that often accompany human defense systems, leading to a fall that is internal rather than solely from an external foe, a potent symbol of pride preceding a fall (Proverbs 16:18). The ultimate point is that Judah's reliance on Egypt’s strength, depicted earlier as a mighty but ultimately helpless ox (Isaiah 31:3), was a fatal flaw leading to inevitable ruin.
Isaiah 31 9 Commentary
Isaiah 31:9 serves as a stark warning against placing ultimate trust in human power, military might, or political alliances instead of relying on the sovereign power of God. The imagery of a fortress, the symbol of human security and defense, being consumed by its own fire signifies an internal breakdown and self-destruction resulting from misplaced confidence. The scattering and destruction of the warriors and commanders underscore that even the most organized and powerful human defense mechanisms are utterly inadequate when they are not founded upon divine favor. This verse echoes a consistent theme throughout Scripture: true security and strength are found not in fortifications of stone or human armies, but in unwavering faith and obedience to the Lord. God's judgment often targets the very things people depend on apart from Him, revealing their ultimate emptiness.