Bible/Isaiah/31

Isaiah 31:1

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!

KJV

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Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don’t seek Yahweh!

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!

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 to the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

31:2 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. call: Heb. remove

What does Isaiah 31:1 mean?

Isaiah 31:1 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include הוֹי (hôwy), יָרַד (yârad), מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Woeהוֹיhôwy/hoh'ee/H1945oh!
to
them
that
go
downיָרַדyârad/yaw-rad'/H3381to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)
to
EgyptמִצְרַיִםMitsrayim/mits-rah'-yim/H4714Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
for
help;עֶזְרָהʻezrâh/ez-raw'/H5833aid
and
stayשָׁעַןshâʻan/shaw-an'/H8172to support one's self
on
horses,סוּסçûwç/soos/H5483a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight)
and
trustבָּטַחbâṭach/baw-takh'/H982figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
in
chariots,רֶכֶבrekeb/reh'-keb/H7393a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone
because
they
are
many;רַבrab/rab/H7227abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
and
in
horsemen,פָּרָשׁpârâsh/paw-rawsh'/H6571a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collectively) cavalry
because
they
are
veryמְאֹדmᵉʼôd/meh-ode'/H3966properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated)
strong;עָצַםʻâtsam/aw-tsam'/H6105to bind fast, i.e. close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones
but
they
lookשָׁעָהshâʻâh/shaw-aw'/H8159to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewildered
not
unto
the
Holy
Oneקָדוֹשׁqâdôwsh/kaw-doshe'/H6918sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary
of
Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
neither
seekדָּרַשׁdârash/daw-rash'/H1875properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
the
LORD!יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

Commentary on Isaiah 31:1

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 31:1
ummer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Here is, 1. The just praise of those who improve their opportunities, who take pains to gather and increase what they have, both for soul and body, who provide for hereafter while provision is to be made, who gather in summer, which is gathering time. He who does so is a wise son, and it is his honour; he acts wisely for his parents, whom, if there be occasion, he ought to maintain, and he gives reputation to himself, his family, and his education. 2. The just reproach and blame of those who trifle away these opportunities: He who sleeps, loves his ease, idles away his time, and neglects his work, especially who sleeps in harvest, when he should be laying in for winter, who lets slip the season of furnishing himself with that which he will have occasion for, is a son that causes shame; for he is a foolish son; he prepares shame for himself when winter comes, and reflects shame upon all his friends. He who gets knowledge and wisdom in the days of his youth gathers in summer, and he will have the comfort and credit of his industry; but he who idles away the days of his youth will bear the shame of his indolence when he is old. 6 Blessings

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Kings 11:36

And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. light: Heb. lamp, or, candle

2 Kings 19:34

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

2 Chronicles 24:16

And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.

Job 18:17

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

Job 27:23

Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

Psalms 9:5

Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

Psalms 9:6

O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. O thou: or, The destructions of the enemy are come to a perpetual end: and their cities hast thou destroyed, etc

Ecclesiastes 8:10

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

Jeremiah 17:13

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Mark 14:9

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Luke 1:48

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Topics

Alliances, PoliticalFalse ConfidenceSeeking GodTrust

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 31:1.

1 Kings 20:1

And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.

1 Kings 20:21

And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

1 Kings 20:25

And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. that thou: Heb. that was fallen

2 Chronicles 16:8

Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. a huge: Heb. in abundance

2 Kings 10:2

Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;

2 Kings 18:24

How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

2 Kings 2:11

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

2 Kings 5:9

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 31:1 say?

Isaiah 31:1 (King James Version) reads: "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!"

Is Isaiah 31:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 31:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 31:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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