The big picture
Isaiah 31 opens in verse 1 with “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 5 with “As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will…”, and closes in verse 9 with “And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, fall, sword, afraid, help. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 9Isaiah 31:1-5
1–5: Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and…
Isaiah 31:1–5 opens with “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because…” and reaches “As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 31 develops its own movement around LORD, fall, sword, afraid, help, with particular weight carried by LORD, fall, help.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the…” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 31:1-5
King James Version1Woe 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 !
2Yet 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.
3Now 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.
4For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
5As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
Isaiah 31:6-9
6–9: Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
Isaiah 31:6–9 opens with “Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.” and reaches “And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 31 develops its own movement around LORD, fall, sword, afraid, help, with particular weight carried by sword, idols, afraid.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.” Naming Israel and Turn keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 31:6-9
King James Version6Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
7For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
8Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
9And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 31:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 31:3 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Isaiah 31:9 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, fall, sword, afraid, help, horses help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why do Rachel and Leah agree to leave?
They see themselves as alienated from their father's household and support the journey God has commanded.
What does the boundary accomplish?
It limits hostile crossing and places their future conduct under divine witness.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.