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Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
Isaiah 31 warns against looking to Egypt for military help instead of looking to the Lord. The passage contrasts human strength with God’s power, then calls Israel to return and throw away idols.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
This passage is a prophetic warning and promise. Isaiah speaks about people going to Egypt for help, trusting horses and chariots, while not seeking the Holy One of Israel. The passage then describes the Lord fighting for Mount Zion, protecting Jerusalem, and calling Israel to return to him.
Isaiah 31:1–9Main takeaway
Isaiah 31 teaches that God’s people must turn from trusting human power and idols, and return to the Lord who alone can truly protect and judge.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A warning about misplaced trustThe passage begins with "Woe" against those who go to Egypt for help. Their problem is not only asking for help, but relying on horses, chariots, and strong horsemen while failing to look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the Lord.
Explanation
The passage begins with "Woe" against those who go to Egypt for help. Their problem is not only asking for help, but relying on horses, chariots, and strong horsemen while failing to look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the Lord. The issue is where their trust rests.
02Human help cannot stand against GodIsaiah says God is wise and will carry out his word. He will rise against evildoers and those who support them.
Explanation
Isaiah says God is wise and will carry out his word. He will rise against evildoers and those who support them. Egypt is described as human, not God, and its horses as flesh, not spirit. When the Lord acts, both helper and helped will fall together.
03The Lord fights and protectsTwo pictures explain God’s action. First, he is like a lion that is not frightened away by a crowd of shepherds.
Explanation
Two pictures explain God’s action. First, he is like a lion that is not frightened away by a crowd of shepherds. Then he is like birds hovering as he protects Jerusalem. The passage says he will protect, deliver, pass over, and preserve.
04Return and throw away idolsBecause the Lord is the true protector, Israel is called to return to the one they have deeply revolted from.
Explanation
Because the Lord is the true protector, Israel is called to return to the one they have deeply revolted from. Returning includes rejecting idols of silver and gold. These idols are called sin, and the text highlights that they were made by the people’s own hands.
05The Assyrian falls by God’s powerThe passage ends with a promise about Assyria’s downfall. The Assyrian will fall by a sword "not of man" and "not of mankind", stressing that this defeat comes from beyond ordinary human strength.
Explanation
The passage ends with a promise about Assyria’s downfall. The Assyrian will fall by a sword "not of man" and "not of mankind", stressing that this defeat comes from beyond ordinary human strength. Yahweh speaks as the one whose fire is in Zion and furnace in Jerusalem.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What exactly were the people trusting instead of seeking the Lord?
Look for the repeated words about relying and trusting, and notice the contrast with looking to the Holy One of Israel.
02How does Isaiah show the difference between Egypt’s strength and God’s power?
Notice the contrast between "men, and not God" and "flesh, and not spirit", then read what happens when the Lord stretches out his hand.
03What actions show real return to the Lord in this passage?
The text links returning to God with casting away idols made by human hands.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 31:1–9
1Woe 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!
2Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.
3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Yahweh stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.
4For Yahweh says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so Yahweh of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
6Return to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel.
7For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin which your own hands have made for you.
8“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
9His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says Yahweh, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.