American Standard Version
Isaiah 31:4
4For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.
Isaiah 31:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For 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.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey— and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor— so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For thus the Lord said to me, "As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For thus the Lord has spoken to me: “As a lion roars, And a young lion over his prey (When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him, He will not be afraid of their voice Nor be disturbed by their noise), So the Lord of hosts will come down To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.
Context of Isaiah 31:4
2Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evil-doers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. 3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together. For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof. 5As birds hovering, so will Jehovah of hosts protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, he will pass over and preserve it. 6Turn ye unto him from whom ye have deeply revolted, O children of Israel.
Read all of Isaiah 31Isaiah 31:4 word by word
כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָֽמַר־יְהוָ֣ה׀ אֵלַ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶהְגֶּה֩ הָאַרְיֵ֨ה וְהַכְּפִ֜יר עַל־טַרְפּ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִקָּרֵ֤א עָלָיו֙ מְלֹ֣א רֹעִ֔ים מִקּוֹלָם֙ לֹ֣א יֵחָ֔ת וּמֵֽהֲמוֹנָ֖ם לֹ֣א יַֽעֲנֶ֑ה כֵּ֗ן יֵרֵד֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת לִצְבֹּ֥א עַל־הַר־צִיּ֖וֹן וְעַל־גִּבְעָתָֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
- thusכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
- lionאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
- youngכְּפִירkephîyr · lionH3715
- lionאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
- preyטֶ֫רֶףţereph · preyH2964
- multitudeהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
- shepherdsרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- dismayedחָתַתchâthath · to to be dismayedH2865
- voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- soכֵּןkên · soH3651
- hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- comeיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- hillהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
Cross-references for Isaiah 31:4
- Numbers 24:8God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite them through with his arrows.
- Jeremiah 50:44Behold, the enemy shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that can stand before me?
- Hosea 11:10They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west.
- Amos 3:8The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?
- Revelation 5:5and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.
- Isaiah 10:16Therefore will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.
- Isaiah 12:6Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.
- Isaiah 37:35For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
- Isaiah 42:13Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: Thus saith Jehovah unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
- Psalms 125:1They that trust in Jehovah Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.
- Zechariah 2:5For I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her.
- Zechariah 9:8And I will encamp about my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
- Zechariah 12:8In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them.
- Zechariah 14:3Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
Commentaries on Isaiah 31:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Like as the lion - This comparison is exactly in the spirit and manner, and very nearly approaching to the expression, of Homer. ' , ̔ , ̔ ' ͅ , ̔ , , · ' ̔ͅ ' , ' . ' ̔ ' ̔ ̔ , ' . Iliad 12:299. As the bold lion, mountain-bred, now long Famished, with courage and with hunger stung Attempts the thronged fold: him nought appals, Though dogs and armed shepherds stand in guard Collected; he nathless undaunted springs O'er the high fence, and rends the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For thus hath the Lord spoken - The design of this verse and the following is to assure the Jews of the certain protection of Yahweh, and thus to induce them to put their trust in him rather than to seek the alliance with Egypt. To do this the prophet makes use of two striking illustrations, the first of which is, that Yahweh would be no more alarmed at the number and power of their enemies than a fierce lion would be that was intent on his prey, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-9This prophecy concerned God’s protection of Jerusalem and its rescue from the Assyrians.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. (Is 42:13; Ho 11:10). roaring on--"growling over" his prey. abase himself--be disheartened or frightened.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 31:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries