Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 31:4
4For this is what the Lord said to me: As a lion or young lion growls over its prey when a band of shepherds is called out against it, and it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their noise, so the Lord of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
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
2But he also is wise and brings disaster. He does not go back on what he says; he will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers. 3Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the Lord raises his hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together. For this is what the Lord said to me: As a lion or young lion growls over its prey when a band of shepherds is called out against it, and it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their noise, so the Lord of Armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill. 5Like hovering birds, so the Lord of Armies will protect Jerusalem; by protecting it, he will rescue it; by passing over it, he will deliver it. 6Return to the one the Israelites have greatly rebelled against.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- For thus hath the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- spokenאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto me, Like as the lionאַרְיֵה'ărîy 'aryêh · lionH738
- and the young lionכְּפִירkephîyr · lionH3715
- roaringהָגָהhâgâh · to mutterH1897
- on his preyטֶ֫רֶףţereph · preyH2964
- when a multitudeמְלֹאmelô' melô' melô · fullnessH4393
- of shepherdsרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- is called forthקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- will not be afraidחָתַתchâthath · to to be dismayedH2865
- of their voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- nor abaseעָנָה‛ânâh · to afflictH6031
- himself for the noiseהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- come downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- to fightצָבָאtsâbâ' · to serveH6633
- for mountהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- and for the hillגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · hillH1389
Cross-references for Isaiah 31:4
- Numbers 24:8God brought him out of Egypt; he is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike them with his arrows.
- Jeremiah 50:44“Look, it will be like a lion coming from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered grazing land. I will chase Babylon away from her land in a flash. I will appoint whoever is chosen for her. For who is like me? Who will issue me a summons? Who is the shepherd who can stand against me?”
- Hosea 11:10They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
- Amos 3:8A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?
- Revelation 5:5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
- Isaiah 10:16Therefore the Lord God of Armies will inflict an emaciating disease on the well-fed of Assyria, and he will kindle a burning fire under its glory.
- Isaiah 12:6Cry out and sing, citizen of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is among you in his greatness.”
- Isaiah 37:35I will defend this city and rescue it for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.”
- Isaiah 42:13The Lord advances like a warrior; he stirs up his zeal like a soldier. He shouts, he roars aloud, he prevails over his enemies.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
- Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever.
- Zechariah 2:5The declaration of the Lord: “I myself will be a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory within it.”
- Zechariah 9:8I will encamp at my house as a guard, against those who march back and forth, and no oppressor will march against them again, for now I have seen with my own eyes.
- Zechariah 12:8On that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that on that day the one who is weakest among them will be like David on that day, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord, before them.
- Zechariah 14:3Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations as he fights on a 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
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