Isaiah 31:4

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 too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin. 3The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The Lord will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish. Indeed, this is what the Lord says to me: “The Lord will be like a growling lion, like a young lion growling over its prey. Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it, it is not afraid of their shouts or intimidated by their yelling. In this same way the Lord who commands armies will descend to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill. 5Just as birds hover over a nest, so the Lord who commands armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; as he passes over he will rescue it. 6You Israelites! Return to the one against whom you have so blatantly rebelled!

Isaiah 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 them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows.
• Jeremiah 50:44“A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. So too I will chase the Babylonians off of their land. Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For there is no one like me. There is no one who can call me to account. There is no ruler that can stand up against me.
• Hosea 11:10He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the Lord; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
• Amos 3:8A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy?
• Revelation 5:5Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
• Isaiah 10:16For this reason the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, will make his healthy ones emaciated. His majestic glory will go up in smoke.
• Isaiah 12:6Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel acts mightily among you!”
• Isaiah 37:35I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.”’”
• Isaiah 42:13The Lord emerges like a hero, like a warrior he inspires himself for battle; he shouts, yes, he yells, he shows his enemies his power.
• 2 Chronicles 20:15He said: “Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever.
• Zechariah 2:5But I (the Lord says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem and the source of glory in her midst.’”
• Zechariah 9:8Then I will surround my temple to protect it like a guard from anyone crossing back and forth; so no one will cross over against them anymore as an oppressor, for now I myself have seen it.
• Zechariah 12:8On that day the Lord himself will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like mighty David, and the dynasty of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them.
• Zechariah 14:3Then the Lord will go to battle and fight against those nations, just as he fought battles in ancient days.

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

• Church
• Isaiah

In the dictionaries

• Lord of Hosts
• Fail
• Hezekiah
• Revolt
• Abase
• Host of Heaven
• Isaiah
• Lion
• Mutter
• Shepherd

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