New International Version
Isaiah 31:4
4This 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But this is what the Lord has told me: “When a strong young lion stands growling over a sheep it has killed, it is not frightened by the shouts and noise of a whole crowd of shepherds. In the same way, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will come down and fight on Mount Zion.
Context of Isaiah 31:4
2Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster; he does not take back his words. He will rise up against that wicked nation, against those who help evildoers. 3But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together. 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. 5Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” 6Return, you Israelites, to the One you have so greatly revolted 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 24:8“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
- Jeremiah 50:44Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets to a rich pastureland, I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd 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 3:8The lion has roared— who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— who can but prophesy?
- Revelation 5:5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
- Isaiah 10:16Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.
- Isaiah 12:6Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
- Isaiah 37:35“I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”
- Isaiah 42:13The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
- 2 Chronicles 20:15He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
- Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
- Zechariah 2:5And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
- Zechariah 9:8But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch.
- Zechariah 12:8On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them.
- Zechariah 14:3Then the Lord will go out and 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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