Isaiah 31

The original text was written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 9 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, i.e., the Isaiah Scroll (1Qlsa{{sup|a}}; complete; 356-100 BCE{{cite journal|last1=Jull|first1=Timothy A. J.|last2=Donahue|first2=Douglas J.|last3=Broshi |first3=Magen|last4=Tov |first4=Emanuel|year=1995 |title=Radiocarbon Dating of Scrolls and Linen Fragments from the Judean Desert |url= https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/radiocarbon/article/view/1642|journal=Radiocarbon|volume=37|page=14|access-date=11 July 2017|number=1}}), and of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes Codex Cairensis (895 CE), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^Q; 6th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex.As implemented in the [http://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0.htm Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English]. Isaiah 31 is a part of the Prophecies about Judah and Israel (Isaiah 24–35). {P}: open parashah; {S}: closed parashah.

: {P} 31:1-3 {S} 31:4-9 {P}

Chapters 28–35 form a six-part unity, marked with the recurrence of the word 'Woe' or 'Ho!' (Isaiah 28:1; 29:1, 15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1) with a balance between two sets of three woes: the first three offer 'principles of divine action', whereas the second three give 'matching applications to history and eschatology' as follows:{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=227–228}}

Chapters 30–32 specifically deals with Egypt and Assyrians while placing the Messianic kingdom alongside the downfall of Assyria (Isaiah 31:8–32:1; cf. Isaiah 10:33–11:1ff).{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=227}}

This section reminds the futility of turning to Egypt for help, that was spoken in 30:1-5.{{sfn|Coggins|2007|p=460}}

{{poemquote|

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help;

and stay on horses, and trust in chariots,

because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong;

but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!{{bibleref2|Isaiah|31:1|KJV}}, KJV

}}

{{bibleverse||Deuteronomy|17:16–17|KJV}} taught that the Israelite kings were not to keep many horses, marry many wives, or amass excess silver and gold.

• "Chariots...and... horsemen": evocative of the Exodus account, where

'Pharaoh's chariots and his army were cast into the sea' (Exodus 15:4).{{sfn|Coggins|2007|p=460}}

Robert Lowth's translation:

{{poemquote|

For thus hath JEHOVAH said unto me:

Like as the lion growleth,

Even the young lion, over his prey;

Though the whole company of shepherds be called together against him:

At their voice he will not be terrified,

Nor at their tumult will he be humbled:

So shall JEHOVAH God of Hosts descend to fight

For Mount Sion, and for his own hill.

}}

The NIV and NKJV treat the reference to the shepherds' intervention as a parenthesis:

New International Version:

{{poemquote|

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.{{bibleref2|Isaiah|31:4|NIV}}, NIV

}}

• Assyria
• Egypt
• Israel
• Jerusalem
• Zion
• Related Bible parts: Deuteronomy 17, Hebrews 4

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last= Coggins | first= R | chapter = 22. Isaiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 433–486 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{cite book | last = Motyer | first = J. Alec | title = The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary | publisher = InterVarsity Press | year = 2015 | isbn = 9780830895243 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p3R3CwAAQBAJ }}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

• [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1031.htm Isaiah 31 Hebrew with Parallel English]

• [http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=31 Isaiah 31 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]

{{Book of Isaiah}}

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