Isaiah 31:1
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!
Study Note
Study Note
'Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD' — the woe oracle targets Judah's political realism — military alliance with Egypt against Assyria — as theological infidelity. The juxtaposition of Egypt's material resources ('horses, chariots, horsemen') with the neglected alternative of consulting YHWH reveals a faith-politics dichotomy the prophet consistently refuses to accept. Isaiah's anti-Egyptian alliance oracles (chapters 30–31) reflect the political crisis under Hezekiah, who faced Assyrian invasion after the northern kingdom's fall. The theological principle — military capacity without divine orientation is strategic folly — runs through the Psalter (20:7; 33:17) and anticipates Zechariah's 'not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit' (4:6).
Other Translations
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely 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 Jehovah!
Woe <FI>to<Fi> those going down to Egypt for help, And on horses lean, And trust on chariots, because many, And on horsemen, because very strong, And have not looked on the Holy One of Israel, And Jehovah have not sought.
Cursed are those who go down to Egypt for help, and who put their faith in horses; looking to war-carriages for salvation, because of their numbers; and to horsemen, because they are very strong; but they are not looking to the Holy One of Israel, or turning their hearts to the Lord;
Cross References
But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that …
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast …
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is …
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not …
For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One …
And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers …