Isaiah 31:1

“Woe to those who 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 do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and YHWH they do not seek!”

Isaiah 31:1 · direct translation from the Hebrew
Study it in the app

With the Hebrew beneath

1

Isaiah 31:1, word by word

Woeהוֹיhoy

woe

A cry of grief for the dead or a warning of disaster.

Where else “hoy” appears
to those who go downיֹּרְדִיםyordim

go down

To go from a higher place to a lower one, like from the mountain to the valley.

Where else “yordim” appears
to Egyptמִצְרַיִםmitsrayim

Egypt, Mizraim

See it on the mapWhere else “mitsrayim” appears
for helpעֶזְרָהezra

help

Help, aid.

Where else “ezra” appears
and relyיִשָּׁעֵנוּyishaenu

rely

To trust in YHWH, or in supports that fail.

Where else “yishaenu” appears
on horsesסוּסִיםsusim

horse

A war and draft animal that pulls chariots, or the one who rides it.

Where else “susim” appears
and trustיִּבְטְחוּyivtchu

trust

To rely on someone, YHWH or man.

Where else “yivtchu” appears
in chariotsרֶכֶבrechev

chariot

War chariots.

Where else “rechev” appears
they are manyרָבrav

many

A great number of people or things.

Where else “rav” appears
and in horsemenפָּרָשִׁיםparashim

horseman

A soldier who fights mounted on a horse.

Where else “parashim” appears
they are very strongעָצְמוּatsmu

grow mighty

To become mighty and grow in strength.

Where else “atsmu” appears
they are very strongמְאֹדmeod

very

To a very high degree: the word that adds force to what is said.

Where else “meod” appears
lookשָׁעוּshau

look

To gaze closely or with favor; seek help.

Where else “shau” appears
to the Holy Oneקְדוֹשׁkedosh

Holy One

God, the one wholly set apart and pure, God of Israel.

Where else “kedosh” appears
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears
and YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears
seekדָרָשׁוּdarashu

consult

To turn to YHWH to ask him, pray to him.

Where else “darashu” appears

Places in this verse

JerusalemEgypt
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Egypt

    Today: Egypt (Nile Valley)

    A country in northeast Africa along the Nile River, southwest of Israel.

    Joseph was sold into it, and his family went down to live there (Gen 37:28; 46:6). God brought Israel out of it with a mighty hand (Exod 12:41). The child Jesus fled there with his parents (Matt 2:14).

    Genesis 12:10Genesis 37:28Exodus 12:41Matthew 2:14

The context

1 · This verse (above)

2And yet he is wise, and he brings evil, and his words he does not take back; and he will rise against the house of evildoers and against the help of those who work wickedness.

Read all of Isaiah 31

How to use it