Isaiah 31:8
Isaiah 31:8 in Multiple Translations
“Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.
¶ Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of men, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become subject to taskwork.
Then the Assyrian will come down by the sword, but not of man; the sword, not of men, will be the cause of his destruction: and he will go in flight from the sword, and his young men will be put to forced work.
The Assyrians will be killed by the sword of one who is not a man. They will destroyed by the sword of one who is not mortal. They will run away at the sight of the sword, and the young Assyrian men will be taken away as slave laborers.
Then shall Asshur fall by the sworde, not of man, neither shall the sworde of man deuoure him, and hee shall flee from the sworde, and his yong men shall faint.
And fallen hath Asshur by sword, not of the high, Yea, a sword — not of the low, doth consume him, And he hath fled for himself from the face of a sword, And his young men become tributary.
“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.
And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword not of a man, and the sword not of a man shall devour him, and he shall flee not at the face of the sword: and his young men shall be tributaries.
Many of the Assyrian soldiers will be killed, but not by swords that men use. They will be destroyed by the sword of God; and those who are not killed will ◄panic/be very afraid► and flee. And some of them will be captured and forced to become slaves.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 31:8
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Isaiah 31:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 31:8
Study Notes — Isaiah 31:8
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 31:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 31:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 31:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 31:8
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 31:8
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
- Sermons on Isaiah 31:8
Context — Woe to Those Who Rely on Egypt
8“Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.
9Their rock will pass away for fear, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 14:25 | I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” |
| 2 | Genesis 49:15 | He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant. |
| 3 | Isaiah 37:7 | Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’” |
| 4 | 2 Kings 19:34–37 | ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’” And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place. |
| 5 | Isaiah 10:16–19 | Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame. And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles. The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man. The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them. |
| 6 | Isaiah 29:5 | But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, |
| 7 | Hosea 1:7 | Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.” |
| 8 | Isaiah 10:33–34 | Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One. |
| 9 | Isaiah 37:35–38 | ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’” Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place. |
| 10 | Isaiah 30:27–33 | Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire. His breath is like a rushing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction; He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray. You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones. For Assyria will be shattered at the voice of the LORD; He will strike them with His scepter. And with every stroke of the rod of punishment that the LORD brings down on them, the tambourines and lyres will sound as He battles with weapons brandished. For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. |
Isaiah 31:8 Summary
This verse, Isaiah 31:8, tells us that Assyria, a powerful nation at the time, will be defeated, but not by human armies. Instead, God will use a supernatural power to bring them down, showing His mighty hand in judgment. This is a reminder that God is in control of all nations and events, as seen in Daniel 4:32, and that He calls us to trust and obey Him. By looking at Assyria's fate, we can see the importance of turning away from our own sinful ways and seeking God's forgiveness and protection, as encouraged in verses like Acts 3:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that Assyria will fall but not by the sword of man?
This means that Assyria's downfall will be a supernatural work of God, not accomplished by human strength or military might, as seen in Isaiah 31:8 and supported by verses like Ezekiel 28:9, which highlights God's sovereignty in judgment.
What kind of sword will devour Assyria?
The verse indicates that a sword, not made by mortals, will devour them, suggesting a divine judgment or intervention, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 32:41-42 where God unsheathes His sword in judgment.
Why will the young men of Assyria be put to forced labor?
This is part of the judgment on Assyria, indicating a loss of freedom and autonomy, as prophesied in Isaiah 31:8, and consistent with the pattern of judgment seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Exodus 1:14 where the Israelites were forced into labor.
How does this verse relate to the call to return to God in Isaiah 31:6?
The judgment on Assyria in Isaiah 31:8 serves as a backdrop to the call for Israel to return to God, highlighting the consequences of rebellion and the importance of seeking God's mercy and protection, as encouraged in verses like Hosea 14:1-2 and Jeremiah 31:18.
Reflection Questions
- What does the supernatural fall of Assyria reveal about God's power and authority in our world today?
- How can reflecting on the judgment of Assyria help me examine my own heart for rebellion against God?
- In what ways can I seek God's mercy and protection, as Israel was encouraged to do, and how might this impact my daily life?
- What are some modern-day 'idols' that I might be tempted to trust in instead of God, and how can I repent and turn back to Him?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 31:8
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 31:8
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 31:8
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 31:8
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 31:8
Sermons on Isaiah 31:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Through the Bible) Isaiah 11-15 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses various biblical passages and themes. He emphasizes the power and authority of God, who has the ability to destroy cities and open prison doo |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 37:14 - Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of the descendants of Jacob and their journey out of Egypt. He highlights the encounter between Balaam and King Balak, where Balaam |
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Homily 26 on Matthew by St. John Chrysostom | John Chrysostom preaches on the story of the centurion who displayed great faith in Jesus, believing in His authority to heal his servant with just a word. Chrysostom highlights th |


