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Isaiah 31
Isaiah 31:1
General Information:
Isaiah continues speaking to the people of Judah.
go down to Egypt
The phrase "go down" is used here because Egypt is lower in Elevation than Jerusalem.
those who go down
"those people of Judah who go down"
lean on horses
This speaks about people relying on their horses to help them as if they were leaning on their horses. Alternate translation: "rely on their horses" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Holy One of Israel
See how you translated this name in Isaiah 1:4.
nor do they seek Yahweh
"nor do they ask Yahweh to help them"
Isaiah 31:2
he will bring disaster
Here the word "bring" means to "cause." Alternate translation: "he will cause disasters to happen" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
will not retract his words
The phrase "retract his words" speaks of a person not fulfilling what they said they will do as if the words that he had said were something that he could pull back to himself. Here it says that Yahweh will not do this, meaning he will fulfill what he has said. Alternate translation: "he will do what he said he would do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
arise against
"punish"
evil house
This refers to evil people who live there. Alternate translation: "all who do evil things" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 31:3
Egypt is a man
Here Egypt refers to the soldiers of Egypt. Alternate translation: "The soldiers of Egypt are men" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
their horses flesh and not spirit
This means that their horses are only horses and not spiritual beings. Alternate translation: "their horses are only horses; they are not powerful spirits" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
When Yahweh reaches out with his hand
The term "hand" is often used in reference to God's power and action. Alternate translation: "When Yahweh uses his power against them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
both the one who helps will stumble, and the one who is helped will fall
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Stumbling and falling are metaphors of failing. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "these two things will happen: I will destroy Egypt, who helps you, and I will destroy you, whom Egypt helps" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
the one who is helped
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the one who is seeking help" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 31:4
General Information:
Yahweh speaks to Isaiah.
As a lion ... thus Yahweh of hosts
"A lion ... in the same way Yahweh of hosts." Here Yahweh speaks of how he will defend the people who belong to him and not be scared away by comparing himself to a lion who guards it's prey. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
thus Yahweh of hosts will descend ... that hill
It may be more clear if you move the last line to before the first line: "Yahweh of hosts will descend to fight on Mount Zion, on that hill, as a lion, even a young lion"
a lion, even a young lion
"a female lion or killer lion." This is a doublet with both phrase referring to a fierce lion. Alternate translation: "a lion" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)
growls
warns others to stay away
when a group of shepherds is called out against it
The phrase "called out against it" means to be sent out to chase the lion away. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "when someone sends shepherds to chase the lion away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom or rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
from their sound
The shepherds would make loud noises to try and chase away the lion. Alternate translation: "from the loud noises that they make" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
will descend
"will come down." This refers to descending from heaven. Alternate translation: "will come down from heaven" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
on Mount Zion, on that hill
Both of the phrases refer to Mount Zion. Alternate translation: "on Mount Zion" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Isaiah 31:5
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking.
Like birds in flight, so Yahweh of hosts will protect Jerusalem
Here the way that Yahweh protects Jerusalem is compared to the way that a mother bird protects her baby birds in their nest. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
he will protect and rescue as he passes over it and preserves it
This speaks of how Yahweh protects and rescues Jerusalem, describing him as a bird that flies over the city. Alternate translation: "he will protect and rescue the city from it's enemies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Yahweh of hosts
See how you translated this phrase in Isaiah 1:9.
Jerusalem
This refers to the people who live there. Alternate translation: "the people of Jerusalem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 31:6
Return to him from whom you have deeply turned away
"Return to the one against whom you have rebelled"
Isaiah 31:7
that your own hands have sinfully made
Here the people are referred to by their "hands" the emphasize that they made something with their hands. Alternate translation: "that you have sinned by making with you own hands" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Isaiah 31:8
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to the people of Judah, referring to the Assyrians as though they are one person.
Assyria will fall by the sword; a sword not wielded by man will consume him
"Sword" refers to military might. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God's sword, and not a man's sword, will destroy the Assyrian army" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
He will flee
"The Assyrians will flee"
his young men will be forced to do hard labor
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "enemies will capture their young men and force them to do hard labor" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 31:9
They will lose all confidence because of terror
The word "confidence" can be expressed with the adjective "confident." The word "terror" can be expressed with the adjective "terrified." Alternate translation: "They will no longer be confident because they are so terrified" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
his princes
"their leaders"
whose fire is in Zion and whose firepot is in Jerusalem
Both of these clauses mean the same thing and are used together for emphasis. Here God's presence and his power to judge and destroy are spoken of as if they were a fire. Alternate translation: "whose powerful presence is in Zion" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)