Isaiah 31:4
in Isaiah 31For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.
KJV
For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
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This verse in Isaiah 31
Commentary
8 notes on this verseLike as the lion - This comparison is exactly in the spirit and manner, and very nearly approaching to the expression, of Homer. Βη ρ’ ιμεν, ὡστε λεων ορεσιτροφος, ὁστ’ επιδευης Δηρον εῃ κρειων, κελεται δε ἑ θυμος αγηνωρ, Μηλων πειρησοντα, και ες πυκινον δομον ελθειν· Ειπερ γαρ χ’ εὑρῃσι παρ’ αυτοψι βωτορας ανδρας Συν κυσι και δουρεσσι φυλασσοντας περι μηλα, Ου ρα τ’ απειρητος μεμονε σταθμοιο διεσθαι. Αλλ’ ὁγ’ αῥ η ἡρπαξε μεταλμενος, ηε και αυτος Εβλητ’ εν πρωτοισι θοης απο χειρος ακοντι. Iliad 12:2
This site's exposition
Like a lion roaring
on Isaiah 31:4-5
The LORD of Hosts comes down "to do battle on Mount Zion" like a lion over its prey that "is not terrified by their shouting". "Like birds hovering overhead", He will "protect Jerusalem". Franz Delitzsch noted the pairing of fierceness toward the enemy and gentleness toward the city.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verses 4, 5.) For thus says the Lord to me: Just as when a lion roars, and a lion cub over its prey, when a multitude of shepherds come against it, it will not be afraid of their voices, nor terrified by their numbers; so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight upon Mount Zion and its hill. Like birds hovering, so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem, protecting and delivering, passing over and saving. In manifestis unam ponimus editionem, maxime ubi nulla diversitas sensuum est.
The Medieval Church1 voice
695. For thus says the Lord. Here he sets out the consolation, promising liberation by God from their enemies, from whom they could not be liberated by the Egyptians. And concerning this, he does three things. First, he sets out the defense of the Jews …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For - Although you have done evil in sending to Egypt for help, yet the Lord himself will, of his own grace, give you that help which you do not deserve.
When the lion comes out to seize his prey a multitude of shepherds come out against him; for it becomes neighbours to help one another when persons or goods are in danger. These shepherds dare not come near the lion; all they can do is to make a noise, and with that they think to frighten him off.
For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For thus hath the Lord spoken - The design of this verse and the following is to assure the Jews of the certain protection of Yahweh, and thus to induce them to put their trust in him rather than to seek the alliance with Egypt. To do this the prophet makes use of two striking illustrations, the first of which is, that Yahweh would be no more alarmed at the number and power of their enemies than a fierce lion would be that was intent on his prey, and could not be frightened from it by any number of men that should come against him. The “point” of this comparison is, that as the lion that “was intent on his purpose” could not be frightened from it by numbers, so it would be with Yahweh, who “was equally intent on his purpose” - the defense of the city of Jerusalem. It does not mean, of course, that the purpose of God and of the lion resembled each other, but merely that there was similar “intensity of purpose,” and similar adherence to it notwithstanding all opposition. The figure is one that denotes the highest vigilance, firmness, steadiness, and a determination on the part of Yahweh that Jerusalem should not fall into the hands of the Assyrians. Like as the lion - The divine nature and purposes are often represented in the Scriptures by metaphors, allegories, and comparisons taken from animals, and especially from the lion (see Deu 33:20; Job 10:16; Psa 7:2; Hos 11:10). And the young lion - The vigorous, strong, fierce lion. The use of the two here, gives intensity and strength to the comparison. It is observable that the lion is seldom mentioned alone in the Scriptures. Roaring on his prey - Roaring as he seizes on his prey. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
shall turn His hand For the Holy One, blessed be He, supports everything with His hand, and when He turns it, they will fall, like one who holds something in his hand, and when he inclines his hand, it falls. So is the Midrash Aggadah (Mechilta, Exodus:12).
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
passing over (פָּסוֹחַ) passing over. Alternatively, it may be interpreted as an expression of sparing.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
32 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֹ֣ה | khoh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָֽמַר־ | ʾamar- | he has said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה׀ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֵלַ֡י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יֶהְגֶּה֩ | yehgeh | it growls | H1897 → | 25 times |
| הָאַרְיֵ֨ה | haaryeh | the lion | H738 → | 80 times |
| וְהַכְּפִ֜יר | vehakefir | and the young lion | H3715 → | 32 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| טַרְפּ֗וֹ | tarpo | prey its | H2964 → | |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִקָּרֵ֤א | yikare' | it is summoned | H7121 → | 733 times |
| עָלָיו֙ | ʾalav | on it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| מְלֹ֣א | melo' | a multitude of | H4393 → | 38 times |
| רֹעִ֔ים | roim | shepherds | H7462 → | 177 times |
| מִקּוֹלָם֙ | mikolam | from voice their | H6963 → | 506 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יֵחָ֔ת | yechat | it is dismayed | H2865 → | 52 times |
| וּמֵֽהֲמוֹנָ֖ם | umehamonam | and from tumult their | H1995 → | 83 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יַֽעֲנֶ֑ה | yaaneh | it cringes | H6031 → | 82 times |
| כֵּ֗ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יֵרֵד֙ | yered | he will come down | H3381 → | 381 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| צְבָא֔וֹת | tzevaot | of hosts | H6635 → | 485 times |
| לִצְבֹּ֥א | litzbo' | to wage war | H6633 → | 14 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַר־ | har- | [the] mountain of | H2022 → | 546 times |
| צִיּ֖וֹן | tziyon | Zion | H6726 → | 154 times |
| וְעַל־ | veal- | and on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| גִּבְעָתָֽהּ׃ | givatah | hill its | H1389 → | 68 times |
כִּ֣יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
כֹ֣הthus
khohH3541 →577 times
אָֽמַר־he has said
ʾamar-H559 →5305 times
יְהוָ֣ה׀Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֵלַ֡יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
יֶהְגֶּה֩it growls
yehgehH1897 →25 times
הָאַרְיֵ֨הthe lion
haaryehH738 →80 times
וְהַכְּפִ֜ירand the young lion
vehakefirH3715 →32 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
טַרְפּ֗וֹprey its
tarpoH2964 →
אֲשֶׁ֨רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִקָּרֵ֤אit is summoned
yikare'H7121 →733 times
עָלָיו֙on it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
מְלֹ֣אa multitude of
melo'H4393 →38 times
רֹעִ֔יםshepherds
roimH7462 →177 times
מִקּוֹלָם֙from voice their
mikolamH6963 →506 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יֵחָ֔תit is dismayed
yechatH2865 →52 times
וּמֵֽהֲמוֹנָ֖םand from tumult their
umehamonamH1995 →83 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יַֽעֲנֶ֑הit cringes
yaanehH6031 →82 times
כֵּ֗ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
יֵרֵד֙he will come down
yeredH3381 →381 times
יְהוָ֣הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
צְבָא֔וֹתof hosts
tzevaotH6635 →485 times
לִצְבֹּ֥אto wage war
litzbo'H6633 →14 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַר־[the] mountain of
har-H2022 →546 times
צִיּ֖וֹןZion
tziyonH6726 →154 times
וְעַל־and on
veal-H5921 →5755 times
גִּבְעָתָֽהּ׃hill its
givatahH1389 →68 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hosea 11:10They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
it leads to
- Amos 1:2
He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Joel 3:16
The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
- Amos 1:2
Through
Zechariah 2:5For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
it leads to
- Isaiah 4:5
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there…
- Zechariah 9:8
But I will camp around My house because of an army, because of those who march to and fro, and never again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I keep watch with…
- Psalms 3:3
But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.
- Isaiah 60:18–19
No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.
- Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Isaiah 4:5
Through
Isaiah 42:13The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies:
it leads to
- Exodus 15:1–3
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
- Exodus 15:1–3
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.