Isaiah 30:16

16 And ye say, No, for on a horse we flee? Therefore ye flee, And on the swift we ride! Therefore swift are your pursuers.

Isaiah 30:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 30:16

But ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses
Hither and thither to get help and assistance; go down to Egypt for it on them, or thither for them, as some render it; and then face the enemy, and, if we can not conquer him, will flee from him, and so provide for our safety; this is man's way of salvation, as opposed to God's way; see ( Hosea 1:7 ) ( 14:3 ) or this may design their fleeing on horses and camels with their riches into Egypt, both for the security of them and their persons, ( Isaiah 30:6 ) : therefore shall ye flee;
on horses from the enemy, and be pursued and taken by him; this was fulfilled long after, when the city was taken by the Chaldeans; see ( 2 Kings 25:4 ) : and, We will ride upon the swift;
horses or camels, to the swiftness of which they trusted, and doubted not to get off safe, but would find themselves mistaken: therefore shall they that pursue you be swift;
yea, swifter than the horses and camels they rode on, and overtake them, and either put them to death, or carry them captive. The Chaldeans are represented as very swift, ( Jeremiah 4:13 ) ( Habakkuk 1:8 ) .

Isaiah 30:16 In-Context

14 And He hath broken it As the breaking of the potters' bottle, Beaten down -- He doth not spare, Nor is there found, in its beating down, A potsherd to take fire from the burning, And to draw out waters from a ditch.

15 For thus said the Lord Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel: `In returning and rest ye are saved, In keeping quiet and in confidence is your might, And ye have not been willing.

16 And ye say, No, for on a horse we flee? Therefore ye flee, And on the swift we ride! Therefore swift are your pursuers.

17 One thousand because of the rebuke of one, Because of the rebuke of five ye flee, Till ye have been surely left as a pole On the top of the mountain, And as an ensign on the height.

18 And therefore doth wait Jehovah to favour you, And therefore He is exalted to pity you, For a God of judgment [is] Jehovah, O the blessedness of all waiting for Him.