Isaiah 31:4
Read Isaiah 31:4 Using Other Translations
What does Isaiah 31:4 mean?
For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me
The prophet Isaiah, who had heard and received what follows from
the Lord, and therefore it might be depended upon; and they are
words of grace and mercy, promising preservation and deliverance;
and therefore it was a foolish thing to send to Egypt for help:
Like as the lion, and the young lion roaring on his
prey;
or "muttering", or "growling over his prey" F18; for
the lion roars when he is hungry, and wants a prey, and not when
he has got one; but when he has one, and is tearing it in pieces,
and feeding upon it, he makes a lower noise, a growling one,
especially when he apprehends anyone near to disturb him:
when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against
him;
or, "a fulness of shepherds" F19; the whole posse of them,
all that are in the towns and villages, or fields adjacent: who,
when a lion has got a lamb or sheep out of the flock, are alarmed
and called together, to deliver it, if possible, out of his
hands; one not daring to venture, or being not sufficient to
disturb him, or drive him away: or, "when a multitude of
shepherds meet him" F20; with the prey in his jaws; or
rather "call to him", make a noise, in hopes to frighten him, and
cause him to drop his prey, that being all they can do, not
daring to go near him; which sense is confirmed by what follows:
[he] will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself
for the
noise of them;
he will not leave and lose his prey, or flee from it or them, for
the yell and confused noise they make; nor move at all the faster
for them, not being in the least intimidated by them: so
shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion,
and
for the hill thereof;
that is, he shall come down from heaven by his angel, or in the
display of his mighty power, and fight against the Assyrian army,
in favour of his people, the inhabitants of Zion or Jerusalem,
and deliver them; and there will be no more withstanding him, or
putting him off from his purpose, or preventing his good designs
and resolutions, than the shepherds are able to divert a lion
from his prey. The simile is expressive of the power of God, and
of his certain accomplishment of his purposes and promises.
F18 (wprj le hghy) "ab" (hgh) , "mussitare."
F19 (Myewr alm) "plenitudo pastorum", Montanus, De Dieu, Cocceius. A collection of them, as Ben Melech.
F20 (wyle arqy rva) "quando in occursum illius venit", Munster.
