Isaiah 31:3

Authorized King James Version

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Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

Original Language Analysis

וּמִצְרַ֤יִם Now the Egyptians H4714
וּמִצְרַ֤יִם Now the Egyptians
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 1 of 18
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
אָדָם֙ are men H120
אָדָם֙ are men
Strong's: H120
Word #: 2 of 18
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְֽלֹא H3808
וְֽלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 3 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֵ֔ל and not God H410
אֵ֔ל and not God
Strong's: H410
Word #: 4 of 18
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)
וְסוּסֵיהֶ֥ם and their horses H5483
וְסוּסֵיהֶ֥ם and their horses
Strong's: H5483
Word #: 5 of 18
a horse (as leaping)
בָּשָׂ֖ר flesh H1320
בָּשָׂ֖ר flesh
Strong's: H1320
Word #: 6 of 18
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
וְלֹא H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 7 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
ר֑וּחַ and not spirit H7307
ר֑וּחַ and not spirit
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 8 of 18
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
וַֽיהוָ֞ה When the LORD H3068
וַֽיהוָ֞ה When the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 9 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יַטֶּ֣ה shall stretch out H5186
יַטֶּ֣ה shall stretch out
Strong's: H5186
Word #: 10 of 18
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
יָד֗וֹ his hand H3027
יָד֗וֹ his hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 11 of 18
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וְכָשַׁ֤ל shall fall H3782
וְכָשַׁ֤ל shall fall
Strong's: H3782
Word #: 12 of 18
to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall
עָזֻ֔ר and he that is holpen H5826
עָזֻ֔ר and he that is holpen
Strong's: H5826
Word #: 13 of 18
to surround, i.e., protect or aid
וְנָפַ֣ל shall fall down H5307
וְנָפַ֣ל shall fall down
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 14 of 18
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
עָזֻ֔ר and he that is holpen H5826
עָזֻ֔ר and he that is holpen
Strong's: H5826
Word #: 15 of 18
to surround, i.e., protect or aid
וְיַחְדָּ֖ו together H3162
וְיַחְדָּ֖ו together
Strong's: H3162
Word #: 16 of 18
properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly
כֻּלָּ֥ם H3605
כֻּלָּ֥ם
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 17 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יִכְלָיֽוּן׃ and they all shall fail H3615
יִכְלָיֽוּן׃ and they all shall fail
Strong's: H3615
Word #: 18 of 18
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

Analysis & Commentary

Now the Egyptians are men, and not God (וּמִצְרַיִם אָדָם וְלֹא־אֵל, uMitsrayim adam velo-El)—Egyptians are אָדָם (adam, man, mortal) not אֵל (El, God). And their horses flesh, and not spirit (וְסוּסֵיהֶם בָּשָׂר וְלֹא־רוּחַ, vesusehem basar velo-ruach)—horses are בָּשָׂר (basar, flesh) not רוּחַ (ruach, spirit). When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together (וַיהוָה יַטֶּה־יָדוֹ וְכָשַׁל עוֹזֵר וְנָפַל עָזֻר וְיַחְדָּו כֻּלָּם יִכְלָיוּן, vaYHWH yateh-yado vekhshal ozer venafal azur veyachdav kulam yikhlayon).

Isaiah strips away illusions with ontological categories: creature versus Creator, flesh versus spirit. Egypt is merely human; horses are merely flesh—powerful but finite, impressive but mortal. When Yahweh נָטָה (natah, stretches out) His יָד (yad, hand), both helper (עוֹזֵר, ozer) and helped (עָזֻר, azur) will כָּשַׁל (kashal, stumble, fall). The verb כָּלָה (kalah, fail, be consumed, perish) pronounces comprehensive destruction. Psalm 146:3-5 echoes: 'Put not your trust in princes... his breath goeth forth... Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help.'

Historical Context

Egypt's fall to Babylon (605-568 BC) fulfilled this prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar devastated Egypt (Jeremiah 46, Ezekiel 29-32), proving that this ancient superpower was merely flesh. Every empire—Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman—rose and fell. Only Yahweh endures. The contrast between flesh and spirit anticipates Paul's theology (Romans 8:5-9, Galatians 5:16-25).

Questions for Reflection

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