Isaiah 31:8

Authorized King James Version

PDF

Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.

Original Language Analysis

וְנָפַ֤ל fall H5307
וְנָפַ֤ל fall
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 1 of 16
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
אַשּׁוּר֙ Then shall the Assyrian H804
אַשּׁוּר֙ Then shall the Assyrian
Strong's: H804
Word #: 2 of 16
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
חֶ֔רֶב and the sword H2719
חֶ֔רֶב and the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 3 of 16
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
לֹא H3808
לֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 4 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אִ֔ישׁ not of a mighty man H376
אִ֔ישׁ not of a mighty man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 5 of 16
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
חֶ֔רֶב and the sword H2719
חֶ֔רֶב and the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 6 of 16
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 7 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָדָ֖ם not of a mean man H120
אָדָ֖ם not of a mean man
Strong's: H120
Word #: 8 of 16
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
תֹּֽאכֲלֶ֑נּוּ shall devour H398
תֹּֽאכֲלֶ֑נּוּ shall devour
Strong's: H398
Word #: 9 of 16
to eat (literally or figuratively)
וְנָ֥ס him but he shall flee H5127
וְנָ֥ס him but he shall flee
Strong's: H5127
Word #: 10 of 16
to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)
לוֹ֙ H0
לוֹ֙
Strong's: H0
Word #: 11 of 16
מִפְּנֵי from H6440
מִפְּנֵי from
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 12 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
חֶ֔רֶב and the sword H2719
חֶ֔רֶב and the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 13 of 16
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
וּבַחוּרָ֖יו and his young men H970
וּבַחוּרָ֖יו and his young men
Strong's: H970
Word #: 14 of 16
properly, selected, i.e., a youth (often collective)
לָמַ֥ס shall be discomfited H4522
לָמַ֥ס shall be discomfited
Strong's: H4522
Word #: 15 of 16
properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e., a tax in the form of forced labor
יִהְיֽוּ׃ H1961
יִהְיֽוּ׃
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 16 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

Analysis & Commentary

Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him (וְנָפַל אַשּׁוּר בְּחֶרֶב לֹא־אִישׁ וְחֶרֶב לֹא־אָדָם תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ, venafal Ashur becherev lo-ish vecherev lo-adam tokhlennu)—Assyria will fall by a חֶרֶב (cherev, sword) that is לֹא־אִישׁ (lo-ish, not of man) and לֹא־אָדָם (lo-adam, not of mankind). The sword that אָכַל (akhal, devours, consumes) Assyria is supernatural. But he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited (וְנָס לוֹ מִפְּנֵי־חֶרֶב וּבַחוּרָיו לָמַס יִהְיוּ, venas lo mifney-cherev uvachuraw lamas yihyu)—they'll flee, and בַּחוּרִים (bachurim, young men, choice warriors) become לָמַס (lamas, forced labor, discomfited).

This prophecy excludes human agency—no man's sword, no human military defeats Assyria. God Himself wields the sword. Fulfillment came in 701 BC: 'the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand' (Isaiah 37:36). Sennacherib fled; his elite forces dissolved. Later, his own sons assassinated him (Isaiah 37:38). No human army defeated him—divine judgment did. 2 Kings 19:35 confirms: it was the angel of the LORD, not human sword.

Historical Context

Sennacherib's annals boast of conquering 46 fortified cities but conspicuously avoid claiming Jerusalem's capture. His army's sudden catastrophic loss forced retreat. Ancient Near Eastern records rarely admit defeat, but the silence speaks volumes. Sennacherib returned to Nineveh humiliated, later murdered by his sons (681 BC). The prophesied supernatural sword proved devastating.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

People