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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Isaiah 31:2

Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

Yet he also is wise - as well as the Egyptian priests, so famed for wisdom (), but who are "fools" before Him ().

And will not call back his words. He not only devises, but executes what He devises, without 'calling back His words' ().

House of the evil-doers - the whole race.

The help - the Egyptian succour sought by the Jews.

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See also Isaiah 31:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Isaiah 31:2. _HIS WORDS _- "His word"] דברו _debaro, singular_, without י _yod_, two MSS. of Dr. _Kennicott's_ the _Septuagint_, and _Targ. Hieros_. דרכיו derachaiv, his ways, is found in one MS...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    YET HE ALSO IS WISE - God is wise. It is in vain to attempt to deceive him, or to accomplish such purposes without his knowledge. AND WILL BRING EVIL - The punishment which is due to such want of con...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 31 The Fifth Woe Against Them that Go Down to Egypt 1. _The Egyptian Alliance condemned again (Isaiah 31:1)_ 2. _Jehovah promises to deliver Jerusalem (Isaiah 31:4) _ All looks forward toward...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ISAIAH 31. THE FOLLY OF RELIANCE ON EGYPT. JERUSALEM WILL BE PROTECTED, AND ASSYRIA OVERTHROWN. vv. Isaiah 31:6 f. seems to be an interpolation. Isaiah 31:4 f_._ creates serious difficulties. Isaiah 3...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    EVIL. EVILDOERS. Hebrew. _ra'a'_. App-44. INIQUITY. Hebrew. _'aven._ App-44....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Yet he also is wise_ as well as the shrewd diplomatists who have negotiated this treaty! The words are ironical, yet they have a serious meaning; the prophet, alone in his view of the political situa...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    A demonstration of the folly of trusting Egypt rather than Jehovah....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    YET HE ALSO IS WISE— There are two things which those who placed their confidence in Egypt peculiarly extolled in the Egyptians; namely, their wisdom and strength; particularly the strength of their c...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. SWORD TEXT: Isaiah 31:1-9 1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they lo...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1-5. Judah should trust not in Egypt, but in Jehovah. 6-9. The wonderful deliverance from the Assyrian....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Somewhat sarcastic; Jehovah is wise, as well as the politicians of Judah. EVIL] i.e. calamity....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘Those who may help’ refers to the *Egyptians. ‘Evil people’ here describes the people of God, because they are refusing to obey the *Lord. GOD WILL DEFEND *JERUSALEM V4 (The *Lord gave Isaiah this...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD DEFENDS *JERUSALEM ISAIAH CHAPTER S 31 TO 39 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 31 NUMBERS ARE NOT EVERYTHING V1 *Woe to people who are appealing to Egypt for help!...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    YET HE ALSO IS WISE. — The words have a ring of sarcasm in them. Isaiah admits ironically that the counsellors of Hezekiah were wise in their generation. He reminds them that there might be some littl...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ גַם ־ה֤וּא חָכָם֙ וַ יָּ֣בֵא רָ֔ע

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XIV THREE TRUTHS ABOUT GOD ABOUT 702 B.C. Isaiah 31:1 CHAPTER 31, which forms an appendage to Chapter s 29 and 30, can scarcely be reckoned among the more important prophecies of Isaiah. It...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    BOOK 3 ORATIONS ON THE EGYPTIAN INTRIGUES AND ORACLES ON FOREIGN NATIONS 705-702 B.C. Isaiah: 29 About 703 30 A little later 31 A little later 32:1-8 Later 32:9-20 Date uncertain -----------...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A NOBLER FUTURE FOR THE NATION Isaiah 31:1-9; Isaiah 32:1-8 Isaiah continues to denounce the contemplated alliance with Egypt. His compatriots put their trust in horses and chariots, and refused the...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The prophet again denounces the alliance with Egypt. He declares that the sin of it is a false trust consequent on the chosen people tuning their back on Jehovah. The folly of it is manifest in the fa...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Yet he also [is] (c) wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. (c) And knows the...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Words. The Lord will punish the wicked Jews, (Calmet) after the Egyptians. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] x. 1.) --- The former would not believe the prophets. (Worthington)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Reader! we shall find scriptures, such as the present, truly profitable, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost, if we make application of what is here said in history, concerning Israel's trusting in E...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2._Yet he also is wise. _By calling God “wise,” he does not merely bestow on him the honor of an attribute which always belongs to him, but censures the craftiness of those whom he saw to be too much...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The folly of trusting in an arm of flesh is again pointed out, but only while dwelling on the true means of deliverance. Jehovah at Jerusalem would be in the midst of the nations as a lion among the s...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    YET HE ALSO [IS] WISE,.... That is, God, the Holy One of Israel, is, whom they disregarded; and wiser too than the Egyptians, to whom they sought for help, and who were thought to be a wise and politi...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Yet he also [is] wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. Ver. 2. _Yet he also...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Wo to them that go down to Egypt_, &c. As the Jews did, contrary to God's command, Deuteronomy 17:16. _And stay on horses_ For Egypt had many and choice horses. _But they look not unto the Lord_ Thei...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Yet He also is wise, said in divine irony, for God is wise in essence, far wiser than the Egyptians, and in comparison with Him the Jews had surely proved themselves fools in forsaking His mighty coun...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    EGYPT CANNOT PROTECT ISRAEL AGAINST THE LORD'S WRATH...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    CALL BACK: _ Heb._ remove...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 God will oppose the help sought from workers of iniquity. Sinners may be convicted of folly by plain and self-evident truths, which they cannot deny, but will not believe. There is no escaping th...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    HE ALSO IS WISE: you think you are wise, and act wisely in engaging the Egyptians, who are a wise and warlike people, to help. you; but God is not inferior to them in wisdom nor in strength, but much...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 31:2 wise H2450 bring H935 (H8686) disaster H7451 back H5493 (H8689) words H1697 arise H6965 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THEY MUST TRUST IN YAHWEH AND NOT IN THE HORSES OF EGYPT (ISAIAH 31:1). The Assyrians had powerful chariotry and horsemen, and in order to combat them many felt that their only hope was in Egypt, famo...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Judah again warned against the Egyptian alliance. Jehovah's defense of Jerusalem. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: It is gross absurdity to forsake the Rock of Ages for broken reeds. If men wi...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 31:1. _Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help._ This was a sin in open defiance of the law. Deuteronomy 28:68. It was a great revolt of unbelief, because it distrusted the Lord, and all his...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Yet He also is wise_ GOD WORKS IN HISTORY You have been clever and successful, but have you forgotten that “God also is wise,” that He too has His policy, and acts reasonably and consistently? You...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 31:2 HE IS WISE AND BRINGS DISASTER. Judah’s diplomats think it is wise to seek Egypt’s help, but God uses their plans to bring disaster. DOES NOT CALL BACK HIS WORDS. Unlike hum...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE ONLY COUNSELLOR Isaiah 31:1. _Woe to the rebellious children, &c._ These words were spoken by the prophet at a time when the Jewish nation was in great and imminent danger. They were addrest to t...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ISAIAH 31:1 A FURTHER WARNING AGAINST SEEKING THE ALLIANCE OF EGYPT. This prophecy seems to be quite independent of the last (Isaiah 30:

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles to Isaiah 31:1-9. Now as a backdrop to these scriptures in Isaiah 31:1-9 is the impending invasion of Assyria. Assyria is the world-conquering power at the moment. Assyria...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Samuel 2:3; Amos 3:6; Ezekiel 29:6; Isaiah 20:4

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He is safe — You think you are safe, in engaging the Egyptians; but God is not inferior to them in wisdom or strength, and therefore you have done foolishly, in preferring them before him, who will ex...

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