Bible Strands
Isaiah 31:8
“Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Judah during the Assyrian threat, declaring a decisive intervention “on that day” when the nation will abandon its silver and gold idols.
The words — The Hebrew חֶרֶב (Che.rev) means “sword,” while אִישׁ ('Ish) and אָדָם ('a.Dam) both translate as “a human” or “mortal,” stressing that the coming destruction will not originate from human weaponry.
The thread — This reversal of military expectation runs through Isaiah 14:25, where God breaks Assyria on His mountain, and converges with 2 Kings 19:34, where God vows to defend Jerusalem for His own sake and for David.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that deliverance comes from divine action rather than human force, demanding a shift from trusting visible power to submitting to God’s sovereign intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 14:25 I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”
- Genesis 49:15 He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.
- 2 Kings 19:34 I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”
- Isaiah 10:12 So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.
- Isaiah 10:16 Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame.
- Isaiah 10:33 Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled.
- Isaiah 29:5 But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,
- Isaiah 30:27 Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire.
- Isaiah 37:7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”
- Isaiah 37:35 ‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”