Teks -- Isaiah 31:3 (NET)

31:3 The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The Lord will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Isa 31:3 - Flesh

Weak and frail.

JFB: Isa 31:3 - not spirit

Not of divine power (Psa 56:4; Psa 146:3, Psa 146:5; Zec 4:6).

JFB: Isa 31:3 - he that helpeth

Egypt.

JFB: Isa 31:3 - holpen

Judah.

Clarke: Isa 31:3

He that helpeth (the Egyptians) shall fall and he that is holpen (the Israelites) shall fall down-together.

Calvin: Isa 31:3 - And surely the Egyptian is a man, and not God // And their horses are flesh and not spirit // As soon as Jehovah shall stretch out his arm

3.And surely the Egyptian is a man, and not God It may be thought that Isaiah here brings forward nothing but what is common and beyond all doubt; for who ever imagined that the Egyptians were not “men,” and must be put in the place of “God?” There is indeed no debate on this point, and it is openly acknowledged; but when it is found necessary to reduce it to practice, men are altogether dull of apprehension, or remain uncertain about that which they formerly appeared to know and firmly to believe. They exalt themselves as highly, and claim as much for themselves, as if they did not believe that they are men, and did not think that they ought to obey God. This is the reason why Scripture so frequently warns

“not to trust in men, than whom nothing can be more vain.” (Psa 146:3.)

“Cursed is he who trusteth in man, and relieth on an arm of flesh.” (Jer 17:5.)

Yet we see both princes and men of ordinary rank contrive and resolve in such a manner as if they could establish for a hundred years all that they contrived, and could subject heaven, sea, and earth, and could regulate and dispose everything according to their will. When we perceive in men such pride and arrogance, we need not wonder that the Prophet exclaims that “the Egyptians are men, and not God;” for the Jews ascribed to them what ought to be ascribed to God, the defense and preservation of the Church, which God claims for himself alone, and does not allow to be given to another. Isaiah therefore indirectly censures that contempt of God and wicked confidence by which they are swelled with pride.

Here we see how great a difference there is between God and men; for men have no power in themselves but what God has granted to them. If we were reasoning about the nature and excellence of man, we might bring forward the singular gifts which he has received from God; but when he is contrasted with God, he must be reduced to nothing; for nothing can be ascribed to man without taking it from God. And this is the reason why we cannot agree with the Papists, when we argue about the cause of salvation, freewill, the value of works, and merits; for since on this subject God is contrasted with man, we must take from God whatever is attributed to man. But they make a division between man and God, so as to assign one part to God, and another part to man; while we say, that the whole and undivided cause of salvation must be ascribed to God, and that no part of it can be attributed to another without detestable sacrilege. In a word, let us learn that in such a contrast nothing worthy of praise can be left for man.

And their horses are flesh and not spirit By the word flesh he means weakness and frailty; for what is there in “flesh” but corruption? He speaks of “horses,” but to the Egyptians also belongs a weakness of the same or of a kindred nature; as if he had said that they, and all their forces, have nothing that is solid or permanent. Although the Egyptians had a soul as well as a body, yet, so far as they were creatures, and dwelt in a frail tabernacle, they must hold an inferior rank; as if he had said, that they do not possess heavenly or spiritual power; as it is said also in the Psalm,

“Do not trust in princes; for their breath shall go out, and they shall return to their earth.”
(Psa 146:3.)

So far as relates to “horses,” the word “flesh” applies to them with greater propriety; but it is not wonderful that men are sent to learn from rottenness how frail they are.

As soon as Jehovah shall stretch out his arm From this threatening we may draw a universal doctrine, that this wickedness shall not pass unpunished; for the Lord will not suffer men with impunity to give to creatures the honor due to him, or to rely on the assistance of men with that confidence which ought to be placed on him alone. He therefore threatens those who shall yield assistance and give occasion to false confidence, as well as those who shall make use of their assistance and rely on it for their safety. And if the Lord cannot endure this wicked confidence, where nothing more than temporal safety is concerned, how much less will he endure those who, in order to obtain eternal salvation, contrive various aids according to their own fancy, and thus elevate the power of men, so as to ascribe to it the place and authority of God.

TSK: Isa 31:3 - the Egyptians // their horses // stretch // both

the Egyptians : Isa 36:6; Deu 32:30,Deu 32:31; Psa 9:20, Psa 146:3-5; Eze 28:9; Act 12:22, Act 12:23; 2Th 2:4-8

their horses : Psa 33:17

stretch : Isa 9:17; Jer 15:6; Eze 20:33, Eze 20:34

both : Jer 37:7-10

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Isa 31:3 - Are men, and not God // Their horses flesh // Not spirit

Are men, and not God and therefore utterly unable to defend you, either without or against my will.

Their horses flesh weak and frail, as that word signifies, Psa 78:39 Heb 5:7 , and elsewhere.

Not spirit not like spiritual substances, such as the angels, who are immortal, and invisible by men; whereof we have instances, Exo 12:29,30 Isa 37:36 .

Haydock: Isa 31:3 - Hand

Hand. If God neglect to support empires, they fall of themselves.

Gill: Isa 31:3 - 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

Now the Egyptians are men, and not God,.... Be it that they are mighty, they are not mighty, as God is; and indeed they are but frail, feeble, mortal, and mutable men, and therefore not to be trusted in, and depended on; or to be put upon an equality with God, and even to be preferred to him, as they were by the Jews; and of what use and service could they be unto them, seeing God was against them?

and their horses flesh, and not spirit; only flesh, without an immortal soul or spirit, which man has; and therefore a foolish thing in man to trust in them, who must be entirely guided and directed by them; and much less angelic spirits, or like them, which are incorporeal, invisible, and exceedingly mighty and powerful, which excel all creatures in strength, and are called the mighty angels; these are God's cavalry, his horses and chariots; see Psa 68:17, Hab 3:8 and what mighty things have been done by them, even by a single one? Witness the destruction of the Assyrian army, in one night, by one of them; wherefore the Egyptian cavalry was not to be named with them ^q:

When the Lord shall stretch out his hand; as soon as he does it, before he strikes, and when he does this in order to it:

both he that helpeth shall fall; or "stumble", take a false step; meaning the Egyptians, sent for and come forth to help the Jews; but, stumbling and falling themselves, would be but poor assistants to them. Aben Ezra interprets this of the king of Assyria destroying the Egyptians, when he came to Jerusalem:

and he that is holpen shall fall down; the Jews, helped by the Egyptians, who should fall, and be destroyed, though not now; yet hereafter by the Chaldeans, as they were:

and they all shall fail together; both the Egyptians and the Jews.