Isaiah 31 — Dead Sea Scrolls
9 verses • 3 variants • Column XXV of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 31 is a short woe oracle (9 verses) against relying on Egyptian horses rather than the Holy One of Israel. Very few variants — the chapter is preserved nearly identically in both traditions.
Notable Variants
Verse 3 has the famous 'Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.' Verse 5 has the striking image of God as birds hovering over Jerusalem. Both are preserved identically.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses and trust in chariots because they are many, in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek the LORD!
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 25
Yet He too is wise — and He brings disaster! He does not take back His words. He will rise against the house of evildoers and against the allies of those who do wrong.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 26
The Egyptians are human, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble and the one helped will fall, and both will perish together.
Masoretic (WLC)
וְסוּסֵיהֶם
and their horses
Dead Sea Scroll
וסוסיהם
and their horses
Identical consonantal text. The theological contrast — 'Egyptians are human, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit' — is preserved identically. This is one of Isaiah's most concise statements of the flesh/spirit distinction. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 27
For this is what the LORD has said to me: As a lion — a great lion — growls over its prey, and when a full band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not frightened by their shouting nor cowed by their clamor — so the LORD of Hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 28
Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of Hosts will shield Jerusalem — shielding and delivering, passing over and rescuing.
Masoretic (WLC)
כְּצִפֳּרִים
like birds
Dead Sea Scroll
כצפרים
like birds
1QIsaiah-a writes כצפרים identically. The remarkable simile — the LORD protects Jerusalem 'like birds hovering' (ke-tsipporim afot) — depicts God as a mother bird defending her nest. This maternal divine imagery is preserved identically in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 29
Return to the One from whom you have so deeply revolted, O children of Israel.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXV, line 30
For on that day, each of you will reject your idols of silver and your idols of gold — the sinful things your own hands have made.
Masoretic (WLC)
אֱלִילָיו
his idols
Dead Sea Scroll
אליליו
his idols
1QIsaiah-a writes אליליו with the same consonants. The call to cast away idols 'that your hands made sinfully' is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 1
Assyria will fall by a sword not wielded by man; a sword not of mortals will devour him. He will flee before the sword, and his young warriors will be put to forced labor.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 2
His rock will crumble in terror, and his commanders will panic at the battle standard, declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 3