Isaiah 31:5

Context

31:5 Just as birds hover over a nest,¹

so the Lord who commands armies will protect Jerusalem.²

He will protect and deliver it;

as he passes over³ he will rescue it.

[31:5] ¹tn Heb “just as birds fly.” The words “over a nest” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[31:5] ²map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[31:5] ³tn The only other occurrence of this verb is in Exod 12:13, 23, 27, where the Lord “passes over” (i.e., “spares”) the Israelite households as he comes to judge their Egyptian oppressors. The noun פֶּסַח (pesakh, “Passover”) is derived from the verb. The use of the verb in Isa 31:5 is probably an intentional echo of the Exodus event. As in the days of Moses the Lord will spare his people as he comes to judge their enemies.