Isaiah 31:8-9

31:8 Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made; ¹ 

a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. ² 

They will run away from this sword ³ 

and their young men will be forced to do hard labor.

31:9 They will surrender their stronghold ⁴  because of fear; ⁵ 

their officers will be afraid of the Lord’s battle flag.” ⁶ 

This is what the Lord says –

the one whose fire is in Zion,

whose firepot is in Jerusalem. ⁷ 

[31:8]  ¹ tn Heb “Assyria will fall by a sword, not of a man.”

[31:8]  ² tn Heb “and a sword not of humankind will devour him.”

[31:8]  ³ tn Heb “he will flee for himself from before a sword.”

[31:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “rocky cliff” (cf. ASV, NASB “rock”), viewed metaphorically as a place of defense and security.

[31:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “His rocky cliff, because of fear, will pass away [i.e., “perish”].”

[31:9]  ⁶ tn Heb “and they will be afraid of the flag, his officers.”

[31:9]  ⁷ sn The “fire” and “firepot” here symbolize divine judgment, which is heating up like a fire in Jerusalem, waiting to be used against the Assyrians when they attack the city.