Tuesday, January 24, 2023

GOD's battle FLAG

 

Isaiah 31:9

King James Version

9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, 

and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, 

saith the Lord, 

whose fire is in Zion, 

and his furnace in Jerusalem.


What an intriguing verse, about GOD's "ensign".

How Israel's enemies fled in fear.

But what does "ensign" mean?

We turn to other Bible versions:


Isaiah 31:9

Amplified Bible

9 “His rock [his stronghold] will pass away because of panic,

And his princes will be terrified at the [sight of the battle] standard,”

Declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

Christian Standard Bible

9 His rock[a] will pass away because of fear,

and his officers will be afraid because of the signal flag.

This is the Lord’s declaration—whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

Common English Bible

9 In horror they will flee from their stronghold;

    their officers will be terrified at the signal,

        says the Lord, whose fire is in Zion

        and whose oven is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

Darby Translation

9 and for fear, he shall pass over to his rock, and his princes shall be afraid of the banner, saith Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

Expanded Bible

9 ·They will panic, and [From terror] their ·protection [or strong ones; rock] will be destroyed.

    Their ·commanders [officers; princes] will be terrified when they see ·God’s battle flag [L the standard/flag],”

says the Lord,

    whose fire is in ·Jerusalem [L Zion; 1:27]

and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

1599 Geneva Bible

9 And he shall go for fear to his [a]tower, and his princes shall be afraid of the standard, saith the Lord, whose [b]fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

GOD’S WORD Translation

9 In terror they will run to their stronghold,

and their officers will be frightened at ⌞the sight of⌟ the battle flag.

The Lord declares this. His fire is in Zion and his furnace is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

International Children’s Bible

9 They will panic, and their place of safety will be destroyed.

    Their commanders will be terrified when they see God’s battle flag.”

The Lord said all these things.

    The Lord’s fire is in Jerusalem.

    His furnace is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

International Standard Version

9 Their stronghold will vanish by reason of terror,

    and their commanders will be filled with alarm

        because of the battle standard,”

declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion

    and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

Lexham English Bible

9 And his rock will pass over because of terror,

    and his officers will be terrified because of the flag,”

    declares[a] Yahweh,

who has a fire in Zion

    and has a furnace in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

Living Bible

9 Even their generals will quake with terror and flee when they see the battle flags of Israel, says the Lord. For the flame of God burns brightly in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

New English Translation

9 They will surrender their stronghold[a] because of fear;[b]

their officers will be afraid of the Lord’s battle flag.”[c]

This is what the Lord says—

the one whose fire is in Zion,

whose firepot is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

New International Reader's Version

9 Their hiding places will be destroyed

    when terror strikes them.

Their commanders will see their enemy’s battle flags.

    Then they will be filled with panic,”

    announces the Lord.

His fire blazes out from Mount Zion.

    His furnace burns in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

New Life Version

9 “His safe place will pass away because of fear. And his rulers will be afraid of the flags lifted up,” says the Lord, Whose fire is in Zion and Whose place of burning is in Jerusalem.


Isaiah 31:9

New Living Translation

9 Even the strongest will quake with terror,

    and princes will flee when they see your battle flags,”

says the Lord, whose fire burns in Zion,

    whose flame blazes from Jerusalem.


In SUMMARY, GOD's "ensign" means:

the [sight of the battle] standard

the signal flag

the signal

the banner

God’s battle flag [L the standard/flag]

the standard

the battle flag

God's battle flag

the battle standard

the flag

the battle flags of Israel

the Lord’s battle flag

their enemy’s battle flags

the flags lifted up

your battle flags


A battle flag is described here:

"A war flag, also known as a military flag, battle flag, or standard,[1] is a variant of a national flag for use by a country's military forces when on land. The nautical equivalent is a naval ensign. Under the strictest sense of the term, few countries today currently have proper war flags, most preferring to use instead their state flag or standard national flag for this purpose."

   -- Wikipedia


That's what the LORD will do for Israel.

He will defend His chosen nation,

Isaiah 31:5

King James Version

5 As birds flying, 

so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; 

defending also he will deliver it; 

and passing over he will preserve it.


from the Assyrians.

Isaiah 31:8

King James Version

8 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.


GOD's wrath falls upon all enemies of Israel.

The LORD declared that, early on:

Genesis 12:3

King James Version

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, 

and curse him that curseth thee: 

and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.


Related material:

Why GOD Chose ISRAEL

God's COVENANTS with Israel

ISRAEL is the APPLE of God's EYE

Israel's FAITHFUL GOD

GOD's WRATH

GOD's POWER


Image: Png Wing


Early MORNING writing

  Psalm 143:8 King James Version 8 Cause me to hear  thy lovingkindness  in the morning;  for in thee do I trust:  cause me to know  the way...