King James Version

Isaiah 31:5

As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

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Hebrew

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כְּצִפֳּרִ֣יםketsiporimas birdצִפּוֹרpreposition, noun, common, both genders, plural, absolute — “as bird”, the ordinary formH6833a little bird (as hopping)bird, fowl, sparrow.עָפ֔וֹתafotflyעוּףverb, qal, participle, absolute — “fly”, a verb used as a describing wordH5774to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning)brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away), [idiom] set, shine forth, weary.כֵּ֗ןkenas... asכֵּןparticle, demonstrative — “as... as”H3651properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)[phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (th…יָגֵ֛ןyagendefendגָּנַןverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “defend”, an unfinished actionH1598to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protectdefend.יְהוָ֥הyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).צְבָא֖וֹתtsevaotarmyצָבָאnoun, common, both genders, plural, absolute — “army”, the ordinary formH6635a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑םyerushalimJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםnoun, proper name — “Jerusalem”H3389Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of PalestineJerusalem.גָּנ֥וֹןganondefendגָּנַןverb, qal, infinitive absolute — “defend”, the verb used for emphasisH1598to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protectdefend.וְהִצִּ֖ילvehitsiland defendנָצַלconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and defend”, a completed action in a sequenceH5337to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense[idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idiom] without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, [idiom] surely, take (out).פָּסֹ֥חַpasochahaltפָּסַחverb, qal, infinitive absolute — “halt”, the verb used for emphasisH6452to hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dancehalt, become lame, leap, pass over.וְהִמְלִֽיטvehimlitand escapeמָלַטconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and escape”, a completed action in a sequenceH4422properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparksdeliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone, let go, preserve, save, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] surely.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

As birds hovering, so will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

As birds hovering, so will Jehovah of hosts protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it , he will pass over and preserve it .

Young’s Literal Translation

As birds flying, so doth Jehovah of Hosts Cover over Jerusalem, covering and delivering, Passing over, and causing to escape.'

World English Bible

As birds hovering, so Yahweh of Armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”

Darby Translation

As birds with outstretched wings, so will Jehovah of hosts cover Jerusalem; covering, he will also deliver, passing over, he will rescue [it].

Douay-Rheims

As birds dying, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem, protecting and delivering, passing over and saving.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

As birds hovering, so will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

As birds flying, so shall the Lord of hosts defend; he shall defend Jerusalem, and he shall rescue, and save and deliver.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὡς ὄρνεα πετόμενα, οὕτως ὑπερασπιεῖ Κύριος σαβαὼθ, ὑπὲρ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ὑπερασπιεῖ, καὶ ἐξελεῖται, καὶ περιποιήσεται, καὶ σώσει.