Isaiah33
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Woe to thee that destroyest, and thou wast not destroyed; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to destroy, thou shalt be destroyed; and when thou hast made an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
2O Jehovah, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou our arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
3At the noise of the tumult the peoples are fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations are scattered.
4And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.
5Jehovah is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure.
7Behold, their valiant ones cry without; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.
8The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: the enemy hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth not man.
9The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is confounded and withereth away; Sharon is like a desert; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.
10Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted.
11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath is a fire that shall devour you.
12And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.
13Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
14The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling hath seized the godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?
15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil:
16He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold a land that reacheth afar.
18Thy heart shall muse on the terror: Where is he that counted, where is he that weighed the tribute? where is he that counted the towers?
19Thou shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that thou canst not comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou canst not understand.
20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be removed, the stakes whereof shall never be plucked up, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21But there Jehovah will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams, wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
22For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; he will save us.
23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not strengthen the foot of their mast, they could not spread the sail: then was the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame took the prey.
24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 33.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's judgments against the enemies of his church. (1-14). The happiness of his people. (15-24).
vv1-14
Here we have the proud and false destroyer justly reckoned with for all his fraud and violence. The righteous God often pays sinners in their own coin. Those who by faith humbly wait for God, shall find him gracious to them; as the day, so let the strength be. If God leaves us to ourselves any morning, we are undone; we must every morning commit ourselves to him, and go forth in his strength to do the work of the day. When God arises, his enemies are scattered. True wisdom and knowledge lead to strength of salvation, which renders us stedfast in the ways of God; and true piety is the only treasure which can never be plundered or spent. The distress Jerusalem was brought into, is described. God's time to appear for his people, is, when all other helpers fail. Let all who hear what God has done, acknowledge that he can do every thing. Sinners in Zion will have much to answer for, above other sinners. And those that rebel against the commands of the word, cannot take its comforts in time of need. His wrath will burn those everlastingly who make themselves fuel for it. It is a fire that shall never be quenched, nor ever go out of itself; it is the wrath of an ever-living God preying on the conscience of a never-dying soul.
vv15-24
The true believer watches against all occasions of sin. The Divine power will keep him safe, and his faith in that power will keep him easy. He shall want nothing needful for him. Every blessing of salvation is freely bestowed on all that ask with humble, believing prayer; and the believer is safe in time and for ever. Those that walk uprightly shall not only have bread given, and their water sure, but they shall, by faith, see the King of kings in his beauty, the beauty of holiness. The remembrance of the terror they were in, shall add to the pleasure of their deliverance. It is desirable to be quiet in our own houses, but much more so to be quiet in God's house; and in every age Christ will have a seed to serve him. Jerusalem had no large river running by it, but the presence and power of God make up all wants. We have all in God, all we need, or can desire. By faith we take Christ for our Prince and Saviour; he reigns over his redeemed people. All that refuse to have Him to reign over them, make shipwreck of their souls. Sickness is taken away in mercy, when the fruit of it is the taking away of sin. If iniquity be taken away, we have little reason to complain of outward affliction. This last verse leads our thoughts, not only to the most glorious state of the gospel church on earth, but to heaven, where no sickness or trouble can enter. He that blotteth out our transgressions, will heal our souls.
Key Words
הוֹי: oh!
שָׁדַד: properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
בָּגַד: to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage
תָּמַם: to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
נָלָה: to complete
חָנַן: properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)
קָוָה: to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect
זְרוֹעַ: the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force
בֹּקֶר: properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning
Cross References
Isaiah 33Sennacherib breaking his covenant with Hezekiah despite the payment of tribute.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The dramatic destruction of Sennacherib's army, fulfilling the doom of the unprovoked spoiler.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The retributive principle that those who spoil others will ultimately be spoiled themselves.
Supported by JFB
The weeping ambassadors of peace sent to Rabshakeh during the Assyrian siege.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes the classic liturgical question and answer regarding who may dwell in God's holy presence.
Supported by JFB
Paul's triumphantly adapted query 'Where is the scribe?' celebrating God's defeat of worldly wisdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The severe image of divine wrath turning enemies into 'burnings of lime' or bone-ash.
Supported by JFB
The solemn realization of eternal burnings and unquenchable fire facing the hypocrites and wicked.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Saints defined by clean hands, pure hearts, and refusal of deceitful gain.
Supported by JFB
The terrifying threat of a fierce, invading nation whose foreign tongue cannot be understood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jerusalem, lacking literal rivers, is watered by the secure and quiet streams of God's presence.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Hezekiah's trust and divine deliverance, demonstrating that the fear of the Lord is stability.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Highways lying desolate and travelers ceasing, representing extreme national terror and ruin.
Supported by John Calvin
Sharon and Lebanon, here desolate under judgment, are later restored to magnificent beauty.
Supported by JFB
The linkage of physical healing and restoration to the ultimate forgiveness of iniquity.
Supported by Matthew Henry