Isaiah 33

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 33

1¶ Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou [wast] not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; [and] when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

2O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

4And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

5The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD [is] his treasure.

7Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

8The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

9The earth mourneth [and] languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed [and] hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off [their fruits].

10Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you.

12And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

13¶ Hear, ye [that are] far off, what I have done; and, ye [that are] near, acknowledge my might.

14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

16He shall dwell on high: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.

17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

18Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where [is] the scribe? where [is] the receiver? where [is] he that counted the towers?

19Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, [that thou canst] not understand.

20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle [that] shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.

21But there the glorious LORD [will be] unto us a place of broad rivers [and] streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

22For the LORD [is] our judge, the LORD [is] our lawgiver, the LORD [is] our king; he will save us.

23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein [shall be] forgiven [their] iniquity.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter begins with a woe pronounced upon the treacherous spoiler, promising that they will eventually suffer the same fate they inflicted upon others. A prayer for the Lord's grace and salvation follows, acknowledging His exaltation and His filling Zion with judgment and righteousness. The Lord then declares His intention to rise and act, promising security and blessing for the righteous in Zion, where He will be their judge, lawgiver, and king.

Medium Summary

Isaiah 33 opens with a declaration of woe against those who spoil and deal treacherously without having been wronged, foretelling that they will ultimately be spoiled and betrayed in turn. The people then cry out to the Lord for grace and salvation, recognizing Him as their strength in times of trouble. The land is described as mourning and languishing due to widespread desolation, with ambassadors of peace weeping bitterly. In response, the Lord declares His imminent rise to exalt Himself, promising that the wicked shall be consumed like stubble and lime. He then calls both near and far to acknowledge His might, contrasting the fear of hypocrites in Zion with the blessed security of those who walk righteously, who shall dwell in safety and see the King in His beauty. Zion is envisioned as a peaceful, unshakeable habitation under the Lord's protection, where He serves as judge, lawgiver, and king, bringing salvation and forgiveness.

Long Summary

The chapter commences with a stern woe pronounced against the treacherous spoiler, asserting that the very treachery and spoiling they inflict upon others will eventually be visited upon them. Following this pronouncement, the people offer a heartfelt prayer, beseeching the Lord for grace and salvation, acknowledging Him as their steadfast arm and deliverer in affliction. The prophet describes the widespread desolation of the land, where highways lie waste, ambassadors of peace weep, and the earth itself mourns, with Lebanon, Sharon, Bashan, and Carmel languishing. Amidst this despair, the Lord declares His intention to rise and be exalted, promising that the wicked shall conceive chaff and bring forth stubble, consumed by their own breath like fire, and burned like lime or thorns. He then calls upon all, both near and far, to acknowledge His mighty deeds. Fear grips the sinners and hypocrites in Zion, who question who can endure the devouring fire of God's presence. In contrast, a detailed description is given of the righteous individual: one who walks uprightly, despises oppression, rejects bribes, avoids hearing of violence, and shuns evil sights. Such a person is promised to dwell securely in high places, with sure bread and water. The chapter then shifts to a vision of future blessing for the righteous, where their eyes shall behold the King in His beauty and see a far-off land. Zion is depicted as a quiet, unshakeable habitation, a tabernacle whose stakes and cords will never be removed. The glorious Lord will be a place of broad rivers and streams, providing security where no enemy ship can pass. For the Lord Himself is declared to be their judge, lawgiver, and king, who will save them. The chapter concludes with a promise of the enemy's defeat and the division of their spoil, and a blessed state for Zion's inhabitants, where none shall say, 'I am sick,' and their iniquity shall be forgiven.

Core Concepts

  • Woe to the SpoilerThe chapter opens with a divine judgment against those who act treacherously and spoil others without provocation, declaring that they will ultimately suffer the same fate they inflict.
  • Prayer for Grace and SalvationAmidst the pronouncement of judgment, the people earnestly pray to the Lord for His grace, acknowledging Him as their only hope and salvation in times of trouble.
  • Desolation and God's InterventionThe land is depicted as mourning and languishing due to widespread desolation, leading to the Lord's declaration that He will rise and be exalted to act against the wicked.
  • The Righteous vs. The WickedA clear distinction is drawn between the fear of hypocrites and sinners, who cannot endure God's presence, and the blessed security of those who walk righteously and reject evil.
  • Security and Blessings for ZionZion is promised to become a peaceful, unshakeable habitation where the righteous will dwell safely, see the King, and experience divine provision and protection.
  • The Lord as King and SaviorThe chapter culminates by affirming the Lord's ultimate authority as judge, lawgiver, and king, who will bring salvation, forgiveness of iniquity, and healing to His people in Zion.