Isaiah 33:3-13

3 At the uproar of your army, the peoples flee; when you rise up, the nations scatter.
4 Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts; like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it.
5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.
6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.[a]
7 Look, their brave men cry aloud in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
8 The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken, its witnesses[b] are despised, no one is respected.
9 The land dries up and wastes away, Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah, and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.
10 “Now will I arise,” says the LORD. “Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up.
11 You conceive chaff, you give birth to straw; your breath is a fire that consumes you.
12 The peoples will be burned to ashes; like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze.”
13 You who are far away, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge my power!

Isaiah 33:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 33

This chapter contains an account of God's judgments upon the enemies of his people, and of the peaceable, comfortable, and happy state of the church in the latter day. The judgment denounced, Isa 33:1 a prayer of the church for safety and protection, which it promises itself from what God had heretofore done, Isa 33:2,3 an answer to it, declaring the spoil of the enemy, and the happy times the people of God should enjoy through his appearance for them, Isa 33:4-6 though previous thereunto there would be very distressing ones, Isa 33:7-9 when the Lord resolves to arise and exert his power in the destruction of the people, who should be burnt up like stubble, thorns, and lime, Isa 33:10-12 persons far and near are called upon to take notice of this, Isa 33:13 which would issue in a different manner, in the surprise and terror of hypocrites, and in the safety and plenty of provisions for good men, who are described, Isa 33:14-16 and then follow promises to them, of seeing the King in his beauty, and beholding a distant country of reflecting on past terror with pleasure, being freed from it, and in no danger of a foreign enemy, Isa 33:17-19 and the chapter is concluded with a famous prophecy of the peace, prosperity, and safety of the church, and of the healthfulness of its inhabitants, under the protection of Christ, its King and Lawgiver, its enemies being also an easy prey to it, Isa 33:20-24.

Cross References 34

  • 1. S Psalms 46:6; S Psalms 68:33
  • 2. S Psalms 68:1; S Isaiah 13:14
  • 3. ver 10; Numbers 10:35; Psalms 12:5; Isaiah 59:16-18
  • 4. S Numbers 14:3; S 2 Kings 7:16
  • 5. S Isaiah 17:5; Joel 3:13
  • 6. Joel 1:4
  • 7. S Isaiah 5:16; Psalms 97:9
  • 8. S Job 16:19
  • 9. S Isaiah 9:7; S Isaiah 28:6
  • 10. S Isaiah 1:26
  • 11. S Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 51:6; Isaiah 60:18
  • 12. S Proverbs 1:7; Isaiah 11:2-3; Matthew 6:33
  • 13. S Genesis 39:3; S Job 22:25
  • 14. Isaiah 10:34
  • 15. S 2 Kings 18:37
  • 16. Isaiah 60:15; Zechariah 7:14
  • 17. S Judges 5:6; Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 35:8
  • 18. S 2 Kings 18:14
  • 19. S Isaiah 3:26
  • 20. S 2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 2:13; Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 37:24; Jeremiah 22:6
  • 21. S Isaiah 15:6; Isaiah 24:4
  • 22. S 1 Chronicles 27:29
  • 23. Micah 7:14
  • 24. 1 Kings 18:19; Isaiah 35:2; Nahum 1:4
  • 25. S ver 3; Psalms 12:5; Isaiah 2:21
  • 26. S Isaiah 5:16
  • 27. Psalms 7:14; Isaiah 59:4; James 1:15
  • 28. S Isaiah 26:18
  • 29. Isaiah 1:31
  • 30. Amos 2:1
  • 31. S Isaiah 5:6
  • 32. S Isaiah 10:17; S Isaiah 27:11
  • 33. Psalms 48:10; Psalms 49:1
  • 34. Isaiah 34:1; Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 49:1

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or "is a treasure from him"
  • [b]. Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text "/ the cities"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.