Isaiah 33:5-15

5 The LORD is 1exalted, for He dwells on high; He has 2filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 And He will be the 3stability of your times, A 4wealth of salvation, wisdom and 5knowledge; The 6fear of the LORD is his treasure.
7 Behold, their brave men cry in the streets, The 7ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.
8 The highways are desolate, the 8traveler has ceased, He has 9broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, He has no regard for man.
9 10The land mourns and pines away, 11Lebanon is shamed and withers; 12Sharon is like a desert plain, And Bashan and Carmel lose their foliage.
10 "Now 13I will arise," says the LORD, "Now I will be exalted, now I will be lifted up.
11 "You have 14conceived chaff, you will give birth to stubble; My 15breath will consume you like a fire.
12 "The peoples will be burned to lime, 16Like cut thorns which are burned in the fire.
13 "You who are far away, 17hear what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might."
14 18Sinners in Zion are terrified; 19Trembling has seized the godless. "Who among us can live with 20the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual 21burning?"
15 He who 22walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust * gain And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And 23shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;

Isaiah 33:5-15 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 23

  • 1. Psalms 97:9
  • 2. Isaiah 1:26; Isaiah 28:6; Isaiah 32:16
  • 3. Isaiah 33:20
  • 4. Isaiah 45:17; Isaiah 51:6
  • 5. Isaiah 11:9
  • 6. 2 Kings 18:7; Psalms 112:1-3; Isaiah 11:3; Matthew 6:33
  • 7. 2 Kings 18:18, 37
  • 8. Isaiah 35:8
  • 9. Isaiah 24:5
  • 10. Isaiah 3:26; Isaiah 24:4; Isaiah 29:2
  • 11. Isaiah 2:13; Isaiah 10:34
  • 12. Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 65:10
  • 13. Psalms 12:5; Isaiah 2:19, 21
  • 14. Psalms 7:14; Isaiah 26:18; Isaiah 59:4; James 1:15
  • 15. Isaiah 1:31
  • 16. 2 Samuel 23:6, 7; Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 27:4
  • 17. Psalms 48:10; Isaiah 49:1
  • 18. Isaiah 1:28
  • 19. Isaiah 32:11
  • 20. Isaiah 30:27, 30; Hebrews 12:29
  • 21. Isaiah 9:18, 19; Isaiah 10:16; Isaiah 47:14
  • 22. Psalms 15:2; Psalms 24:4; Isaiah 58:6-11
  • 23. Psalms 119:37

Footnotes 10

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