Isaiah 33:15-24

15 Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—
16 they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them.
17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.
18 In your thoughts you will ponder the former terror: “Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers?”
19 You will see those arrogant people no more, people whose speech is obscure, whose language is strange and incomprehensible.
20 Look on Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.
21 There the LORD will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them.
22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.
23 Your rigging hangs loose: The mast is not held secure, the sail is not spread. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided and even the lame will carry off plunder.
24 No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”; and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.

Isaiah 33:15-24 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 31

  • 1. Isaiah 58:8
  • 2. Psalms 15:2; Psalms 24:4
  • 3. Ezekiel 22:13; Ezekiel 33:31
  • 4. S Proverbs 15:27
  • 5. Psalms 119:37
  • 6. S Deuteronomy 32:13
  • 7. S Psalms 46:1; S Isaiah 25:4
  • 8. Psalms 18:1-2; Isaiah 26:1
  • 9. Isaiah 48:21; Isaiah 49:10; Isaiah 65:13
  • 10. S Isaiah 6:5
  • 11. S Isaiah 4:2
  • 12. S Isaiah 26:15
  • 13. S Isaiah 17:14
  • 14. S Isaiah 2:15
  • 15. S Psalms 5:5
  • 16. S Genesis 11:7; S Isaiah 28:11; Jeremiah 5:15
  • 17. S Psalms 125:1
  • 18. S Isaiah 32:18
  • 19. S Genesis 26:22
  • 20. ver 6; Psalms 46:5; Psalms 125:1-2
  • 21. S Isaiah 10:34
  • 22. S Exodus 17:6; S Psalms 1:3; Isaiah 32:2; Isaiah 41:18; Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 49:10; Isaiah 66:12; Nahum 3:8
  • 23. Isaiah 23:1
  • 24. Isaiah 11:4
  • 25. S Isaiah 2:3; James 4:12
  • 26. S Psalms 89:18
  • 27. S Isaiah 25:9
  • 28. S 2 Kings 7:8
  • 29. S 2 Kings 7:16
  • 30. S Isaiah 30:26
  • 31. S Numbers 23:21; S 2 Chronicles 6:21; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 31:34; Jeremiah 33:8; Jeremiah 50:20; 1 John 1:7-9
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