Isaiah 33:8

8 The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken, its witnesses^[a] are despised, no one is respected.

Isaiah 33:8 in Other Translations

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

8 The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man.

8 Your roads are deserted; no one travels them anymore. The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses. They have no respect for anyone.

8 The roads are empty - not a soul out on the streets. The peace treaty is broken, its conditions violated, its signers reviled.

8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: [the enemy] hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth not man.

8 Highways are deserted. Travelers stop traveling. Agreements are broken. Witnesses are rejected. People are no longer respected.

8 The highways are deserted; travel has ceased. An agreement has been broken, cities despised, and human life disregarded.

8 The wide roads are deserted. No one travels on them. Our peace treaty with Assyria is broken. Those who witnessed it are looked down on. No one is respected.

Isaiah 33:8 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 33:8

The highways lie waste
No man walking in them, for fear of the enemy; "the ways of Zion", which are said to "mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts", ( Lamentations 1:4 ) none daring to attend the ministry of the word and ordinances; see ( Isaiah 35:8 ) : the wayfaring man ceaseth;
or, "the traveller rests" ^F26; or stops; he does not proceed on his journey; a stop is put to a religious course and conversation; there is an entire cessation of religious worship; a sabbath is kept, but not a religious one; he that would walk in Zion's ways is forbid, and is obliged to sit still: he hath broken the covenant;
some, as Kimchi's father, interpret this of the Jews' complaining that God had broken his covenant with them, as in ( Psalms 89:39 ) but most of Sennacherib's breaking his covenant with Hezekiah, ( 2 Kings 18:14-17 ) rather this is to be understood of antichrist, whose doctrine is, that faith is not to be kept with heretics, and which will abundantly appear at this distressing time: he hath despised the cities;
as Sennacherib did the fenced cities of Judah; he despised their fortifications, and easily took them, and treated the inhabitants with disdain and contempt; and so will the reformed Protestant cities and countries be invaded, seized upon, and insulted, by the Romish antichrist: he regardeth no man;
so as to keep covenant with them, have compassion on them, and spare them, he fearing neither God nor man.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (xra rbe tbv) "cessaverat viator", Junius & Tremellius; "desiit viator", Cocceius.

Isaiah 33:8 In-Context

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.

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 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 60:15; Zechariah 7:14
• 2. S Judges 5:6; Isaiah 30:21; Isaiah 35:8
• 3. S 2 Kings 18:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text "/ the cities"