Isaiah 33:3

3 The enemy runs at the sound of your voice. When you stand up, the nations flee!

Isaiah 33:3 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 33:3

At the noise of the tumult the people fled
The Vulgate Latin Version renders it, "at the voice of the angel"; and Jerom reports it as the opinion of the Jews, that it was Gabriel; and many interpret the words either of the noise the angel made in the air, or was made in the Assyrian camp, when the angel descended, and smote such a vast number of them, at which the remnant, being frightened, fled, ( 2 Kings 19:35 2 Kings 19:36 ) but either this is to be understood as expressing what had been done in time past, and therefore the church took encouragement that it might and would be so again; or as a continuance of her prayer, thus, "at the noise of the tumult", or multitude ^F20, "let the people flee" ^F21; or as a prediction, "they shall flee" ^F23; that is, at the noise of the multitude of saints, the faithful, called, and chosen armies of heaven, that follow Christ on white horses, and clothed in white; when he shall go forth to battle with the kings of the earth, beast, and false prophet, let the people under them flee, or they shall flee, and not be able to stand before so puissant a General, and so powerful an army; see ( Revelation 17:14 ) ( 19:14 ) : at the lifting up of thyself, the nations were scattered;
so it has been in times past, when the Lord has lifted up himself, and appeared on behalf of his people, and has exerted himself, and displayed his power; and so it will be again; or so let it be: "let the nations be scattered"; the antichristian nations, as they will be, when the Lord shall lift up his hand, and pour out the vials of his wrath upon them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Nwmh lwqm) "a voce multitudinis", Pagninus; "a voce turbae", Montanus, Cocceius.
F21 Fugiant, so some in Gataker.
F23 Profugient, Piscator.

Isaiah 33:3 In-Context

1 What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourselves. You betray others, but you have never been betrayed. When you are done destroying, you will be destroyed. When you are done betraying, you will be betrayed.

2 But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.

3 The enemy runs at the sound of your voice. When you stand up, the nations flee!

4 Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines, so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!

5 Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness.