Isaiah 33:6

6 he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.

Isaiah 33:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 33:6

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy
times
Some take these words to be directed to Hezekiah; but rather they are an apostrophe to the Messiah, and respect the later times of Christ, when many shall run to and fro, and the knowledge of him shall be increased, and the earth shall be covered with it, as the waters cover the sea; and which, as it will make these times comfortable and pleasant, so firm, durable, and lasting: or else they are the words of believers in those times, addressed to Zion the church, before spoken of, observing the great increase of spiritual wisdom and knowledge after the destruction of antichrist; by means of which there would be settled times of peace, joy, and comfort to the church: [and] strength of salvation;
or "salvations" F24; or strong and lasting salvations; eternal salvation by Jesus Christ, and complete salvation from antichrist, and from every other enemy; which, together with spiritual wisdom, and experimental knowledge of Christ, and his Gospel, will be the stability of those happy times, which will make the spiritual reign of Christ. The whole may be rendered, according to the accents F25, and "he" (that is, the Lord, before spoken of) "shall be the stability of thy times; the strength of salvations shall be wisdom and knowledge": the fear of the Lord [is] his treasure;
either Hezekiah's, as some, who esteemed the fear of the Lord above all his treasure; and was more zealous in settling and establishing the true worship of God than in amassing treasures to himself: or rather the Lord's treasure, from which he receives a tribute of honour, of more value than the greatest treasure: or, best of all, the church's treasure, and every true believer's; this being the beginning of wisdom, or true grace, the best of riches, and which secures the saints' final perseverance to glory, the better and more enduring substance.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (tewvy Nox) "fortitudo salutum", Pagninus, Montanus; "rebur ominis, [vel] multiplicis salutis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F25 Vid. Reinbeck de Accent. Heb. p. 405.

Isaiah 33:6 In-Context

4 Spoil was gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, they leaped upon it.
5 The Lord is exalted, he dwells on high; he filled Zion with justice and righteousness;
6 he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.
7 Listen! the valiant cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
8 The highways are deserted, travelers have quit the road. The treaty is broken, its oaths are despised, its obligation is disregarded.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Heb [his treasure]; meaning of Heb uncertain
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.