Isaiah 33

Distress and Deliverance

1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. Parallel theme: Isaiah 10:12, 21:2, 24:16, Matthew 7:2, Revelation 17:17

2 O LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty., be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. Salvation: Isaiah 25:9, 59:16, Psalms 62:1. References Lord: Isaiah 26:16, 40:10, Exodus 14:27. Parallel theme: Isaiah 25:4, Psalms 46:1, 60:11, 62:8 +5

3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgmentJudgment: מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat). The Hebrew mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means judgment or justice—God's righteous decisions and ordinances. God is the Judge of all the earth who 'shall do right' (Genesis 18:25), executing perfect justice. and righteousness. References Lord: Isaiah 2:17. Judgment: Daniel 4:37. Parallel theme: Romans 11:26

6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvationSalvation: יְשׁוּעָה (Yeshuah). The Hebrew yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) means salvation or deliverance—rescue from danger or enemies. This is the root of 'Jesus' (Yeshua), meaning 'YHWH saves.': the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Salvation: Isaiah 51:6, Psalms 140:7. References Lord: Psalms 28:8, Proverbs 14:27, 19:23. Parallel theme: Psalms 45:4, Ecclesiastes 7:19, Matthew 6:33, 1 Timothy 4:8, 6:6 +5

7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. Parallel theme: Isaiah 36:22, 2 Kings 18:18

8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenantCovenant: בְּרִית (Berit). The Hebrew berit (בְּרִית) denotes a covenant—a binding agreement, often ratified by blood sacrifice. God's covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic) structure redemptive history, culminating in the New Covenant., he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. Parallel theme: Isaiah 35:8, Judges 5:6

9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. Parallel theme: Isaiah 35:2, 65:10, Nahum 1:4

10 Now will I rise, saith the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty.; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. Resurrection: Psalms 12:5. Parallel theme: Amos 6:1

11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. Parallel theme: Isaiah 59:4, Psalms 7:14, James 1:15

12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire. Parallel theme: Isaiah 27:4

13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. Parallel theme: Isaiah 49:1, Psalms 48:10

14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Eternal Life: Matthew 18:8, 25:41, 25:46. Parallel theme: Isaiah 29:13, 66:24, Job 18:11, Nahum 1:6, Hebrews 12:29, Revelation 14:10, 20:10 +5

15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of bloodBlood: דָּם (Dam). The Hebrew dam (דָּם) means blood—representing life itself. 'The life of the flesh is in the blood' (Leviticus 17:11), and blood was required for atonement, foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice., and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; Righteousness: Deuteronomy 16:19, Psalms 106:3, Luke 1:6, 1 John 3:7. Parallel theme: Psalms 119:37, Malachi 2:6, Luke 19:8, Romans 2:7, James 5:4 +4

16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Parallel theme: Isaiah 25:4, 32:18, 49:10, Psalms 18:33, 33:18, 37:3, 90:1, 107:41, 111:5, Proverbs 1:33 +5

17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Kingdom: Isaiah 6:5. Parallel theme: Zechariah 9:17, John 1:14, 14:21, 17:24, 2 Corinthians 4:18, 1 John 3:2 +2

18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? Parallel theme: 2 Kings 18:14, 1 Corinthians 1:20

19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. Parallel theme: Isaiah 28:11, Exodus 14:13, 2 Kings 19:32, Jeremiah 5:15, 1 Corinthians 14:21

20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. Parallel theme: Isaiah 32:18, 54:2, Psalms 46:5

21 But there the glorious LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will saveSave: יָשַׁע (Yasha). The Hebrew yasha (יָשַׁע) means to save or deliver—rescue from danger or distress. This is the root of 'Jesus' (Yeshua), meaning 'YHWH saves.' God alone is Savior: 'I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour' (Isaiah 43:11). us. Salvation: Isaiah 12:2, 25:9, 35:4, Zechariah 9:9, Acts 5:31, James 4:12. Kingdom: Psalms 89:18, Revelation 19:16. Judgment: Psalms 50:6, 75:7 +5

23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. Parallel theme: 2 Kings 7:8, Psalms 68:12, 1 Corinthians 1:27

24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. Sin: Isaiah 44:22, Jeremiah 50:20. Parallel theme: Isaiah 30:26, 58:8, Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 7:15, 28:27, James 5:14, Revelation 21:4, 22:2 +5