Isaiah 33:15

Authorized King James Version

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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 blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

Original Language Analysis

הֹלֵ֣ךְ He that walketh H1980
הֹלֵ֣ךְ He that walketh
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 1 of 19
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
צְדָק֔וֹת righteously H6666
צְדָק֔וֹת righteously
Strong's: H6666
Word #: 2 of 19
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
וְדֹבֵ֖ר and speaketh H1696
וְדֹבֵ֖ר and speaketh
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 3 of 19
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים uprightly H4339
מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים uprightly
Strong's: H4339
Word #: 4 of 19
evenness, i.e., (figuratively) prosperity or concord; also straightness, i.e., (figuratively) rectitude (only in plural with singular sense; often adv
מֹאֵ֞ס he that despiseth H3988
מֹאֵ֞ס he that despiseth
Strong's: H3988
Word #: 5 of 19
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
בְּבֶ֣צַע the gain H1215
בְּבֶ֣צַע the gain
Strong's: H1215
Word #: 6 of 19
plunder; by extension, gain (usually unjust)
מַעֲשַׁקּ֗וֹת of oppressions H4642
מַעֲשַׁקּ֗וֹת of oppressions
Strong's: H4642
Word #: 7 of 19
oppression
נֹעֵ֤ר that shaketh H5287
נֹעֵ֤ר that shaketh
Strong's: H5287
Word #: 8 of 19
to tumble about
כַּפָּיו֙ his hands H3709
כַּפָּיו֙ his hands
Strong's: H3709
Word #: 9 of 19
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
מִתְּמֹ֣ךְ from holding H8551
מִתְּמֹ֣ךְ from holding
Strong's: H8551
Word #: 10 of 19
to sustain; by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to help, follow close
בַּשֹּׁ֔חַד of bribes H7810
בַּשֹּׁ֔חַד of bribes
Strong's: H7810
Word #: 11 of 19
a donation (venal or redemptive)
אֹטֵ֤ם that stoppeth H331
אֹטֵ֤ם that stoppeth
Strong's: H331
Word #: 12 of 19
to close (the lips or ears); by analology to contract (a window by bevelled jambs)
אָזְנוֹ֙ his ears H241
אָזְנוֹ֙ his ears
Strong's: H241
Word #: 13 of 19
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ from hearing H8085
מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ from hearing
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 14 of 19
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דָּמִ֔ים of blood H1818
דָּמִ֔ים of blood
Strong's: H1818
Word #: 15 of 19
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
וְעֹצֵ֥ם and shutteth H6105
וְעֹצֵ֥ם and shutteth
Strong's: H6105
Word #: 16 of 19
to bind fast, i.e., close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones
עֵינָ֖יו his eyes H5869
עֵינָ֖יו his eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 17 of 19
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
מֵרְא֥וֹת from seeing H7200
מֵרְא֥וֹת from seeing
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 18 of 19
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
בְּרָֽע׃ evil H7451
בְּרָֽע׃ evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 19 of 19
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

Analysis & Commentary

He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly (הֹלֵךְ צְדָקוֹת וְדֹבֵר מֵישָׁרִים, holekh tsedaqot vedover meyasharim)—the one walking (הָלַךְ, halakh) in צְדָקָה (tsedaqah, righteousness) and speaking (דָּבַר, davar) מֵישָׁרִים (meyasharim, uprightness, straightness). He that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes (מֹאֵס בְּבֶצַע מַעֲשַׁקּוֹת נֹעֵר כַּפָּיו מִתְּמֹךְ בַּשֹּׁחַד, mo'es bebetsa ma'ashaqqot no'er kappaw mittemokh bashochad)—despising (מָאַס, ma'as) gain (בֶּצַע, betsa) from oppression, shaking hands from grasping bribes (שֹׁחַד, shochad). That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil (אֹטֵם אָזְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹעַ דָּמִים וְעֹצֵם עֵינָיו מֵרְאוֹת בְּרָע, otem ozno mishmoa damim ve'otsem eynaw mer'ot bera).

The answer to verse 14's question: those characterized by comprehensive righteousness can dwell with the holy God. Six marks:

  1. righteous walk
  2. upright speech
  3. despising oppressive gain
  4. refusing bribes
  5. closing ears to bloodshed-plots
  6. shutting eyes to evil.

This isn't sinless perfection but fundamental orientation toward righteousness, active resistance to evil. Psalm 15:2-5 and Psalm 24:3-5 give similar lists. Ultimately, only Christ perfectly fulfills this; believers dwell with God through His righteousness imputed (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Historical Context

Ancient Israelite society struggled with these sins—bribery perverted justice (Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19), oppression enriched leaders (Amos 5:11-12, Micah 2:1-2), violence was plotted (Jeremiah 11:18-19), evil was celebrated (Isaiah 5:20). True covenant-keepers actively resisted cultural corruption. Jesus expanded this in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)—the pure in heart shall see God (v. 8). First John 3:2-3 promises: 'we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.'

Questions for Reflection

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