Isaiah Chapter 33 · Verse 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.
Original Language Analysis
חֲזֵ֣ה
Look
H2372
חֲזֵ֣ה
Look
Strong's:
H2372
Word #:
1 of 20
to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have a vision of
צִיּ֔וֹן
upon Zion
H6726
צִיּ֔וֹן
upon Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
2 of 20
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
מֽוֹעֲדֵ֑נוּ
of our solemnities
H4150
מֽוֹעֲדֵ֑נוּ
of our solemnities
Strong's:
H4150
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
עֵינֶיךָ֩
thine eyes
H5869
עֵינֶיךָ֩
thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
5 of 20
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
תִרְאֶ֨ינָה
shall see
H7200
תִרְאֶ֨ינָה
shall see
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
6 of 20
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם
Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם
Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
7 of 20
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
נָוֶ֣ה
habitation
H5116
נָוֶ֣ה
habitation
Strong's:
H5116
Word #:
8 of 20
(adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of god (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild
בַּל
H1077
בַּל
Strong's:
H1077
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, a failure; by implication nothing; usually (adverb) not at all; also lest
יִצְעָן֙
that shall not be taken down
H6813
יִצְעָן֙
that shall not be taken down
Strong's:
H6813
Word #:
12 of 20
to load up (beasts), i.e., to migrate
בַּל
H1077
בַּל
Strong's:
H1077
Word #:
13 of 20
properly, a failure; by implication nothing; usually (adverb) not at all; also lest
יִסַּ֤ע
be removed
H5265
יִסַּ֤ע
be removed
Strong's:
H5265
Word #:
14 of 20
properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e., start on a journey
לָנֶ֔צַח
thereof shall ever
H5331
לָנֶ֔צַח
thereof shall ever
Strong's:
H5331
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, a goal, i.e., the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objecti
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Psalms 46:5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.Isaiah 32:18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;Isaiah 54:2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
Historical Context
Jerusalem's three annual pilgrimage festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16) made it 'city of appointed times.' Assyrian siege threatened to end this—no festivals under occupation. God's deliverance preserved worship. The tent metaphor contrasts nomadic insecurity with permanent dwelling. Tabernacle was portable; Temple was permanent but destroyed (586 BC). Ultimate fulfillment: eternal city where God dwells with humanity (Revelation 21:3), never again disrupted.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jerusalem as 'city of our appointed feasts' picture the church as gathering place for worship?
- What does the permanent tent metaphor teach about security in God's presence—no more displacement or exile?
- How do you experience Zion's stability now as citizen of heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24)?
Analysis & Commentary
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities (חֲזֵה צִיּוֹן קִרְיַת מוֹעֲדֵנוּ, chazeh Tsiyon qiryat mo'adenu)—behold (חָזָה, chazah) Zion, city of our מוֹעֵד (mo'ed, appointed feasts, assemblies). Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation (עֵינֶיךָ תִרְאֶינָה יְרוּשָׁלִַם נָוֶה שַׁאֲנָן, eynekha tire'enah Yerushalaim naveh sha'anan)—Jerusalem as a נָוֶה (naveh, habitation, dwelling) that is שַׁאֲנָן (sha'anan, quiet, tranquil, secure). 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 (אֹהֶל בַּל־יִצְעָן בַּל־יִסַּע יְתֵדֹתָיו לָנֶצַח וְכָל־חֲבָלָיו בַּל־יִנָּתֵקוּ, ohel bal-yits'an bal-yissa yetedotaw lanetsach vekhol-chavalayv bal-yinatequ).
Zion, city of pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles), will be permanently secure—a tent (אֹהֶל, ohel) that's never taken down, stakes (יָתֵד, yated) never removed, cords (חֶבֶל, chevel) never broken. The tent imagery evokes Tabernacle—God's movable dwelling—but promises permanence. Hebrews 12:22-24 says believers 'are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.' Revelation 21:2-3: 'I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God... the tabernacle of God is with men.'