Isaiah 33:4
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְאֻסַּ֣ף
shall be gathered
H622
וְאֻסַּ֣ף
shall be gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
1 of 8
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
כְּמַשַּׁ֥ק
as the running to and fro
H4944
כְּמַשַּׁ֥ק
as the running to and fro
Strong's:
H4944
Word #:
5 of 8
a traversing, i.e., rapid motion
Historical Context
Ancient warfare involved plundering defeated enemies. When Assyrians fled, they abandoned siege equipment, weapons, provisions, treasures. Hezekiah had paid enormous tribute (2 Kings 18:14-16), impoverishing Judah. Now Judeans recover far more than was extorted. Exodus 12:35-36 shows similar pattern—Israelites plundered Egyptians at the Exodus. God enriches His people through enemy wealth (Proverbs 13:22, 'the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just').
Questions for Reflection
- How does God sometimes transform loss into gain by giving you the 'spoils' of defeated enemies?
- What does the locust imagery teach about the thoroughness and speed of God's provision after deliverance?
- When have you experienced recovery that exceeded what was previously lost?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller (וְאֻסַּף שְׁלַלְכֶם אֹסֶף הֶחָסִיל, ve'usaf shalalkhem osef hechasil)—your שָׁלָל (shalal, spoil, plunder) will be gathered like the אֹסֶף (osef, gathering) of the חָסִיל (chasil, caterpillar, locust). As the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them (כְּמַשַּׁק גְּבִים שׁוֹקֵק בּוֹ, kemashaq gevim shoqeq bo)—like the running (שָׁקַק, shaqaq, to run, rush) of גֶּבֶה (geveh, locusts).
After scattering the Assyrian army (v. 3), Judeans plunder the abandoned camp—like locusts stripping a field. The caterpillar (חָסִיל, chasil) and locust (גֶּבֶה, geveh) imagery pictures thorough, swift gleaning. Joel 1-2 uses locust plagues as judgment metaphor. Here, Judah swarms over Assyrian spoil like locusts. Second Kings doesn't record this detail, but Isaiah 37:36 mentions 185,000 corpses—their equipment, supplies, and wealth would be massive. God transforms Judah from besieged victims to plunderers.