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Isaiah 33
Isaiah 33:1
General Information:
Isaiah speaks in poetry for Yahweh to the Assyrians. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
who has not been destroyed
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whom others have not destroyed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
you will be destroyed
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "others will destroy you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
they will betray
"others will betray"
Isaiah 33:2
be our arm
Here Yahweh's arm refers to his strength. This speaks of Yahweh strengthening them as if Yahweh would use his strength to act for them. Alternate translation: "give us strength" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
every morning
This refers to the whole day, not just the morning. Alternate translation: "every day" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
our salvation
This understood verb "be" may be supplied. Also, the word "salvation" may be expressed with the verb "save." Alternate translation: "be our salvation" or "save us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
in the time of trouble
This refers to the times when they are experiencing trouble. Alternate translation: "when we have troubles" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-possession)
Isaiah 33:3
At the loud noise the peoples flee
Possible meanings of "the loud noise" are 1) it refers to Yahweh's voice. Alternate translation: "The peoples flee at the sound of your loud voice" or 2) it refers the loud sounds of Yahweh's army. Alternate translation: "The people flee at the sound of your army" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
arise
This means to begin doing something. Alternate translation: "begin acting" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
the nations are scattered
This can be written in active form. Alternate translation: "the nations scatter" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 33:4
Your spoil is gathered as the locusts gather; as locusts leap, men leap on it
This compares how quick and eager Yahweh's people are when they gather the spoils from their enemies to the eagerness of locusts when they gather food. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Your people gather spoils from your enemies with the same fierceness as the locusts have who devour green plants" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 33:5
General Information:
Isaiah speaks to the people of Judah.
Yahweh is exalted
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yahweh is greater than anyone else" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness
This speaks of Yahweh ruling Zion with his justice and righteousness as if he were filling Zion with justice and righteousness. Alternate translation: "He will rule Zion with justice and righteousness" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 33:6
He will be the stability in your times
This speaks of Yahweh causing his people to be secure as if he were the stability himself. The phrase "your times" refers to their lives. Alternate translation: "He will make you secure all your lives" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge
This refers to the things that Yahweh will give to them. The abstract noun "salvation" can be expressed with the verb "save." The abstract nouns "wisdom" and "knowledge" can be expressed with adjectives. Alternate translation: "and he will give you an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge" or "he will save you and cause you to be very wise and knowledgeable" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
the fear of Yahweh is his treasure
This speaks of fearing Yahweh as if it were a treasure that Yahweh gives his people. Alternate translation: "revering Yahweh will be like a valuable treasure that he will give to you" or "to fear Yahweh will be as valuable to you as a treasure" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 33:7
Look
This word is used here to draw peoples' attention to what is said next. It is also used here to mark a new section in the book. Alternate translation: "Listen"
envoys
messengers
the diplomats hoping for peace weep bitterly
This means they weep because they do not succeed in making peace. Alternate translation: "the diplomats hope for peace but they do not succeed and so they weep bitterly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Isaiah 33:8
The highways are deserted; there are no more travelers
Both of the phrases emphasize that there are no travelers on the highways. These can be combined and stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People no longer travel on the highways" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Covenants are broken, witnesses are despised, and mankind is not respected
This passage may refer to general conditions of corruption in Israel, or it may refer to the nation's inability to make reliable peace treaties with Assyria. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "People break covenants that they have made, people ignore the testimony of witnesses, and people do not respect one another" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 33:9
The land mourns and withers away
This speaks of the land becoming dry as if it were a person mourning. Alternate translation: "The land becomes dry and its plants wither away" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Lebanon is ashamed and withers away
Here "Lebanon" represents Lebanon's trees. This speaks of the trees withering and decaying as if they were a person who is ashamed. Alternate translation: "Lebanon's trees wither and decay" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Sharon ... Bashan ... Carmel
Many trees and flowers once grew in these places.
Sharon is like a desert plain
This compares how dry Sharon is to a desert plain. Alternate translation: "Sharon is as dry as a desert plain" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves
Here Bashan and Carmel are represented by their trees. Alternate translation: "there are no more leaves on the trees in Bashan and Carmel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Isaiah 33:10
will I arise
To arise or stand up is a metaphor for no longer watching and thinking and instead beginning to act. Alternate translation: "will I begin to act" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
now I will be lifted up; now I will be elevated
This can be stated in active form. These two phrases have basically the same meaning and emphasize Yahweh being exalted. Alternate translation: "now I will exalt myself and show that I deserve for everyone to honor me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Isaiah 33:11
You conceive chaff, and you give birth to stubble
This speaks of the Assyrians making plans as if they were conceiving and giving birth to their plans as a mother gives birth to a baby. This speaks of their plans being useless by comparing them to chaff. Alternate translation: "You make plans that are as useless as chaff and straw" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
stubble
The dry pieces of plants that are left in the ground after the stalks have been cut.
your breath is a fire that will consume you
Here the Assyrians' plans are referred to as their "breath." This speaks of their plans causing them to die as if their plans would literally burn up their bodies. Alternate translation: "your plans will cause you to die" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 33:12
The peoples will be burned to lime, as thornbushes are cut down and are burned
This compares how the peoples' dead bodies will be burned to the way thornbushes are burned. Also, this can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Fire will burn the peoples' bodies to lime in the same way that a farmer cuts down thornbushes and burns them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
lime
the ashes from burned bones
Isaiah 33:13
General Information:
Yahweh continues to speak.
You who are far away, hear what I have done; and, you who are near, acknowledge my might
Yahweh uses the words "far away" and "near" to mean all people. The word "might" can be expressed with the adjective "mighty." Alternate translation: "All people everywhere hear what I have done and acknowledge that I am mighty" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Isaiah 33:14
trembling has seized the godless ones
This speaks of the godless people trembling as if their trembling were an enemy that had seized them. Alternate translation: "the godless ones are overwhelmed with trembling" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Who among us ... burnings?
It is implied that the sinners in Zion ask these questions. Alternate translation: "They say, 'Who among us ... burnings?'" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Who among us can sojourn with a raging fire? Who among us can sojourn with everlasting burnings?
These rhetorial questions have basically the same meaning and emphasize that no one can live with fire. Here fire represents Yahweh's judgment. Alternate translation: "No one can live with raging fire! No one can live with everylasting burns!" or "No one can live bearing Yahweh's judgment, it is like an everlasting fire!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
sojourn
live in a place that is not one's home
Isaiah 33:15
He who walks
Here walking refers to living. Alternate translation: "He who lives" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
who despises the gain of oppression
The noun phrase "the gain of oppression" can be expressed as a verb phrase. Alternate translation: "who hates the riches that come from harming other people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Isaiah 33:16
this is the man who will dwell on the heights, his place of defense will be the fortress among the cliffs
This speaks of the man being safe as if he lived in a home on a high hill. These two phrase are parallel and the second phrase describes the place where the man lives. Alternate translation: "he will be safe, like a man who home is built on a high hill, in a rocky place that is easy to defend" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
the heights
This refers to a high hill or mountainside. Alternate translation: "the high hill" or "the mountainside" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the fortress among the cliffs
This speaks of rocky areas that are easy to defend as if they were actually fortresses. Alternate translation: "the large piles of rocks" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
will be in steady supply
"will always be available"
Isaiah 33:17
Your eyes will see ... they will see
This refers the audience by their "eyes." Alternate translation: "You will see ... you will see" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
the king in his beauty
The king's royal robes are referred to as "his beauty." Alternate translation: "the king in his beautiful robes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 33:18
Your heart will recall the terror
This refers to the audience by their "hearts." "The terror" refers to their war with the Assyrians. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "You will remember the terror that the Assyrians caused you when they attacked" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
where is the scribe, where is he who weighed the money? Where is he who counted the towers?
These rhetorical question are asked to emphasize that the Assyrian officials are gone. These questions may be written as statements. Alternate translation: "The officers of Assyria who counted the tax money that we were forced to pay to them have disappeared! Those men who counted our towers are gone!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
weighed the money
Money was valuable metal; its value was determined by its weight.
Isaiah 33:19
the defiant people, a people of a strange language that you do not understand
"a fierce people who speak a language that you do not understand"
Isaiah 33:20
General Information:
Isaiah continues to speak to the people of Judah.
the city of our feasts
This means that they have their festival and feasts at this city. Alternate translation: "the city where we have our feasts" or "they city where we celebrate our festivals" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-possession)
your eyes will see
The people are referred to by their "eyes" to emphasize what they are seeing. Alternate translation: "you will see" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
a tent that will not be removed
This speaks of Zion being secure and well establish as if it were secure tent. This can be stated in active form and written as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "it will be secure, like a tent that no one will ever remove" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
whose stakes will never be pulled up nor will any of its cords be broken
This is part of the metaphor that compares Zion to a secure tent. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "whose stakes no one will ever pull up and whose cords no one will ever break" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 33:21
Yahweh in majesty will be with us, in a place of broad rivers and streams
Here "us" refers to Isaiah and includes the people of Judah. This speaks of the safety of living with Yahweh as if it were a place that has rivers around it so that enemies cannot attack it. Alternate translation: "Yahweh who is majestic will be with us, and we will be safe as if we were in a place surrounded by broad rivers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
will travel it
"will travel the river"
Isaiah 33:22
our ... us
This refers to Isaiah and includes the people of Judah. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
Isaiah 33:23
Your riggings are slack; they cannot hold the mast in place; they cannot spread the sail
Possible meanings: 1) The Assyrian army is like a boat that is unable to move through the water: the ropes that support the mast and sail have come loose and no longer support the mast, so the sail is useless (Isaiah 33:1) or 2) the people of Judah are no longer at war: "You have loosened the cords that supported your flagpole; the flag no longer flies" (Isaiah 33:17-Isaiah 22). (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
mast
tall poles that support the sail
sail
a large cloth that fills with wind and moves a boat through the water
when the great spoil is divided
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "when they divide the treasure" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the lame
This refers to people who are cannot walk. Alternate translation: "those who are lame" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-nominaladj)
Isaiah 33:24
the people who live there will be forgiven for their iniquity
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yahweh will forgive the sins of the people who live there" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)