Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
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21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
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THE PROPHET ISAIAH
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:
YHWH AS KING, JUDGE, LAWGIVER
Summary
Though woes are pronounced on traitors, others are blessed with salvation. Ambassadors of peace cry out complaints against YHWH. God will rise up like a flame. Those who can endure such fire are described by God. YHWH as King, Lawgiver, and Judge is praised.
Israel is promised salvation and healing.
Isaiah 33:1-6 – Woe to Some, Salvation to Others
IS33:1 Woe to all those who have plundered but not been plundered themselves!
[Woe to those] traitors who have never been betrayed. Now when you stop plundering you will be plundered.
Now when you cease being a traitor they will betray you.
| 1368 | Woe to all those who have plundered but not been plundered themselves: Or, BAS: Ho! you who make waste those who did not make you waste; DAR: Woe to them that afflict you; but no one makes you miserable. |
| 1369 | Now when you stop plundering you will be plundered: Or, BAS: When you have come to an end of wasting, you will be made waste; LXX: When thou hast ceased to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled. |
IS33:2 O YeHoWaH, be gracious to us, for we have patiently waited for You.
Every morning become our Arm to lean on.
Yes, our salvation during times of oppression.
| 1370 | Be gracious to us, for we have patiently waited for You: Or, BAS: have mercy on us; for we have been waiting for your help; JPS:
for we have trusted in thee. Return to Isaiah 25:9. [Psalm 25:3; 27:14] |
| 1371 | Every morning become our Arm to lean
on: Or, BAS: be our strength every morning; RHM: be thou our arm every morning; TAN: their arm. Compare Isaiah 52:10. [Psalm 44:3; 89:10; 143:8; Lamentations 3:23] |
| 1372 | Our salvation during times of oppression: Or, BAS: our salvation in time of trouble; LXX: our salvation also in the time of trouble [KAIRO THLIPSEOS]. [Psalm 37:39; 46:1] |
IS33:3 When You aroused Yourself, then the peoples withdrew at the very sound of chaos,
ethnic groups were dispersed.
| 1373 | When You aroused Yourself, then the peoples withdrew at the very sound of chaos: Or, BAS: At the loud noise the peoples have gone
in flight; at your coming up the nations have gone in all directions; JPS: By reason of the terrible sound the nations were dismayed for fear of thee, and the heathen were scattered; LXX: at the lifting up of Thyself the nations [ETHNE] are scattered. Return
to Isaiah 17:13. |
IS33:4 Then Your victory spoils will be gathered like the gathering of locusts,
as locusts scurrying when descended upon.
| 1374 | Then Your victory spoils will be gathered like the gathering of locusts: Or, BAS: the goods taken in war will be got together like the massing of young locusts; DAR: caterpillar; LXX: your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar [ACRIDAS] gathereth. [2 Chronicles 20:25] |
IS33:5 Because He dwells in lofty heights YeHoWaH is exalted.
He fills Zion with justice and righteousness.
| 1375 | Because He dwells in lofty heights YeHoWaH is exalted: Or, DAR: Jehovah is exalted; for he dwelleth on high; JPS: The God who dwells on high is holy. Compare Isaiah 66:1. |
| 1376 | He fills Zion with justice and righteousness: Or, BAS: he has made Zion full of righteousness and true religion. One way to do this is fill Zion with just and righteous persons. Compare Isaiah 62:1. |
IS33:6 Throughout all your days knowledge and wisdom will result in a wealth of salvation.
YeHoWaH’s treasure is found in awe-inspired reverence. | 1377 | Throughout all your days knowledge and wisdom will result in a wealth of salvation: Or, BAS: she will have no more fear of change, being full of salvation, wisdom,
and knowledge: the fear of the Lord is her wealth; DAR: he shall be the stability of thy times, the riches of salvation, wisdom and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah shall be your treasure; LXX: he stability of thy times shall be a hoard of salvation. [Psalm 27:1; 28:8; 140:7; Ecclesiastes 7:12] Salvation does not come without knowledge and wisdom. [See notes on Philippians 2:12] |
| 1378 | YeHoWaH’s treasure is found in awe-inspired reverence: Or, BAS: the fear of the Lord is her wealth; DAR: the fear of Jehovah shall be your treasure; JPS: piety toward the Lord; these are the treasures of righteousness. [Job 28:28; Proverbs 19:23] |
Isaiah 33:7-9 – Ambassadors Weep Bitterly
IS33:7 Behold! Ariel screams out loud.
Ambassadors of peace keep weeping bitterly.
They cry out:
| 1379 | Ariel screams out loud: Or, BAS: the men of war are sorrowing; DAR: their valiant ones cry without; RHM: heroes [footnote: uncertain];
NJB: Ariel; TAN: Arielites cry aloud. That is, the citizens of Jerusalem and Judah. Return to Isaiah 29:1. |
| 1380 | Ambassadors
of peace keep weeping bitterly: Or, BAS: those who came looking for peace are weeping bitterly; DAR: messengers of peace weep bitterly; JPS: messengers shall be sent, bitterly weeping, entreating for peace; LXX: ambassadors [ANGELOI] of peace weep
bitterly TAN: Shalom’s messengers. |
IS33:8 “The roads are deserted! Those passing along have stopped! He has broken the Covenant!
He detests towns! He accounts humans as worthless!
| 1381 | He has broken the Covenant: Or, NJB: agreements are broken; TAN: a covenant has been renounced; BAS: the agreement is broken; JPS: the covenant with these is taken away. Possibly the Israelite king, [2 Kings 18:14] though it may be YHWH removing His covenant with Israel. |
IS33:9 The land mourns – declines! Ashamed is Lebanon
– withered! The plains of Sharon are laid waste. Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.”| 1382 | Lebanon: The place-names
are known for their luxuriant vegetation. |
Isaiah 33:10-12 – When YHWH Rises Up
IS33:10 YeHoWaH declares: “Now I stand up! Now I arouse Myself!
Now I will be raised on high!
| 1383 | Now I stand up! Now I arouse Myself: Or, BAS: Now will I come forward, says the Lord; now will I be lifted up; JPS: now will I
be glorified. |
IS33:11 All of you will conceive only chaff.
All of you will give birth to mere stubble.
All of you will be devoured by the fire of your own breath.
| 1384 | All of you will conceive only chaff: Or, BAS: Your designs will be without profit; DAR: Ye shall conceive dry grass. Return to
Isaiah 17:13. [Psalm 7:14] |
| 1385 | All of you will give birth to mere stubble: Or, BAS: their effect will be nothing. |
| 1386 | All of you will be devoured by the fire of your own breath: [Possibly, “My breath”] Or, BAS: you will be burned up by the
fire of my breath; DAR: your breath shall devour you as fire; JPS: the strength of your breath [RU’ACH], shall be vain; fire shall devour you; LXX: your breath [PNEUMATOS] is a fire that shall devour you. Return to Isaiah 5:24. [Nahum 1:10] |
IS33:12 People will become as though burned by caustic lime.
They will be burnt by fire like so many pruned thorns. | 1387 | People will become as though burned by caustic lime: Or, BAS: the peoples will be like the burning of chalk; LXX: the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime; NJB: quicklime; TAN: burnings of lime. |
| 1388 | They will be burnt by fire like so many pruned thorns: Or, BAS: as thorns cut down, which are burned in the fire; DAR: thorns cut up
shall they be burned in the fire; JPS: as a thorn in the field cast out and burnt up. Return to Isaiah 9:18. |
Isaiah 33:13-16 – Who Can Dwell in Fire?
IS33:13 “Listen, all of you far away, to what I have done. And you who are near, realize My strength.
| 1389 | Realize My strength: Or, BAS: see my power; DAR: acknowledge my might; JPS: know my strength; LXX: acknowledge [GNOSONTAI] My might. |
IS33:14 Zion’s sinners are struck with terror.
Violent tremors have ceased the irreverent.
[They ask:] ‘Who of us can abide with
a devouring fire? [Hebrews 12:29]
Who of us can abide with flames that always burn?’
| 1390 | Zion’s sinners are struck with terror: Or, BAS: sinners in Zion are full of fear. See the Mosaic Curse on the Jews at Deuteronomy
28:66, 67. |
| 1391 | Violent tremors have ceased the irreverent: Or, BAS: he haters of God are shaking with wonder;
DAR: trembling hath surprised the hypocrites; JPS: trembling shall seize the ungodly; LXX: trembling hath seized the ungodly [ASEBEIS]. Return to Isaiah 9:17; 10:6; 32:6. |
| 1392 | Who of us can abide with a devouring fire: Or, BAS: Who among us may keep his place before the burning fire; JPS: Who will tell you that a fire is kindled. [Deuteronomy 32:22; Nahum 1:6] Compare
notes on Hebrews 12:29. |
| 1393 | Who of us can abide with flames that always burn: Or, BAS: who among us may see
the eternal burnings; DAR: who among us shall dwell with everlasting flames; JPS: Who will tell you of the eternal place; LXX: everlasting burnings. The LXX Greek has TOPON TON AIONION. Compare Isaiah 66:24. |
IS33:15 Those who conduct themselves in righteousness!
Those who speak honestly.
Those who reject dishonest profits.
Those whose hands are free of bribes.
Those who do not even listen to bloody plots.
Those who do not even look at those who sanction harmfulness.
| 1394 | Those who conduct themselves in righteousness: Or, BAS: He whose ways are true; JPS: walks in righteousness. God begins to list
characteristics and attributes of those who would endure His judgment. The first is a constant walk in righteous way. [Psalm 106:3] Compare another list in Psalm 15. |
| 1395 | Those who speak honestly: Or, BAS: whose words are upright; DAR: speaketh uprightly; JPS: speaking rightly. [1 Chronicles 29:17] The second requirement is honest speech. |
| 1396 | Those who reject dishonest profits: Or, BAS: he who gives no thought to the profits of false acts; DAR: despiseth the gain of oppressions. That is, those persons who are not fraudulent in business dealings, nor extortioners. For details see notes on Psalm 15:5 and 1 Corinthians 5:10. |
| 1397 | Those whose hands are free of bribes: Or, BAS: whose hands have not taken rewards; DAR: that shaketh his hands from taking hold of bribes; JPS: shaking his hands from gifts; LXX: that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes. [Deuteronomy 16:19; 1 Samuel 12:3] This is a godly person who cannot be bought off. |
| 1398 | Those who do not even listen to bloody plots: Or, BAS: who will have no part in putting men to death; DAR: that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood; JPS: stopping his ears that he should not hear the judgement of blood. That is, a person who is involved in bloodshed. See notes on 1 John 3:13-18. |
| 1399 | Those who do not even look at those who sanction harmfulness: Or, BAS: and whose eyes are shut against evil; JPS: shutting his eyes that he should not see injustice. [Psalm 119:37] That is, a person who closely guards association and fellowship. |
IS33:16 That is the person who will dwell in the Heights.
That is the person whose refuge is high on rock walls impossible to climb.
That is the person who will receive bread. That is the person whose source of water is assured.”| 1400 | That is the person who will dwell in the Heights: Or, BAS: He will have a place on high; JPS: he shall dwell in a high cave of a strong rock. Compare Psalm 15:1. |
| 1401 | Refuge is high on rock walls impossible to climb: Or, BAS: he will be safely shut in by the high rocks; DAR: the fortresses of the rocks shall be his high retreat; JPS: he shall dwell in a high cave of a strong rock; LXX: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; TAN: with inaccessible cliffs for his stronghold. Compare portions of Psalm 18. |
Isaiah 33:17-24 – Behold a King in Zion
IS33:17 As though in a vision your eyes will behold a king in the perfection of all his beauty.
They will see the land stretch far into the distance.
| 1402 | As though in a vision your eyes will behold a king in the perfection of all his beauty: Or, BAS: Your eyes will see the king in
his glory; NJB: your eyes will gaze on the king in his beauty; RHM: of a king in his beauty shall thine eyes have a vision. [Psalm 45:2] |
| 1403 |
They will see the land stretch far into the distance: Or, BAS: they will be looking on a far-stretching land; DAR: they shall behold the land that is far off; LXX: they shall behold a land stretching afar. The LXX Greek is OPSONTAI GEN PORROTHEN and
may be echoed by Hebrews 11:13 – PORROTHEN AUTAS IDONTES. |
IS33:18 Your heart may whisper in fright,
“Where is the accountant? [1 Corinthians 1:20] Where is the person who measured everything?
Where is the person who counted all the fortress towers?”
| 1404 | Your heart may whisper in fright: Or, BAS: Your heart will give thought to the cause of your fear; JPS: Your soul [NE’PHESH]
shall meditate terror; LXX: your soul [PSYCHE] shall meditate terror. [Psalm 71:24] |
| 1405 | Where is the accountant?
Where is the person who measured everything: Or, BAS: where is the scribe, where is he who made a record of the payments; DAR: where is the receiver; JPS: where are the counsellors; LXX: where is he that weighed. That is, those who could have bought off
the enemy. [2 Kings 15:19] Paul may allude to the LXX Greek [POU ESIN OI GRAMMATICOI] at 1 Corinthians 1:20 – TOU GRAMMATEUS. |
IS33:19 You will no longer experience those who are fierce,
those you cannot understand, those with an incomprehensible language.
| 1406 | You will no longer experience those who are fierce: Or, BAS: Never again will you see the cruel people; DAR: no more see the fierce
people. That is, barbarians. |
| 1407 | Those you cannot understand, those with an incomprehensible language: Or,
BAS: a people whose tongue has no sense for you; DAR: a people of a deeper speech than thou canst comprehend. |
IS33:20 Examine Zion, the city of seasonal festivals.
Your own eyes will behold Jerusalem as a comfortable home.
Like a tent never rolled up, tent pegs never pulled out, none of its cords broken.
| 1408 | Examine Zion, the city of seasonal festivals: Or, BAS: Let your eyes be resting on Zion, the town of our holy feasts; DAR: Look
upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; LXX: Look upon Zion, the city of our solemn gatherings. [Deuteronomy 12:5; Psalm 78:68; 132:13] |
| 1409 |
Your own eyes will behold Jerusalem as a comfortable home: Or, BAS: you will see Jerusalem, a quiet resting-place; DAR: quiet habitation; JPS: a rich city; LXX: a peaceful habitation. |
IS33:21 There
[in Jerusalem] YeHoWaH will be the Magnificent, our Source of rivers
– of broad streams on both sides, without any rowing galleys, without any great ships passing along.
| 1410 | YeHoWaH will be the Magnificent, our Source of rivers: Or, LXX: there the LORD will be with us in majesty, in a place of broad
rivers; NJB: show us his power, like a place of rivers; RHM: Yahweh be our majestic one, a place of rivers; TAN: in His greatness. [Psalm 8:9; 46:4; 93:4] |
| 1411 | Of broad streams on both sides, without any rowing galleys, without any great ships passing along: Or, BAS: where no boat will go with blades, and no fair ship will be sailing; DAR: no galley with oars shall go there,
neither shall gallant ship pass thereby; LXX: no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. |
IS33:22 Because our Judge is YeHoWaH.
Our Lawgiver is YeHoWaH.
Our King is YeHoWaH.
He will save us!
| 1412 | Our Judge is YeHoWaH: Or, DAR: Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah. The first one to call YHWH a judge is Abraham at Genesis 18:25. [Psalm 50:6; 75:7; 98:9] Judgment is a major theme of the Bible. The subject is a must for thorough study by a Bible student, researching the words judge and judgment. All humanity will be judged by God through the agency of His appointed judges. [Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 14:10-12] For details see the Biblical Article God and Judgment. |
| 1413 | Our Lawgiver is YeHoWaH: That is, our Legislator, Statute-Giver. Israelites swore to keep all the Law of God. [Leviticus 26:3; Deuteronomy 28:15] Compare the word “law” and a variety of synonyms in Psalm 119. All of God’s worshippers throughout time have been under some form of Law or legal principles. For details see the Biblical Article Jehovah is Our Lawgiver, or research the word law. |
| 1414 | Our King is YeHoWaH: All three offices of government are found in the One God: judicial, legislative, and executive. [Psalm 44:4; 74:12; 97:1; Revelation 11:17; 19:6] The first to call God “king” was Moses at Exodus 15:18. |
| 1415 | He will save us: Salvation is not the first principle or Biblical theme, for judgment must precede salvation. And before judgment there must be law. It is most fitting here that being saved follows on the description of Yehowah as Judge, Lawgiver and King. Return to Isaiah 12:2. [Zephaniah 3:17] |
IS33:23 [Whereas] your ropes are loose and cannot support the mast, cannot unfurl the sails.
Now the abundant spoils of war can be allocated. Even the lame can capture prey.
| 1416 | Sails: A parable or analogy regarding Israel’s own ability to save itself is compared to a sailboat unable to raise its sails or mast. God may Blow His divine Pneuma on His believers but unless they have their sails unfurled no further progress will be made. |
| 1417 | Even the lame can capture prey: Or, BAS: then the blind will take much property, the feeble-footed will make division of the goods of war; DAR: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey. Return to Isaiah 33:4. [2 Kings 7:8] |
IS33:24 No citizen of [Jerusalem] will say: “I am ill.”
The inhabitants of the land have been pardoned of their immorality. | 1418 | No citizen of [Jerusalem] will say: “I am ill.”: Or, BAS: the men of Zion will not say, I am ill; DAR: I am sick; JPS: the people dwelling among them shall by no means say, I am
in pain. The context is a spiritual one as the next phrase indicates. Compare James 5:14. [Deuteronomy 7:15] |
| 1419 | Pardoned of their immorality: Or, BAS: for its people will have forgiveness for their sin; JPS: their sin shall be forgiven them; RHM: iniquity; NJB: guilt. [Jeremiah 50:20; Micah 7:18; Romans 4:8] Compare Isaiah 53:12. |
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Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
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