Isaiah Chapter 33 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Isaiah 33:1
Woe, destroyer, yourself undestroyed! Woe, betrayer, yourself unbetrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you tire of betraying, they will betray you.
The word translated here as "destroyer" would be better translated as "robber" and this verse speaks of the anti-christ, Satan, and those who follow them. It speaks of the fact that they are all out for themselves and it seems that they are all getting away with their betrayal but, at some point, things are going to change. This is the same thing that Yeshua spoke about in Mark 3 when he said that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Isaiah 33:2
ADONAI, show us mercy; we have waited for you. Be their arm every morning, and our salvation in time of trouble.
This verse speaks of a second group of people and this group is seeking the grace of God and hoping in the promises of God. The arm every morning speaks of the Messiah and his revelation while salvation in time of trouble speaks of the rapture of the church as well as Messiah's return for the remnant of Israel on the last day.
Isaiah 33:3–5
At the sound of the tumult, the peoples wander off; when you exalt yourself, the nations are scattered. Your spoil is gathered as if stripped by shearer-worms; they run over it like a swarm of locusts. ADONAI is exalted, for he dwells on high; he has filled Tziyon with justice and right.
This verse speaks of the confusion that happens after what is commonly called the Battle of Armageddon that is described in Revelation 19. After those that have followed the beast come against Yeshua and are defeated, God is exalted and the peoples wander around in confusion over what has happened. During this time, the plunder that was taken from God's covenant people will be gathered up and God will establish his kingdom which will be known for its justice and righteousness.
Isaiah 33:6
He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge, and fear of ADONAI, which is his treasure.
This verse speaks of the faithfulness of God which is demonstrated by his judgement on those that oppressed and plundered the covenant people. We also see that the outcome of this battle brings about a fear of God which is what he wants.
Isaiah 33:7–9
Hear their brave men crying out for help! The envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways are deserted, there are no travelers. He has broken the covenant, despised the cities; he has no regard for human life. The land is mourning and wilting away. The L'vanon is withering with shame. The Sharon has become like the 'Aravah. Bashan and Karmel have been shaken bare.
This passage speaks of a time of exile for God's people that is coming during the period of time known as Jacob's Trouble and this time of exile will last three and a half years.
We see that this is a time of sadness as the anti-christ has made a covenant and then broke it as described in Daniel 9. We see that this is a time of suffering not only for the people but also for the land of Israel itself.
Isaiah 33:10–14
"Now I will arise," says ADONAI, "Now I will exalt and lift myself up. You conceive chaff and give birth to stubble, your breath is a fire devouring you. The peoples will be as if burned into lime, like thorns cut off to burn in the fire. You living far off, hear what I have done! You who are near, acknowledge my strength!" The sinners in Tziyon are frightened; trembling has seized the ungodly. "Who of us can live with the devouring fire? Who of us can live with eternal burning?"
In this passage, we see God speaking and proclaiming that the purpose of all of the previous events was so that God would be lifted up. We see the wrath that the anti-christ was pouring out on God's covenant people is turned back on him and the followers of Satan.
We also see that these events will be proclaimed all over the world and the sinners are afraid wondering who will survive the judgement to dwell with God in his kingdom.
Isaiah 33:15–17
He whose life is right and whose speech is straight, he who scorns getting rich by extortion, he who shakes his hands free of bribes, stops his ears against talk of bloodshed and shuts his eyes against looking at evil. Such a person will live on the heights, his refuge a fortress among the cliffs, his food and water in steady supply. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty, they will gaze on a land stretching into the distance.
The question of who will dwell with God in his kingdom is answered and we see it is those that seek righteousness and shun the things that are against the will of God. We see the benefits to those that dwell in the kingdom and that includes security and sustenance provided by God.
Isaiah 33:18–19
Your mind will meditate on the terror: "Where is the man who did the counting? Where is the man who did the weighing? Where is the man who numbered the towers?" You will not see the intransigent people, that people whose language is so obscure, whose stuttering speech you cannot understand.
Here, we see that God did not have to size up the enemy as it did not matter as the enemy does not understand the power of God.
Isaiah 33:20–22
Look at Tziyon, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Yerushalayim a secure abode, a tent that will not be removed, whose pegs will never be pulled out and whose guy-ropes will not be cut. But there in his splendor ADONAI will be with us, in a place of rivers and broad streams. But no boat with oars will go there, no majestic ship will pass by. For ADONAI is our judge, ADONAI is our lawgiver, ADONAI is our king. He will save us.
This passage speaks of the eternal kingdom of God and the fact that the festivals of God are brought to fulfillment in the kingdom because of the presence of God. This kingdom will be secure from the attacks of any enemy.
Isaiah 33:23–24
For your ropes are hanging loose, not holding the mast, not spreading the sail. Then the plunder shared out is so huge that even the lame get part of the spoil. No inhabitant will say, "I am ill"; the people living there will be forgiven their sin.
The enemy will be defeated and plundered and even those who are not able to physically battle the enemy will be able to take from the enemy. Those that are a part of this new kingdom will no longer suffer from sickness and their sins have been removed from them.