Judgment · Historical judgment oracle

Isaiah 33:1-24

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Future · Confidence: 60%
“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.”
King James Version · the opening of the passage — the whole of it is condensed below
This prophecy turns at 33:17v1-12 woe, waste highways and a mourning earth; v14 asks who can dwell with devouring fire, and from v17 'Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty' it is Zion a quiet habitation, closing 'the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity' (v24).

God rising to deliver and judge, a dramatic announcement of divine intervention that will ultimately be Christ's return.

The prophecy, condensed

“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. … O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. … The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. … The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. … Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. … Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. … The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? … He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil … Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. … For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. … And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.”
Isaiah 33:1-24 · King James Version · condensed from 585 words · every cut marked …
Read the full prophecy — all 24 verses

33:1Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

33:2O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

33:3At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

33:4And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

33:5The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

33:6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

33:7Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

33:8The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

33:9The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

33:10Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

33:11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

33:12And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

33:13Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.

33:14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

33:15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

33:16He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

33:17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

33:18Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?

33:19Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.

33:20Look 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.

33:21But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

33:22For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

33:23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

33:24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Fulfillment References

Revelation 19:11 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 Psalms 12:5

Open the full interactive entry →
Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.