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Isaiah 33 Bible study: He will dwell on high
In Isaiah 33 the LORD "dwells on high" (33:5), and the one who walks righteously "will dwell on high" (33:16), with the same Hebrew words. And Jerusalem is "a tent that won’t be removed" (33:20), "nor will any of its cords be broken" (33:20); three verses later, rigging, the same Hebrew word, "is untied" (33:23).
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“For the LORD is our judge. The LORD is our lawgiver. The LORD is our king. He will save us.”
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“Isaiah 33 says both that the LORD dwells on high and that the one who walks righteously will dwell on high.”
Is that in Isaiah 33, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
The last woe turns its own words around
"Woe to you who destroy, but you weren’t destroyed, and who betray, but nobody betrayed you!" (33:1). This is the last of the six woes that open words in chapters 28-33 (28:1, 29:1, 29:15, 30:1, 31:1, 33:1), and in Hebrew each of them is hoy. Here is what almost everyone misses: the verse turns its own words around. In Hebrew destroy is shadad, four times in this one verse, and betray is bagad, four times too (tap destroy, betray). The one who destroyed and wasn't destroyed hears, "When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betrayal, you will be betrayed" (33:1). In Isaiah only one other verse has both verbs: "The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys" (Isaiah 21:2), and the chapter on Isaiah 21 looks at it. The verse doesn't name the one it speaks to, and these notes don't either. The very next words are a prayer: "LORD, be gracious to us. We have waited for you" (33:2).
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Isaiah 33
That was a taste
The rest of Isaiah 33 is waiting in Favor
- He dwells on high, and so will he
- Judge, lawgiver, king
- A tent that holds, and rigging that doesn't
- Wisdom, knowledge and the fear of the LORD
- Where is he who counted?
- 13 questions as you read
- 14 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Isaiah 33 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
שָׁכַןshakansay sha-KHAN
Brown-Driver-Briggs: "settle down, abide, dwell". Strong's: "to reside or permanently stay". "The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high" (33:5), and of the one who walks righteously, "he will dwell on high" (33:16). In both verses on high is marom. Isaiah has shakan 13 times in Hebrew, and only three verses have it with marom: these two and Isaiah 57:15. The chapter on Psalm 15 notes that 33:16's dwell is the verb of Psalm 15:1's live, and that 33:14's live is another verb, gur, Psalm 15:1's dwell.
For your group
Isaiah 33 Bible study questions
- 1"Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble" (33:2). What would it look like for you to ask God for strength each morning this week?
- 2"who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil" (33:15). What helps you guard what you let into your eyes and ears?
- 3"For the LORD is our judge. The LORD is our lawgiver. The LORD is our king. He will save us" (33:22). Which of these is easiest for you to trust, and which is hardest?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Isaiah 33 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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Can I read Isaiah 33 straight away?
Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Isaiah 33 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
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No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home