Isaiah 33 · a question people ask

"Who among us can live with the devouring fire?" (33:14). Does the chapter answer?

In the text

Yes, at once, and the answer is a life: "He who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil" (33:15). It names his walk, his speech, what he despises, his hands, his ears and his eyes. Then it says what he will have: "he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure" (33:16). The LORD's words just before have fire too: "Your breath is a fire that will devour you" (33:11). In Hebrew 33:11 and 33:14 have the same word for fire, esh, and the same verb for devour, akhal. The chapter doesn't say how anyone becomes such a person. The chapter on Psalm 15 asks whether an answer like this means being good enough to come near to God, and sets out the verses.

The verses

“The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning? He who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing to take a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking at evil— he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.”
Isaiah 33:14-16 · World English Bible
“You will conceive chaff. You will give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will devour you.”
Isaiah 33:11 · World English Bible
“A Psalm by David. LORD, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;”
Psalm 15:1-2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 33

Isaiah 33: 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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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions