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Isaiah 33 · a question people ask

Who is speaking in Isaiah 33?

In the text

The voice changes, and the chapter marks some of the changes and not others. 33:1 is a woe, with no speaker named. 33:2 is a prayer to the LORD: "LORD, be gracious to us. We have waited for you" (33:2). 33:5 speaks of the LORD: "The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high" (33:5). Then the LORD speaks, and the WEB marks it: "Now I will arise" (33:10), "says the LORD" (33:10), on to "acknowledge my might" (33:13). 33:14 tells that "The sinners in Zion are afraid" (33:14), and then asks, "Who among us can live with the devouring fire?" (33:14), without saying who asks. In 33:17-24 the chapter speaks to you, "Your eyes will see the king in his beauty" (33:17), and it says we and our: "The LORD is our king. He will save us" (33:22). Where the chapter doesn't name a speaker, these notes don't name one.

The verses

“Woe to you who destroy, but you weren’t destroyed, and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betrayal, you will be betrayed. LORD, be gracious to us. We have waited for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.”
Isaiah 33:1-2 · World English Bible
“The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high. He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.”
Isaiah 33:5 · World English Bible
““Now I will arise,” says the LORD. “Now I will lift myself up. Now I will be exalted. You will conceive chaff. You will give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will devour you. The peoples will be like the burning of lime, like thorns that are cut down and burned in the fire. Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and, you who are near, acknowledge my might.” 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?”
Isaiah 33:10-14 · World English Bible
“Your eyes will see the king in his beauty. They will see a distant land.”
Isaiah 33:17 · 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