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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 33:13-24

Here is a preface that commands attention; and it is fit that all should attend, both near and afar off, to what God says and does (Isa. 33:13): Hear, you that are afar off, whether in place or time. Let distant regions and future ages hear what God has done. They do so; they will do so from the scripture, with as much assurance as those that were near, the neighbouring nations and those that lived at that time. But whoever hears what God has done, whether near or afar off, let them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:14

The sinners in Zion are afraid, and fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites ,.... Meaning not persons of such a character that dwelt in Jerusalem, who had the guise and form of religion, and not the power of it, and were for fleeing to Egypt, and trusting in Pharaoh, and not in the Lord; who were seized with dread and terror, when the Assyrian army besieged them, or when it was so awfully destroyed by the angel in the night; when, observing the visible and immediate hand of God in it, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:15

He that walketh righteously ,.... These are the words of the prophet, in answer to those of the hypocrites. So the Targum, "the prophet said, the righteous shall dwell in it;' not in the devouring fire and everlasting burnings, but in Zion, in Jerusalem, on high, in the munition of rocks, safe from those burnings; for these words are to be connected not with the preceding, but with the following verse Isaiah 33:16 , "thus, he that walketh righteously", &c.; "he shall dwell on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:16

He shall dwell on high ,.... And so in safety: this is opposed to the fears of hypocrites, the grovelling life of a worldling, and the low life of many professors, and is expressive of the security of good men. It may respect the state of the saints on earth, who dwell by faith on God, as their covenant God, on his everlasting love and unchangeable grace; on Christ, as their Redeemer and Saviour; and in their thoughts and contemplations on heavenly things, where Christ is; and particularly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:17

Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty ,.... Not merely Hezekiah in his royal robes, and with a cheerful countenance, having put off his sackcloth and his sadness, upon the breaking up of the siege; but a greater than he, even the King Messiah, in the glory of his person and office, especially as a King reigning gloriously before his ancients in Jerusalem: the apostles saw him in his glory, in the days of his flesh, corporeally and spiritually; believers now see him by faith, crowded... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:18

Thine heart shall meditate terror ,.... shall recollect, and think of with pleasure and thankfulness, the terror they were formerly seized with, when surrounded and oppressed by their enemies, particularly at the time of the slaying of the witnesses, which will be a terrible time to the church and people of God; but when that is over, they will call it to mind with gratitude, for deliverance from it F5 So Ben Melech interprets it, "thine heart, which was meditating terror before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:19

Thou shalt not see a fierce people ,.... A people of a fierce countenance, as in Daniel 8:23 fierce in their looks, furious in their temper, cruel and bloodthirsty in their practices, confirmed and hardened in their sins, whose consciences are seared as with a red hot iron; a character given of the Papists, 1 Timothy 4:2 these shall be no more seen nor feared: a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive ; than the people in common could, having their worship and devotion not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:20

Look upon Zion ,.... Instead of such terrible objects as before described, a very amiable and lovely one is presented to view; even Zion, the church of God, beloved by him, chosen for his habitation, a strong city, a perfection of beauty, and the joy of the whole earth. The Targum is, "O Zion, thou shalt see their fall;' the fall of her enemies before mentioned; as at this time the church will see the fall both of the eastern and western antichrist. But the words are an exhortation to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:21

But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams ,.... Egypt had its Nile, and Babylon its Euphrates, but Jerusalem had no such river for its convenience, commerce, and defence; but God promises to be that to his Jerusalem, his church and people, as will answer to, and be "instead" F7 מקום נחרים "loco fluviorum", Junius & Tremellius; מקום pro תחת "non in talione, sed saltem ut significat loco ac vice, Deus ecclesiae est pro fluminibus",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 33:22

For the Lord is our Judge ,.... The Lord Christ, who has all judgment committed to him by the Father, who will judge his people, right their wrongs, and avenge their injuries: the Lord is our Lawgiver ; who has enacted wholesome laws for his church, writes them on their hearts, and puts his Spirit within them, to enable them to keep them: the Lord is our King : King of saints, King of Zion, made so by his Father, owned by his church, under whose government it is in safety: ... read more

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