Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 33:12
And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
12. as the burnings of lime ] i.e. “as if burned to lime.” An image probably suggested by Amo 2:1. The word rendered cut up (R.V. cut down) only occurs again in Psa 80:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the people – In the army of Sennacherib.
As the burnings of lime – As if placed in a burning lime-kiln, where they must certainly be destroyed (see Isa 30:33; compare Amo 2:1).
As thorns cut up – As thorns, or small brushwood, that has been long cut up and perfectly dried are speedily consumed, so shall it be with the Assyrian army. This is an image like many that are employed, denoting that the destruction of the army of the Assyrians would be sudden and entire.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Shall be as the burnings of lime; shall be burnt as easily and effectually as chalk is burned to make lime.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. (Isa 9:19;Amo 2:1). Perhaps alluding totheir being about to be burnt on the funeral pyre (Isa30:33).
thornsthe wicked(2Sa 23:6; 2Sa 23:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime,…. Like chalk stones that are burnt to make lime of; which may denote not only their hardness and impenitency, which brought upon them and issued in the wrath of God; but the miserable condition into which they are brought, and the torture they should be put to: perhaps this may refer to the casting of the beast and false prophet alive into the lake burning with fire and brimstone, Re 19:20:
[as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire; “thorns” are a fit simile to express the unfruitfulness, uselessness, and harmfulness of wicked men, particularly the sons of Belial, the followers of antichrist; and these “cut up”, and so not green and moist, but dry, and fit fuel for the fire, which burn the more easily and quickly, makes the metaphor more agreeable. The burning of Rome seems here to be pointed at,
Re 17:16.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The prophet announces this to them, and now tells openly what has been exhibited to him in his mental mirror as the purpose of God. “And nations become as lime burnings, thorns cut off, which are kindled with fire.” The first simile sets forth the totality of the destruction: they will be so completely burned up, that nothing but ashes will be left, like the lump of lime left at the burning of lime. The second contains a figurative description of its suddenness: they have vanished suddenly, like dead brushwood, which is cut down in consequence, and quickly crackles up and is consumed (Isa 5:24, cf., Isa 9:17): kasach is the Targum word for zamar , amputare , whereas in Arabic it has the same meaning as sachah , verrere .
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
12. And the peoples shall be the burnings of lime. He compares them to “the burning of lime,” because their hardness shall be bruised, as fire softens the stones, so that they shall easily be reduced to powder; and, undoubtedly, the more powerfully wicked men are inflamed with a desire to commit injury, the more do they bruise themselves by their own insolence.
As thorns cut up. (11) This metaphor is not less appropriate; for although they hinder men from touching them by the painful wounds which they inflict on the hands, yet there is no kind of wood that burns more violently or is more quickly consumed. Something of the same kind, we have said, may be observed in “lime,” which at first is hard, but is softened by the fire. The Prophet declares that the same thing will happen to the Babylonians, whom the Lord will easily destroy, though at first they appear to be formidable, and though it may be supposed to be unlikely that they shall be consumed by any conflagration. Whenever, therefore, we behold the enemies of the Church collecting all sorts of wealth and forces, and military preparations, in order to destroy us and set on fire the whole world, let us know that they are kindling a fire which shall miserably destroy them.
We know that this was fulfilled in Sennacherib, for the event proved the truth of these predictions, though they appeared to be altogether incredible. Let us hope that the same thing shall happen to all others who shall imitate the actions of this tyrant, and let us comfort ourselves by that example, and innumerable others, amidst our distresses and afflictions, which shall be followed by certain deliverance and dreadful vengeance on our enemies.
(11) “In the Chaldee כסח (chasach) signifies “to prune,” and in the Syriac it denotes “the pruning of vines,” as in Asseman. Bibl. Orient., tom. 1, p. 374. The meaning therefore is, as thorns lopped off and dried are quickly consumed, with a crackling noise, by the fire laid under them.” — Rosenmuller.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) And the people shall be . . .The two images of destruction are singularly vivid. The limekiln and the oven which was fed with thorns were alike in this. The outcome of their work was seen in a residuum of ashes.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 33:12 And the people shall be [as] the burnings of lime: [as] thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
Ver. 12. And the people shall be as the burning of lime. ] As hard chalk stones, which, when burnt to make lime crumble to crattle.
As thorns cut up.
a Lib. x. cap. 2.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the people = peoples.
burnings of lime: i.e. fuel for limekilns.
thorns cut up. These are the common fuel used in limekilns in Palestine.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the burnings: Amo 2:1
thorns: Isa 9:18, Isa 27:4, Isa 37:36, 2Sa 23:6, 2Sa 23:7
Reciprocal: Psa 83:14 – As the fire Isa 30:27 – burning 2Co 7:5 – our