Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 33:5
The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
5. judgment and righteousness can mean nothing else than personal and civic virtues in the inhabitants of the city. Isaiah could not have written thus of the Jerusalem he knew (cf. Isa 1:21); if he is the author the words must express a vivid anticipation of the great change in the national character which is now on the eve of accomplishment.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5, 6. The writer draws encouragement from two thoughts: (1) from the nature of Israel’s God; He is a spiritual Being, dwelling on high, beyond the reach of His enemies: (2) from the spiritual blessings He has conferred on His people. The connexion of these two may be gathered from ch. Isa 32:15; it is the outpouring of “spirit from on high” that has produced the fruit of righteousness in the state. That Israel possesses a religion which is essentially spiritual appears to be the ultimate ground on which the expectation of deliverance is based.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Lord is exalted – (compare Psa 97:9). The prophet here introduces a chorus of the Jews, celebrating the praises of God for delivering them from the Assyrian.
He hath filled Zion with judgment – That is, the effect of his destroying his enemies will be to fill Jerusalem with reverence for his name. The deliverance would be so signal, and the manifestation of the divine mercy so great, that the effect would be that the nation would turn to God, and acknowledge his gracious interposition (see Isa 30:22-26, Isa 30:29; Isa 31:6; Isa 32:15-18).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Is exalted; will get great glory by the marvellous deduction of so proud and potent an army, and by the defence of his people.
For he dwelleth on high; for he is and will appear to be superior to his enemies, both in place and power. He dwelleth in the heaven, whence he can easily and irresistibly pour down judgments upon his enemies. Although these words may be, and by some are, joined with those that follow, thus, for he that dwelleth on high hath filled, &c. He hath filled Zion, he will fill Jerusalem, with judgment and righteousness; either,
1. With a glorious instance of his just judgment against the Assyrians. Or,
2. With the execution of justice by good Hezekiah, as before it was filled with impiety and injustice under Ahaz. The city shall not only be delivered from that wicked enemy, but shall also be established and blessed with true religion and righteousness; which was a great addition to that mercy.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The Lord is exalted,…. These are the words of the church, or of true believers, setting the praise and glory of God, on account of the victory and spoil of their enemies; by which the Lord is exalted, magnified, and honoured, as he will be in the hearts and mouths of his people when these times shall come; see Re 11:15 this will be true of Christ, and indeed this will be the time when he, and he alone, shall be exalted, Isa 2:17:
for he dwelleth on high; in the highest heaven, and is above his greatest enemies, and can, and will, pour down his wrath and vengeance on them:
he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness; the church of God, where Christ her King will reign in righteousness, and when all the administrations of his kingly power and government will appear to be just and true; where his word shall be faithfully preached, and his ordinances duly administered; and when all his subjects and people shall be righteous, and live soberly and righteously. The Targum is,
“with those that do true judgment and righteousness.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The prophet sees this as he prays, and now feasts himself on the consequences of this victory of Jehovah, prophesying in Isa 33:5, Isa 33:6: “Jehovah is exalted; for, dwelling on high, He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And there will be security of thy times, riches of salvation, of wisdom, and knowledge. Fear of Jehovah is then the treasure of Judah.” Exalted: for though highly exalted in Himself, He has performed an act of justice and righteousness, with the sight and remembrance of which Zion is filled as with an overflowing rich supply of instruction and praise. A new time has dawned for the people of Judah. The prophet addresses them in Isa 33:6; for there is nothing to warrant us in regarding the words as addressed to Hezekiah. To the times succeeding this great achievement there would belong ‘ emunah , i.e., (durability (Exo 17:12) – a uniform and therefore trustworthy state of things (compare Isa 39:8, “peace and truth”). Secondly, there would also belong to them , a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge (compare the verb in Isa 23:18). We regard these three ideas as all connected with chosen . The prophet makes a certain advance towards the unfolding of the seven gifts in Isa 11:2, which are implied in “salvation;” but he hurries at once to the lowest of them, which forms the groundwork of all the rest, when he says, thirdly, that the fear of Jehovah will be the people’s treasure. The construct form, chokhmath , instead of c hokhmah , is a favourite one, which Isaiah employs, even apart from the genitive relation of the words, for the purpose of securing a closer connection, as Isa 35:2; Isa 51:21 (compare parash in Eze 26:10), clearly show. In the case before us, it has the further advantage of consonance in the closing sound.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
5 Jehovah is exalted. He explains more fully what we briefly noticed a little before, about the exaltation of God, and follows out the subject which we formerly mentioned, that the destruction of a monarchy so powerful will make it evident how highly God values the salvation of his Church, for whose sake he will utterly ruin Nineveh, the queen of cities, and her inhabitants. This lesson is highly useful, that God does not spare reprobate and irreligious men; for, by opposing their unlawful desires, his object is to testify how much he loves his elect; and it is no ordinary consolation that the glory of God shines most brightly in the salvation of the Church.
Who dwelleth on high. First, he declares that God is raised “on high,” whereas wicked men imagine that he was east down and humbled by the destruction of the people. Again, lest any one should think that God has only recovered what he lost, as it frequently happens in the world that they who have been vanquished, as soon as a favorable change takes place, again put forth fresh vigor, he expressly declares that God is “exalted” before the eyes of men, because this is due to him on account of his greatness, for he inhabiteth the heavens. Hence it follows, that although he frequently conceals his power, yet he never loses his right, but, whenever he thinks proper, openly displays his exalted rank; for to dwell “in the heavens” denotes, as we know, supreme authority, to which the whole world is subject. (Psa 115:3.) In this manner he not only shews that God can easily and readily cast down all that is lofty in the world, but argues from God’s eternal nature, that when God is despised by wicked men, he cannot, at length, do otherwise than manifest his glory; for otherwise he would “deny himself.” (2Ti 2:13.)
He hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. Thus he again confirms the statement, that it will be a proof of God’s wonderful kindness, when the Jews shall be delivered from the tyranny of the Babylonians. It was proper to place before their eyes the Author of so great a blessing; for we see how basely his glory is obscured by our ingratitude. Now, “the fullness of righteousness and judgment” means, that God will largely and copiously pour forth his kindness in restoring the Church. Yet it will not be unsuitable to view these words as referring to lawful order, when everything is justly and properly administered; for without this the Church will never enjoy prosperity, though everything else may succeed according to the wish. Holy and welladjusted order, therefore, and not corruptible riches, is the standard by which our prosperity should be judged.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) The Lord is exalted . . .The vision of the seer takes in the ideal city of God, Jehovah dwelling on high in His holy Temple, the city at last filled with judgment and righteousness.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5, 6. The Lord is exalted A paean of joy. It suits the connexion well to regard these verses as forming a chorus opened by the Jews. They praise Jehovah for their remarkable deliverance.
Filled Zion with judgment Destroying the Assyrian is the same as to fill Jerusalem with reverence for His name.
Thy times Is supposed by some to mean the time of Hezekiah; by others, that of the Messiah; and by still others, the sincere believer’s times. It matters little which, as in any case the sense is quite the same.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 33:5. The Lord, &c. JEHOVAH is exalted; yea, he dwelleth on high. Lowth. See Psalms 99.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 33:5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
Ver. 5. The Lord is exalted. ] He hath made him a name, gained abundance of honour.
For he dwelleth on high.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The Lord: Isa 33:10, Isa 2:11, Isa 2:17, Isa 12:4, Isa 37:20, Exo 9:16, Exo 9:17, Exo 15:1, Exo 15:6, Exo 18:11, Job 40:9-14, Psa 21:11-13, Psa 46:9, Psa 46:10, Psa 97:8, Psa 97:9, Psa 115:1, Psa 115:2, Psa 118:16, Dan 4:37, Rom 3:26, Rev 19:2-6
he dwelleth: Isa 57:15, Isa 66:1, Psa 113:5, Psa 113:6, Psa 123:1, Eph 1:20, Eph 1:21
he hath: Isa 1:26, Isa 1:27, Isa 4:2-4, Isa 32:1, Isa 32:15-18, Isa 52:1, Isa 54:11-14, Isa 60:21, Isa 61:3, Isa 61:11, Isa 62:1, 2Ch 31:20, 2Ch 31:21, Rom 11:26
Reciprocal: Neh 7:2 – feared God Psa 148:13 – excellent Isa 30:18 – for the Lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 33:5-6. The Lord is exalted By the destruction of so potent an army, and by the defence of his people. For he dwelleth on high He is, and will appear to be, superior to his enemies, both in place and power. He dwelleth in heaven, whence he can easily and irresistibly pour down judgments upon his enemies. He hath fulfilled Or, he will fill Zion
Or Jerusalem; with judgment and righteousness That is, either, 1st, With a glorious instance of his just judgment against the Assyrians; or, 2d, With the execution of justice by good Hezekiah, and the practice of righteousness among the people, as before the same city was filled with impiety and injustice under Ahaz. The city shall not only be delivered from that wicked enemy, but shall also be established and blessed with true religion and righteousness; which was a great addition to that mercy. And wisdom and knowledge To govern thyself and the people well. The words seem to be addressed to Hezekiah, either by the prophet, or, as Bishop Lowth thinks, by a chorus of the Jews. Shall be the stability of thy times Of thy reign; times being often put for the things done in those times, The sense is, thy throne shall be established upon the sure foundations of wisdom and justice; and strength of salvation Thy saving strength, or thy strong and mighty salvation. The fear of the Lord is his treasure Thy chief treasure and delight shall be in promoting the fear and worship of God, which shall be a great honour and safeguard to thyself and people.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The result would be glory for God. He is the sovereign ruler of the world. He would fill Zion with justice and righteousness (cf. Isa 1:26-27; Isa 32:1; Isa 32:16). Here Isaiah began to look into the distant future.