Isaiah 33:4
Isaiah 33:4 in Multiple Translations
Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.
And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.
And the goods taken in war will be got together like the massing of young locusts; men will be rushing on them like the rushing of locusts.
You plunder defeated enemy armies like caterpillars eating up plants; like an attack of swarming locusts.
And your spoyle shall be gathered like the gathering of caterpillers: and he shall go against him like the leaping of grashoppers.
And gathered hath been your spoil, A gathering of the caterpillar, As a running to and fro of locusts is he running on it.
Your plunder will be gathered as the caterpillar gathers. Men will leap on it as locusts leap.
And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
And your spoils shall be gathered together as the locusts are gathered, as when the ditches are full of them.
And after our enemies have been defeated, we, your people, will take away all our enemies’ possessions like [SIM] caterpillars and locusts strip off all the leaves of plants.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 33:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 33:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/אֻסַּ֣ף
שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם
אֹ֖סֶף
הֶֽ/חָסִ֑יל
כְּ/מַשַּׁ֥ק
גֵּבִ֖ים
שׁוֹקֵ֥ק
בּֽ/וֹ
וְ/אֻסַּ֣ף
ʼâçaph
H622
to gather
Conj | V-Pual-3ms
שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם
shâlâl
H7998
spoil
N-ms | Suff
אֹ֖סֶף
ʼôçeph
H625
gathering
N-ms
הֶֽ/חָסִ֑יל
châçîyl
H2625
locust
Art | N-ms
כְּ/מַשַּׁ֥ק
mashshâq
H4944
rushing
Prep | N-ms
גֵּבִ֖ים
gêb
H1357
locust
N-mp
שׁוֹקֵ֥ק
shâqaq
H8264
to rush
V-Qal
בּֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 33:4
וְ/אֻסַּ֣ף
ʼâçaph
H622
"to gather"
Conj | V-Pual-3ms
To gather means to bring people or things together, often for a purpose like worship or community. It can also mean to take away or remove something, like gathering a harvest. This word appears in books like Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to gather, collect 1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others) 1a3) to bring up the rear 1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to assemble, be gathered 1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2) 1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers 1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others) 1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4) 1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to gather (harvest) 1c2) to take in, receive into 1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst) 1d) (Pual) to be gathered 1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves
Usage: Occurs in 188 OT verses. KJV: assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw. See also: Genesis 6:21; 1 Chronicles 11:13; Psalms 26:9.
שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם
shâlâl
H7998
"spoil"
N-ms | Suff
Shâlâl refers to the spoils of war, or the booty taken from enemies. It is used in the Bible to describe the plunder or prey taken in battle. In the KJV, it is translated as 'prey' or 'spoil'.
Definition: 1) prey, plunder, spoil, booty 1a) prey 1b) booty, spoil, plunder (of war) 1c) plunder (private) 1d) gain (meaning uncertain)
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: prey, spoil. See also: Genesis 49:27; 2 Chronicles 15:11; Psalms 68:13.
אֹ֖סֶף
ʼôçeph
H625
"gathering"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to a gathering of fruits or crops, like a harvest. It is used in the Bible to describe collecting food.
Definition: gathering, collection, harvest
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: gathering. See also: Isaiah 32:10; Isaiah 33:4; Micah 7:1.
הֶֽ/חָסִ֑יל
châçîyl
H2625
"locust"
Art | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a locust, a type of insect that ravages crops, as seen in Exodus 10:4. It is often translated as caterpillar in the KJV. This pest is a significant threat to food supplies.
Definition: locust
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: caterpillar. See also: 1 Kings 8:37; Isaiah 33:4; Psalms 78:46.
כְּ/מַשַּׁ֥ק
mashshâq
H4944
"rushing"
Prep | N-ms
This word describes rapid movement or rushing, often used to describe people or animals moving quickly in the Bible. It can be found in books like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, where it's used to describe a sense of urgency or chaos.
Definition: running, rushing
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: running to and fro. See also: Isaiah 33:4.
גֵּבִ֖ים
gêb
H1357
"locust"
N-mp
This word means a locust, an insect that cuts or eats through plants, and is often associated with swarms of locusts that can devastate crops. It appears in the Bible as a symbol of destruction. The locust is a significant figure in biblical accounts of famine and disaster.
Definition: locust
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: locust. See also: Isaiah 33:4.
שׁוֹקֵ֥ק
shâqaq
H8264
"to rush"
V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to rush or run about, often implying a strong desire or greed. It's used to describe seeking something eagerly, like a wild animal. In the Bible, it appears in contexts like Psalm 42:1, where the psalmist longs for God.
Definition: 1) to run, run about, rush, run to and fro, be eager or greedy or thirsty 1a) (Qal) roving, ranging, longing, rush out upon (participle) 1b) (Hithpalpel) to rush to and fro, rush back and forth
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: have appetite, justle one against another, long, range, run (to and fro). See also: Psalms 107:9; Isaiah 33:4; Proverbs 28:15.
בּֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Isaiah 33:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 33:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 33:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 33:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 33:4
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 33:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
- Sermons on Isaiah 33:4
Context — The LORD Is Exalted
2O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.
3The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise.
4Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it.
5The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 33:23 | Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off plunder. |
| 2 | Joel 2:25 | I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts— the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — My great army that I sent against you. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 20:25 | Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables —more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. |
| 4 | Joel 2:9 | They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. |
| 5 | 2 Chronicles 14:13 | Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder |
| 6 | 2 Kings 7:15–16 | And they tracked them as far as the Jordan, and indeed, the whole way was littered with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in haste. So the scouts returned and told the king. Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. It was then that a seah of fine flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. |
Isaiah 33:4 Summary
[Isaiah 33:4 is saying that the things that the nations have taken or achieved will be taken away from them quickly and completely, like a swarm of locusts devouring a field, as a demonstration of God's power and judgment, similar to what we see in Joel 2:25 where God promises to restore what the locusts have eaten. This is a reminder that God is in control and will not let evil or injustice prevail forever. As we see in Psalm 37:9-11, those who wait for the Lord and trust in Him will be blessed and will inherit the land, while the wicked will be cut off.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the image of locusts in Isaiah 33:4 represent?
The locusts in Isaiah 33:4 symbolize the swift and thorough plundering of the nations' spoil by God's people, much like the locusts in Exodus 10:4-20 that devoured the Egyptian crops, demonstrating God's power and judgment.
Who is gathering the spoil in this verse?
The subject of the verse is not explicitly stated, but in the context of Isaiah 33, it is likely that God is the one gathering the spoil, as He is the one risen in Isaiah 33:3, causing the nations to scatter, similar to how He scatters His enemies in Psalm 68:1-2.
How does this verse relate to God's people?
This verse suggests that God's people will be the beneficiaries of the gathered spoil, much like the Israelites who plundered the Egyptians in Exodus 12:35-36, as a demonstration of God's provision and care for them, as seen in Isaiah 33:6 where God is their sure foundation and storehouse of salvation.
Is this verse talking about a historical event or a future prophecy?
While the verse may have historical roots, its language and context suggest that it is also looking forward to a future time when God will fully establish His kingdom and His people will be victorious, as hinted in Isaiah 33:5-6 where the Lord is exalted and Zion is filled with justice and righteousness.
Reflection Questions
- What are the 'spoils' in my life that I have been trying to gather or achieve on my own, and how can I trust God to provide for me instead?
- In what ways can I, like the locusts, be a swift and thorough agent of God's work in the world, spreading His message and demonstrating His power?
- How does the image of locusts in this verse challenge or comfort me, and what does it reveal about God's character and my relationship with Him?
- What are some ways that I can, like the nations in this verse, be 'swept over' by God's presence and power, and what would be the result of such an experience?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 33:4
And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpillar,.... This is the answer of the Lord to the prayer of his church, signifying that their enemies should flee, be scattered, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 33:4
Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee!
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
Your spoil, that treasure which you have raked together by spoiling divers people, shall be gathered by the Jews at Jerusalem, when you shall be forced to flee away with all possible speed, leaving your spoils behind you. Like the gathering of the caterpillar; either, 1. Passively, with as much ease, and in as great numbers, as caterpillars are gathered and destroyed. Or rather, 2. Actively, as appears from the next clause; as caterpillars or locusts (for the word signifies either) gather and devour all the fruits of the earth; which was a common plague in those countries. As the running to and fro of locusts; as locusts, especially when they are sent and armed by commission from God, come with great force, and run hither and thither, devouring all the fruits of the earth, wheresoever they find them.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
Isaiah 33:4 And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.Ver. 4. And your spoils shall be gathered.] The spoil of the Assyrian’ s camp now become yours. Like the gathering of caterpillars.] Quae ad hominum concursum omnes repente disperguntur, which are soon rid, when men set themselves to destroy them.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
(4) Your spoil . . .—The words are addressed to the invader. He who came to spoil should find himself spoiled. As caterpillars and locusts devour the green herbage, so should he (or they, the indefinite pronoun standing for the people of Jerusalem) strip his camp of all its treasures.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 33:4
4. like the gathering of the caterpillar] i.e. “as the caterpillar gathers.” The last word (meaning “devourer”) is one of many names for the locust. It is sometimes taken as gen. of obj. (“as men gather locusts”), the creature being an article of diet among the poorer classes in the East; but this is opposed to the next clause. On the “running” of the locust, see Joe 2:9, where the same verb is employed. The locusts in the figure represent the Israelites (Isaiah 33:23).
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 33:4
And your spoil - The booty that the Assyrian army bad gathered in their march toward Jerusalem, and which would now be left by them to be collected by the Jews.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 33:4
3, 4. The prophet is not left in doubt. He sees the answer. The deliverance is yet future, but he sees it as if it were past, or now transpiring.
Sermons on Isaiah 33:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The River of Life by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses a vision that the prophet Ezekiel had about a river of life. The preacher emphasizes that this vision is a prophecy for the Church of the lat |
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River of Life by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of guarding one's soul and staying true to Jesus. He urges the audience to get rid of anything that is unlike Jesus and to av |
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A Word for the Down-Hearted by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the preacher addresses those who are feeling discouraged and downhearted. God speaks to His people, urging them to listen to Him amidst the various voices they have |
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Revival - Part 1 by L.E. Maxwell | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a sense of wonder and awe towards God. He explains that when people lose this sense of wonder, they are in need of |
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Failure & Brokenness by K.P. Yohannan | In this sermon, the speaker shares his experience of preparing for a year-end conference in Ajmer, India. He expresses his concern about being in high demand and the pressure to de |
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Audio Sermon: Backsliding by William MacDonald | This sermon delves into the theme of backsliding, exploring the consequences and the way back to God's grace. It emphasizes the importance of confession, forsaking sin, and seeking |
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Beyond Obedience by Christine Lamicela | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of following God's calling and not holding back others from fulfilling their purpose. The story of Noah and his obedience to G |