King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The highways are deserted, there are no travelers. He has broken the covenant, despised the cities; he has no regard for human life.
Berean Standard Bible:
The highways are deserted; travel has ceased. The treaty has been broken, the witnesses are despised, and human life is disregarded.
American Standard Version:
The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: the enemy hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth not man.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The highways{H4546} lie waste{H8074}, the wayfaring man{H5674}{H734} ceaseth{H7673}: he hath broken{H6565} the covenant{H1285}, he hath despised{H3988} the cities{H5892}, he regardeth{H2803} no man{H582}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Judges 5:6
- ¶ In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
Isaiah 35:8
- And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err [therein].
2 Kings 18:20
- Thou sayest, (but [they are but] vain words,) [I have] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?
2 Kings 18:21
- Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.
Isaiah 10:13
- For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done [it], and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant [man]:
Isaiah 10:14
- And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs [that are] left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
1 Samuel 17:26
- And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
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Commentary for Isaiah 33:8
Isaiah 33:8 is part of the prophetic book of Isaiah, which is a collection of prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who lived in the 8th century BCE. This verse is set within a larger section of oracles concerning judgment and salvation. The historical context of this verse is the period of turmoil and conflict in the ancient Near East, particularly focusing on the Assyrian threat to the kingdom of Judah.
In this verse, the prophet describes a scene of desolation and breakdown of order, using the imagery of abandoned highways and a cessation of travel, indicating economic disruption and social decay. The phrase "he hath broken the covenant" suggests a betrayal of trust, possibly referring to a political alliance or, more broadly, to humanity's broken relationship with God, which is a recurring theme in the Hebrew Bible. The reference to despising cities and regarding no man points to a complete disregard for human community and the structures that support it, which could be a direct result of military invasion and the resulting chaos.
The themes of Isaiah 33:8 include the consequences of turning away from God's laws and guidance, the breakdown of society that follows, and the judgment that befalls those who fail to uphold righteousness. It speaks to the importance of covenantal faithfulness, both in a religious sense and in terms of social and political integrity. The verse reflects the prophetic tradition of calling people back to God and warning of the dire consequences of neglecting His commandments and the welfare of the community.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4546
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְסִלָּה
Transliteration: mᵉçillâh
Pronunciation: mes-il-law'
Description: from סָלַל; a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase; causeway, course, highway, path, terrace. - Strong's Number: H8074
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמֵם
Transliteration: shâmêm
Pronunciation: shaw-mame'
Description: a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense); make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H734
There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹרַח
Transliteration: ʼôrach
Pronunciation: o'-rakh
Description: from אָרַח; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also a caravan; manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-) way. - Strong's Number: H7673
There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁבַת
Transliteration: shâbath
Pronunciation: shaw-bath'
Description: a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific); (cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away. - Strong's Number: H6565
There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּרַר
Transliteration: pârar
Pronunciation: paw-rar'
Description: a primitive root; to break up (usually figuratively), i.e. to violate, frustrate; [idiom] any ways, break (asunder), cast off, cause to cease, [idiom] clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring (come) to nought, [idiom] utterly, make void. - Strong's Number: H1285
There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּרִית
Transliteration: bᵉrîyth
Pronunciation: ber-eeth'
Description: from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league. - Strong's Number: H3988
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָאַס
Transliteration: mâʼaç
Pronunciation: maw-as'
Description: a primitive root; to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear; abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, [idiom] utterly, vile person. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H2803
There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָשַׁב
Transliteration: châshab
Pronunciation: khaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute; (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made), regard, think. - Strong's Number: H582
There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
Pronunciation: en-oshe'
Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.