Isaiah 30:33

For Tophet [is] ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made [it] deep [and] large: the pile thereof [is] fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

For Tophet {H8613} is ordained {H6186} of old {H865}; yea, for the king {H4428} it is prepared {H3559}; he hath made it deep {H6009} and large {H7337}: the pile {H4071} thereof is fire {H784} and much {H7235} wood {H6086}; the breath {H5397} of the LORD {H3068}, like a stream {H5158} of brimstone {H1614}, doth kindle {H1197} it.

For the Tofet fire pit has long been ready, prepared for the king, made large and deep, with plenty of wood and blazing with fire; like a stream of sulfur, ADONAI's breath sets it aflame.

For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.

For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Isaiah 30:33 (KJV) paints a vivid and terrifying picture of divine judgment, specifically targeting the oppressive Assyrian empire and its king. This verse serves as a powerful declaration of God's ultimate justice and sovereignty over the nations.

Context

Chapter 30 of Isaiah finds the prophet warning Judah against relying on alliances with Egypt for protection against the formidable Assyrian threat, urging them instead to trust in the Lord alone. While much of the chapter speaks of Judah's disobedience and the consequences, it culminates in a promise of God's intervention and the ultimate defeat of their enemies. Verse 33, in particular, describes the fiery destruction awaiting the Assyrian king, symbolizing God's decisive judgment against those who oppose His people and His will. This judgment is not a random event but a pre-ordained act, part of God's eternal plan to bring justice and deliverance.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates God's active role in executing judgment against wickedness. The "Tophet" imagery, though rooted in a literal place, here symbolizes a place of ultimate and decisive destruction.
  • God's Sovereignty: It emphasizes that God is in control of historical events and the destinies of kings and nations. The judgment is "ordained of old" and "prepared for the king," highlighting God's pre-eminence.
  • The Intensity of God's Wrath: The descriptions of a "deep and large" pyre, "fire and much wood," and "a stream of brimstone" underscore the severity and completeness of the divine judgment.
  • Deliverance for God's People: While a terrifying image for the wicked, this judgment signifies liberation and vindication for those who trust in the Lord, as it promises the end of their oppressors. It ties into the broader theme of finding strength in quietness and trust in God.

Linguistic Insights

  • Tophet: This term refers to a place in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) outside Jerusalem, historically associated with the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice to the pagan god Molech (2 Kings 23:10). Here, Isaiah uses it metaphorically as a symbol of intense, fiery destruction, a place of ultimate doom prepared for God's enemies.
  • "Breath of the LORD": The Hebrew word for "breath" is ruach, which can also mean "spirit" or "wind." This phrase signifies the direct, powerful, and active agency of God Himself. It is not merely a passive force but God's very essence igniting the judgment, demonstrating His direct involvement.
  • "Stream of Brimstone": Brimstone (sulfur) is consistently associated with divine judgment in the Bible, most notably in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). Its inclusion here intensifies the imagery of a supernaturally fueled, utterly destructive fire, emphasizing the finality and divine origin of the judgment.

Practical Application

Isaiah 30:33 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering justice. It assures believers that evil, no matter how powerful or threatening it seems, will ultimately face divine reckoning. God is not indifferent to the suffering of His people or the arrogance of oppressors. While the imagery is severe, it offers hope for those who trust in God, knowing He will defend them and ultimately bring all injustice to an end. It challenges us to align ourselves with God's righteousness, for His judgment is certain for all who oppose Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 23:10

    And he defiled Topheth, which [is] in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

  • Jeremiah 19:6

    Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.

  • Genesis 19:24

    ¶ Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

  • Matthew 4:22

    And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

  • Jeremiah 19:11

    And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as [one] breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury [them] in Tophet, till [there be] no place to bury.

  • Jeremiah 19:14

    Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD'S house; and said to all the people,

  • Revelation 19:18

    That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

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