Isaiah 33:19

Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, [that thou canst] not understand.

Thou shalt not see {H7200} a fierce {H3267} people {H5971}, a people {H5971} of a deeper {H6012} speech {H8193} than thou canst perceive {H8085}; of a stammering {H3932} tongue {H3956}, that thou canst not understand {H998}.

You will not see the intransigent people, that people whose language is so obscure, whose stuttering speech you cannot understand.

You will no longer see the insolent, a people whose speech is unintelligible, who stammer in a language you cannot understand.

Thou shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that thou canst not comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou canst not understand.

Context of Isaiah 33:19

Isaiah 33 is a prophetic chapter that vividly describes a period of great distress for Jerusalem, likely under the threat of the Assyrian invasion led by King Sennacherib, followed by a dramatic promise of God's deliverance and the establishment of His righteous reign. The verses immediately preceding Isaiah 33:19 speak of the people's longing to see the King in His beauty and to remember the past terrors. Verse 19 offers a specific and comforting promise of relief and security from their foreign oppressors.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Deliverance from Oppression: The primary message is God's promise to remove the threat of a formidable enemy. The "fierce people" are widely understood to be the Assyrians, known for their brutal military campaigns and aggressive expansion (as seen in Isaiah 36). This verse assures Judah that they will no longer be subjected to their terrifying presence.
  • Peace and Security: The absence of the "fierce people" signifies a return to peace and security for Jerusalem. The fear and anxiety associated with a foreign, incomprehensible enemy will be lifted, allowing the inhabitants to live without constant dread.
  • Incomprehensibility of the Enemy: The description of a "deeper speech" and "stammering tongue" emphasizes the alien and unintelligible nature of the invaders' language. This linguistic barrier amplified their foreignness and the terror they inspired, as their commands and threats were uttered in an unknown tongue. God's promise ensures that this source of confusion and fear will vanish.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "deeper speech than thou canst perceive" and "stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand" highlights the foreignness of the invaders. The Hebrew for "stammering tongue" is la'eg lashon (לַעַג לָשׁוֹן), which can also mean a mocking or unintelligible speech. This emphasizes not just the inability to understand, but perhaps also the contempt or alien nature of their communication, adding to the psychological terror they inflicted. The promise is that this unsettling, incomprehensible presence will no longer be a reality for God's people.

Practical Application

Isaiah 33:19 offers a powerful message of hope and assurance for believers today. Just as God delivered Judah from a formidable and incomprehensible enemy, He continues to be our protector and deliverer. This verse reminds us that:

  • God is Our Refuge: When faced with overwhelming circumstances, confusing situations, or "fierce" opposition (whether spiritual, emotional, or physical), we can trust that God has the power to remove these threats and bring peace.
  • Freedom from Fear: The promise of "thou shalt not see" speaks to an end of fear and anxiety caused by external pressures. God provides a sanctuary from the storms of life, granting us rest and security in His presence (Psalm 46:1).
  • God's Ultimate Victory: This verse foreshadows a time when all sources of oppression and confusion will be silenced, pointing to God's ultimate victory over all enemies and the establishment of His perfect kingdom, where peace and understanding will reign supreme (Revelation 21:4).
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.

  • Isaiah 28:11

    For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

  • Deuteronomy 28:49

    The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

  • Deuteronomy 28:50

    A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

  • Jeremiah 5:15

    Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it [is] a mighty nation, it [is] an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

  • Exodus 14:13

    And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

  • Ezekiel 3:5

    For thou [art] not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, [but] to the house of Israel;

  • Ezekiel 3:6

    Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

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