Isaiah 33:2

O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

O LORD {H3068}, be gracious {H2603} unto us; we have waited {H6960} for thee: be thou their arm {H2220} every morning {H1242}, our salvation {H3444} also in the time {H6256} of trouble {H6869}.

ADONAI, show us mercy; we have waited for you. Be their arm every morning, and our salvation in time of trouble.

O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.

O Jehovah, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou our arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Commentary

Isaiah 33:2 is a poignant prayer of dependence and trust, voiced by a people facing significant distress. It encapsulates a profound theological truth about God's character and His relationship with His people.

Context

This verse is situated within a prophetic book, Isaiah, which frequently addresses the nation of Judah concerning their impending judgment and future restoration. Specifically, Isaiah 33 likely reflects a period of intense national crisis, possibly during the Assyrian invasion under King Sennacherib, which threatened Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah. The prophet Isaiah, acting as God's messenger, often called the people to repentance and faith in God's ultimate deliverance, even when circumstances seemed dire. This prayer, therefore, is a desperate cry for divine intervention when human efforts and alliances have failed.

Key Themes

  • Plea for Grace: The opening cry, "O LORD, be gracious unto us," is a foundational request for God's unmerited favor and compassion. It acknowledges humanity's need for divine mercy, especially in times of weakness and vulnerability.
  • Patient Expectation: The phrase "we have waited for thee" signifies a posture of patient endurance and unwavering hope. It speaks to a faith that looks beyond immediate circumstances to God's perfect timing and faithfulness. This resonates with the call to wait upon the Lord for renewed strength.
  • Daily Strength and Support: "Be thou their arm every morning" is a beautiful metaphor for God's consistent and reliable power. The "arm" (Hebrew: zeroa) symbolizes strength and ability, and "every morning" highlights God's daily provision and fresh mercies, akin to Lamentations 3:22-23. It implies that God is a constant source of aid, not just in grand moments but in the routine challenges of life.
  • Ultimate Deliverance: "Our salvation also in the time of trouble" emphasizes God as the ultimate rescuer. When adversity strikes, whether personal or national, the Lord is presented as the sole source of true deliverance and safety. This reflects God's role as a refuge and strength in times of need.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "gracious" here is chanan (חָנַן), which implies showing favor, compassion, or pity, often by bending down to an inferior. It speaks of a voluntary act of kindness. The term "arm" (zeroa, זְרוֹעַ) is a common biblical metaphor for power, might, and deliverance. The use of "every morning" (בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר) highlights a sense of daily, consistent, and fresh intervention from God. "Salvation" (yeshu'ah, יְשׁוּעָה) broadly means deliverance, welfare, or prosperity, encompassing rescue from danger and establishment of peace.

Practical Application

Isaiah 33:2 serves as a timeless model for prayer and a powerful reminder for believers today. In moments of personal struggle, national uncertainty, or spiritual warfare, this verse encourages us to:

  1. Turn to God for Grace: Acknowledge our dependence on His unmerited favor.
  2. Cultivate Patient Trust: Learn to wait on the Lord with hopeful expectation, knowing He is faithful to His promises.
  3. Depend on Daily Strength: Recognize that God provides fresh strength and support for each new day's challenges.
  4. Seek God as Ultimate Deliverer: Trust that in our deepest troubles, He alone is our true salvation and refuge.

This verse is a profound expression of faith, inviting us to cast our anxieties upon the Lord, who is our constant helper and deliverer.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 1:3

    ¶ Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

  • 2 Corinthians 1:4

    Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

  • Isaiah 59:16

    ¶ And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

  • Psalms 60:11

    Give us help from trouble: for vain [is] the help of man.

  • Isaiah 30:18

    ¶ And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD [is] a God of judgment: blessed [are] all they that wait for him.

  • Isaiah 30:19

    For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

  • Psalms 62:8

    ¶ Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.
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