Isaiah 33:3

At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

At the noise {H6963} of the tumult {H1995} the people {H5971} fled {H5074}; at the lifting up {H7427} of thyself the nations {H1471} were scattered {H5310}.

At the sound of the tumult, the peoples wander off; when you exalt yourself, the nations are scattered.

The peoples flee the thunder of Your voice; the nations scatter when You rise.

At the noise of the tumult the peoples are fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations are scattered.

Commentary

Isaiah 33:3 vividly portrays God's powerful and decisive intervention in times of distress, contrasting human fear with divine might. The King James Version reads, "At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered."

Context

This verse is situated within a prophetic chapter of Isaiah that primarily addresses the impending Assyrian invasion of Judah, particularly during the reign of King Hezekiah. The prophet Isaiah begins by pronouncing a "woe" upon the oppressor (likely Assyria) and then records a heartfelt prayer for divine deliverance from the people of Judah (Isaiah 33:2). The "tumult" mentioned here refers to the terrifying roar and overwhelming presence of the invading army, which caused widespread panic and flight among the populace. Historically, this points to Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem, a moment of profound national crisis for Judah, as detailed in Isaiah chapters 36 and 37, where God miraculously intervened to save His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Sovereignty: The core message is God's active and supreme control over worldly affairs. Despite the overwhelming threat of the Assyrian army, God "lifts Himself up" to act decisively.
  • God as Deliverer: He is the ultimate protector and rescuer of His people. The scattering of nations is not by human strength or military might but by divine power, demonstrating that God is a present help in trouble.
  • Judgment on Oppressors: The scattering of the "nations" (referring to the Assyrian forces) signifies God's righteous judgment against those who oppress His chosen people and defy His will.
  • Contrast of Fear and Faith: The initial "fleeing" of the people highlights their natural human fear in the face of a superior enemy, but it is immediately contrasted with God's effortless scattering of that same enemy, calling for trust in His omnipotent power.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "tumult" is hamon (ื”ึธืžื•ึนืŸ), which conveys a sense of a noisy multitude, a roar, or a confused sound. This perfectly depicts the terrifying clamor and overwhelming presence of an invading army.
  • "Lifting up of thyself" comes from the Hebrew root rum (ืจื•ึผื), meaning to be high, exalted, or lifted up. When applied to God, it signifies His manifestation of power, His rising in judgment or deliverance, or His exalted position above all earthly powers. The phrase emphasizes God's personal and majestic action against the enemies of His people.

Practical Application

Isaiah 33:3 offers profound encouragement for believers facing overwhelming challenges today. Just as God intervened decisively for Judah against the Assyrians, He remains sovereign over all circumstances. When we feel overwhelmed by the "noise of the tumult"โ€”whether it be global crises, personal struggles, or spiritual battlesโ€”this verse reminds us that God is able and willing to "lift Himself up" on our behalf. It calls us to place our trust not in human strategies or strength, but in the omnipotent power of the Lord, who can scatter any opposing force with His mere presence. It encourages us to pray for divine intervention, knowing that the Lord will fight for us.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Psalms 46:6

    ยถ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

  • Isaiah 37:11

    Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?

  • Isaiah 37:18

    Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,

  • Isaiah 17:12

    ยถ Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

  • Isaiah 17:14

    And behold at eveningtide trouble; [and] before the morning he [is] not. This [is] the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
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