Isaiah 33:7

Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

Behold, their valiant ones {H691} shall cry {H6817} without {H2351}: the ambassadors {H4397} of peace {H7965} shall weep {H1058} bitterly {H4751}.

Hear their brave men crying out for help! The envoys of peace weep bitterly.

Behold, their valiant ones cry aloud in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.

Behold, their valiant ones cry without; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.

Commentary

Isaiah 33:7 paints a vivid and somber picture of despair and the collapse of human efforts in the face of overwhelming crisis. It describes a scene where even the strongest and most hopeful figures are overcome with sorrow, foreshadowing a significant turning point in the fortunes of a nation.

Context

This verse is situated within a prophetic chapter primarily concerning the Assyrian invasion of Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah. The earlier verses of Isaiah 33 pronounce judgment on the Assyrian oppressor, while the subsequent verses shift to a vision of God's righteous rule and the ultimate deliverance of Jerusalem. Verse 7, however, captures the immediate distress before the divine intervention. It depicts the profound failure of human strategies: the "valiant ones" (or warriors) crying out in public, indicating a catastrophic defeat or loss of hope, and the "ambassadors of peace" weeping bitterly. These ambassadors were likely Judahite envoys sent to negotiate with the Assyrians, perhaps offering tribute (as seen in 2 Kings 18:14-16), whose efforts utterly failed to secure favorable terms or avert the siege. Their bitter tears signify the crushing realization that all diplomatic avenues have closed, leaving no human solution to the impending doom.

Key Themes

  • Failed Human Efforts: The verse powerfully illustrates the limitations and ultimate failure of human strength, military might, and diplomatic endeavors when confronted with a situation beyond their control or divinely ordained judgment.
  • Profound Despair: The imagery of valiant men crying openly and peace envoys weeping bitterly conveys a deep sense of hopelessness and helplessness, where even those expected to be strong or bring good news are overwhelmed by grief.
  • The Need for Divine Intervention: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the despair described here sets the stage for the dramatic divine intervention that would ultimately deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian threat, emphasizing that true peace and security come from God alone, not from human treaties or armies.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "valiant ones" (ืึฒืจึดื™ืึตืœึธื, 'ari'elam, though some manuscripts read differently) carries the connotation of heroes or mighty men, emphasizing the shock of seeing such figures in open distress. The phrase "cry without" (ื™ึดืฆึฐืขึฒืงื•ึผ ื—ื•ึผืฆึธื”, yits'aqoo chutzah) suggests a public, unrestrained wailing, indicating widespread and undeniable calamity. The "ambassadors of peace" (ืžึทืœึฐืึฒื›ึตื™ ืฉึธืืœื•ึนื, mal'akhei shalom) highlights their specific mission, making their "weeping bitterly" (ืžึทืจ ื™ึดื‘ึฐื›ึธึผื™ื•ึผืŸ, mar yivkayun) all the more poignant, as their very purposeโ€”to secure shalom (peace)โ€”has been tragically thwarted.

Practical Application

Isaiah 33:7 serves as a powerful reminder that human strength, wisdom, and diplomatic efforts, while valuable, have their limits. When faced with overwhelming challenges or divine judgment, relying solely on human means can lead to profound despair. This verse encourages believers to place their ultimate trust not in chariots or horses, but in the Lord God, as highlighted in Psalm 20:7. It prompts reflection on where our true hope and security lie, emphasizing that genuine and lasting peace is a gift from God, not something we can always achieve through our own negotiations or might. In times of crisis, when human solutions fail, this verse points us to the sovereign power and faithfulness of God, who alone can bring true deliverance and comfort.

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

  • 2 Kings 18:18

    And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.

  • Isaiah 36:22

    Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

  • 2 Kings 18:37

    Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

  • 2 Kings 19:3

    And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.

  • Isaiah 36:3

    Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder.
โ† Back