Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.

ISAIAH 10:33KJV
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Isaiah 10:33 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 10:33 mean?

Isaiah 10:33 describes how the Lord, described as the LORD of hosts, will cut down the proud and powerful people like branches from a tree, bringing fear and humbling those who think highly of themselves. The verse uses the image of lopping off boughs to show that God will bring down those who are exalted and arrogant.

In this verse, Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah about God’s coming judgment against Assyria, a nation that had become proud after conquering many lands. The language paints a vivid picture of God’s power to humble even the mightiest, warning that no one is too great to escape His judgment.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 10:33

  • "Lord" (אָדוֹן, 'adon): This word refers to a master or ruler, emphasizing authority. Here, it highlights that the one taking action is not just any lord, but the supreme ruler.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, showing that the God of Israel is the one acting, not an anonymous force.
  • "hosts" (צָבָא, tsava'): This word means "armies" or "heavenly forces," underlining God's command over all powers, both earthly and spiritual.
  • "lop" (סָעַף, sa‘af): This verb means to cut off or prune, often used for trees. It gives the sense of a decisive, even violent, removal.
  • "bough" (פֹּארָה, po‘rah): This refers to a branch or limb, symbolizing people of high status or power.
  • "terror" (מַעֲרָצָה, ma‘aratsah): This word means fear or dread, showing that God’s action will cause great alarm.
  • "ones" (רָמָה, ramah) and "stature" (קֹמָה, qomah): These words together refer to those who are high or tall, symbolizing people of great importance or pride.
  • "down" (גָּדַע, gada‘): This means to cut down or fell, reinforcing the image of bringing the mighty low.
  • "haughty" (גָּבֹהַּ, gavohah): This describes those who are proud or arrogant.
  • "humbled" (שָׁפֵל, shaphel): This means to be brought low or made humble, showing the result of God’s judgment.

Why Isaiah 10:33 matters

  • Isaiah 10:33 clarifies that God’s judgment targets the proud and powerful, not just ordinary people, showing that no one is above accountability.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by warning Assyria, which had boasted of its strength, that its arrogance would lead to its downfall.
  • The vivid tree imagery helps readers picture the suddenness and completeness of God’s judgment, making the warning more memorable and concrete.

Where else these words appear

“bough” Hebrew H6288 · used in 7 verses

  • Ezekiel 17:6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
  • Ezekiel 31:6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
  • Ezekiel 31:12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.

“down” Hebrew H1438 · used in 23 verses

  • Deuteronomy 7:5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
  • Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

“humbled” Hebrew H8213 · used in 27 verses

  • 1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
  • Proverbs 25:7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
  • Isaiah 25:12 And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

“haughty” Hebrew H1364 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 7:19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
  • Job 41:34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
  • Jeremiah 2:20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.