Isaiah 30 33

Isaiah 30:33 kjv

For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Isaiah 30:33 nkjv

For Tophet was established of old, Yes, for the king it is prepared. He has made it deep and large; Its pyre is fire with much wood; The breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, Kindles it.

Isaiah 30:33 niv

Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze.

Isaiah 30:33 esv

For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.

Isaiah 30:33 nlt

Topheth ? the place of burning ?
has long been ready for the Assyrian king;
the pyre is piled high with wood.
The breath of the LORD, like fire from a volcano,
will set it ablaze.

Isaiah 30 verses

Isaiah 30 33 Meaning

The Lord’s breath, like a devastating torrent, reaches even the nethermost parts of the earth, signifying His all-encompassing judgment and power that no place can escape.

Isaiah 30 33 Context

This verse concludes chapter 30 of Isaiah, which shifts from denouncing reliance on Egypt for protection to proclaiming God's sovereign judgment. The chapter addresses Israel's foolish political alliances and spiritual unfaithfulness. Specifically, the preceding verses describe God's wrath against their rebellious nation, particularly their turning away from Him. The mention of Topheth, a place of pagan child sacrifice, in the latter part of the chapter signifies the deep-seated sin and abhorrence of God that Israel had fallen into. The verse provides a stark imagery of divine retribution that extends to the very foundations of the earth and highlights the terrifying finality of God's judgment upon wickedness, especially when linked to pagan practices.

Isaiah 30 33 Word analysis

• "For": Indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
• "Topheth" (תֹּפֶת - Tōpheṯ):
  • Literally, possibly meaning "burning-place" or "place of burning."
  • Historically associated with child sacrifice, particularly to the god Molech, in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) near Jerusalem (Jeremiah 7:31, 19:6).
  • Represents a place of ultimate abomination and divine judgment.
• "is prepared" (מְנֻחָה - mĕnûḥāh):
  • Literally means "prepared," "made ready," or "a resting place."
  • Here, it signifies something made ready for a specific purpose.
• "even" (גַּם - gam): Emphasizes the extent or depth.
• "from of old" (מִקֶּדֶם - miqqĕdem): From ancient times, from long ago.
• "yes," (אַף - ’ap̄): Reinforces the previous statement; indeed, moreover.
• "it is prepared" (מְנֻחָה - mĕnûḥāh): Repetition for emphasis on preparedness.
• "for the king" (לְמֶלֶךְ - ləmeleḵ):
  • This phrase is debated. Some scholars interpret it as referring to the Assyrian or Babylonian king as the instrument of God's judgment.
  • Others see it referring to Yahweh Himself, the ultimate King, for whom this place of judgment is prepared.
  • It could also symbolically refer to the "king of the underworld" or even death personified, receiving the wicked. The context of divine judgment leans towards God as the ultimate architect.
• "the breath of the LORD" (נֶשֶׁם יְהוָה - nešem YHWH):
  • Refers to God's powerful spirit or His spoken word.
  • Can be interpreted as the force of His judgment, like a hot, fiery wind or a devastating flood.
• "like a torrent of fire" (כְּנַחַל אֵשׁ - kĕnaḥal ’ēš):
  • Naḥal (נַחַל) means torrent, stream, or brook.
  • ’Ēš (אֵשׁ) means fire.
  • The imagery combines the overwhelming force of a flood with the consuming nature of fire, representing God's absolute and destructive judgment.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "Topheth... prepared even from of old... for the king": This suggests a long-standing and divinely ordained destiny for places of extreme wickedness and abhorrent worship. The preparedness points to an inevitable judgment that has been purposed by God.
• "the breath of the LORD, like a torrent of fire": This potent metaphor describes the unstoppable and consuming nature of God's wrath. It's not a mere human effort but a divine outpouring of destructive power that overwhelms all resistance.

Isaiah 30 33 Bonus Section

The concept of Gehenna in the New Testament, particularly in Jesus' teachings, resonates with the historical reality of Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom. Gehenna became a symbol of eternal punishment and a place of unquenchable fire, directly linked to the fiery destruction that occurred in the valley during ancient times. This verse foreshadows the complete annihilation that awaits those who persist in rebellion against God, and how divine judgment, though often administered through earthly means, is ultimately orchestrated by God, the true Sovereign. The imagery of a devastating "torrent of fire" speaks to a judgment that is both immense in scope and absolute in its destructive capability.

Isaiah 30 33 Commentary

This verse paints a chilling picture of divine judgment, establishing a solemn, eternal decree. Topheth, synonymous with the ultimate debasement and sacrilege—child sacrifice—is depicted not just as a current sin but as a place meticulously prepared from antiquity. This preparation underscores God's awareness and foreknowledge of human depravity and His planned response to it. The ambiguity of "the king" here invites contemplation. While historical kings (like Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar) often served as God's instruments, the ultimate King is Yahweh Himself. Thus, the judgment is inherently His, with Topheth being its designated, terrifying locus. The subsequent description of the "breath of the LORD, like a torrent of fire" amplifies the unstoppable, all-consuming nature of this judgment. It's a spiritual deluge and inferno, representing God's active and thorough purging of sin. This imagery aligns with numerous biblical passages describing God's fiery judgment upon sin and the ungodly, emphasizing its comprehensiveness and inescapability, reaching even the deepest, most desolate places of existence.