Isaiah 33:20 kjv
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
Isaiah 33:20 nkjv
Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, A tabernacle that will not be taken down; Not one of its stakes will ever be removed, Nor will any of its cords be broken.
Isaiah 33:20 niv
Look on Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.
Isaiah 33:20 esv
Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
Isaiah 33:20 nlt
Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals.
You will see Jerusalem, a city quiet and secure.
It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut
and whose stakes are firmly fixed.
Isaiah 33 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 33:20 | Zion shall be a place of safety. | Direct Quote |
| Psalm 46:5 | God is within her, she will not fall. | God's Presence Ensures Stability |
| Psalm 125:1 | Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. | Zion as a Symbol of Security |
| Jeremiah 3:17 | Jerusalem will be called the Throne of the Lord. | Zion as a Seat of Divine Authority |
| Ezekiel 37:26 | My dwelling place shall be with them. | God's Future Dwelling with His People |
| Micah 4:7 | I will make her a throne of glory for her descendants. | Zion's Future Glorious Reign |
| Zechariah 2:5 | And I myself will be a wall of fire around it. | Divine Protection |
| Hebrews 12:22 | You have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God. | Spiritual fulfillment of Zion |
| Revelation 14:1 | And I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb. | Lamb's Presence in New Zion |
| Revelation 21:2 | And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem. | Heavenly Zion Descending |
| Isaiah 11:10 | He shall stand as a banner for the peoples. | Zion as a Beacon of Hope |
| Isaiah 2:3 | Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD.” | Zion as a Place of Gathering |
| Isaiah 4:6 | There will be a tabernacle to give shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm. | Zion as a Place of Refuge |
| Psalm 2:6 | "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." | God Establishes His King in Zion |
| Isaiah 28:16 | "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone." | Zion's Foundational Stone |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. | Jesus' Incarnation as God's Dwelling |
| Acts 1:8 | but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. | Power from Zion (Spirit) |
| Romans 9:33 | "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." | Jesus as the Cornerstone |
| 1 Peter 2:6 | For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious. | Jesus as the Cornerstone |
| Ephesians 2:20 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. | Christ as the Foundation |
| Revelation 3:12 | The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. | Believers in the New Jerusalem |
Isaiah 33 verses
Isaiah 33 20 Meaning
This verse describes Zion as a secure and peaceful dwelling place. It assures protection from enemies who previously threatened it. The imagery highlights a future state of rest and stability under God's direct governance.
Isaiah 33 20 Context
Chapter 33 of Isaiah describes the impending judgment upon the oppressors of God's people, particularly focusing on the destruction of the Assyrian army. This judgment leads to salvation and restoration for Zion. The chapter culminates in a vision of peace and security for Jerusalem, emphasizing God's protective presence and reign. Verse 20 serves as a concluding assurance of this future tranquility for Zion, contrasting it with the chaos and fear experienced by its enemies. It follows descriptions of divine judgment and the subsequent blessings of righteousness and peace that will characterize the redeemed city.
Isaiah 33 20 Word Analysis
Zion (צִיּוֹן - Tsiyyôn): Primarily refers to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, but also stands metonymically for the entire city of Jerusalem and, in prophetic and theological contexts, for the people of God, the place of God's dwelling and worship, and the future heavenly city. Its significance lies in being the locus of God's covenant presence and rule.
Shall be (יִהְיֶה - yihyeh): Future tense verb indicating a coming reality.
Dwelling (מִשְׁכַּן - mishkan): A place of habitation, a tabernacle or dwelling place. It implies rest, security, and the presence of God. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was God's dwelling place among His people.
Secure (לָנֶצַח - la'netzach): "Forever," "perpetually." This signifies an eternal and unshakable stability. It's not just a temporary peace, but a lasting security.
Tent (אֹהֶל - ohel): A tent or tabernacle, emphasizing a place of dwelling and encampment. Often associated with the nomadic life of the Israelites in the wilderness, but here signifies a safe habitation.
Shall not be removed (בַּל־יִּסְּעוּ - bal-yissa'u): "Never remove." It speaks of immovability and permanence, rooted in God's promise.
Its stakes (וַיְתֵדֹתֶיהָ - wa-yateḏôthehā): The stakes or pegs used to secure a tent. The phrase "its stakes are not removed" implies that the tent is firmly fixed and will not be pulled up or moved. This is a powerful image of stability and rootedness.
Nor any of its cords (וּפִתִּיהָ־בַּל־יִתָּקוּ - ufitêhā-bal-yititaqqu): "Nor its cords pulled apart." This reinforces the idea of complete security and intactness. The tent's entire structure remains firm and unbroken.
Words-Group Analysis: The phrase "tent of meeting" or "dwelling place" is central to understanding God's presence among His people. The entire imagery of a securely fixed tent evokes the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle, which was the center of Israel's worship and the symbol of God's presence. The verse transforms this into an eternal reality for Zion. The plural form of "tent" might refer to multiple dwellings, suggesting an expanding community of God's people finding shelter. The "stakes and cords" emphasize the foundation and structure that hold the tent firmly in place, metaphorically representing the doctrines, promises, and covenant faithfulness that secure God's people.
Isaiah 33 20 Bonus Section
The concept of a secure dwelling in Isaiah echoes the wilderness tabernacle (Exodus 25-27), where God commanded Israel to build a dwelling for Him, signifying His intention to "dwell among them." This foreshadows the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:3). The reference to "stakes and cords" can also be understood in relation to the spiritual fortification and security that comes through adherence to God's word and faithfulness to His covenant, much like the solid grounding provided by the foundation of the apostles and prophets in Christ (Ephesians 2:20). This verse, therefore, encapsulates a progressive revelation of God's desire to be with His people and to secure them eternally within His divine presence.
Isaiah 33 20 Commentary
Isaiah 33:20 presents a profound prophetic promise of enduring security for Zion, representing God's redeemed people and His ultimate dwelling place. It assures an everlasting peace that is fundamentally rooted in God's presence and covenant faithfulness. The imagery of a securely pitched and immovable tent, with firmly set stakes and unbroken cords, powerfully illustrates this guaranteed stability against all opposing forces. This is not a conditional security based on human efforts, but a direct consequence of God establishing His presence in Zion. The fulfillment of this promise extends beyond the earthly Jerusalem to encompass the spiritual realities of the New Covenant, where believers are integrated into Christ, the cornerstone of the heavenly Jerusalem. This ultimate fulfillment ensures a perpetual state of safety, peace, and unbroken fellowship with God, for which believers are destined.