Isaiah 33:21 kjv
But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
Isaiah 33:21 nkjv
But there the majestic LORD will be for us A place of broad rivers and streams, In which no galley with oars will sail, Nor majestic ships pass by
Isaiah 33:21 niv
There the LORD will be our Mighty One. It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them.
Isaiah 33:21 esv
But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.
Isaiah 33:21 nlt
The LORD will be our Mighty One.
He will be like a wide river of protection
that no enemy can cross,
that no enemy ship can sail upon.
Isaiah 33 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 4:6 | Shelters from storm and rain | God's protective dwelling place |
| Ezek 47:1 | River flowing east from the temple | Symbol of life and healing |
| Ezek 47:8 | Waters heal everything they go | Life-giving nature of God's presence |
| John 7:37 | Living water; thirst no more | Jesus as the source of living water |
| Rev 22:1 | River of water of life, clear as crystal | Heavenly perfection and sustenance |
| Rev 22:17 | Come, anyone who wishes, take the gift of life’s water freely | Invitation to partake in God's provision |
| Ps 46:4 | River making glad the city of God | God's presence bringing joy and stability |
| Ps 46:5 | God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved | Divine protection and unshakeable foundation |
| Isa 11:9 | Earth full of knowledge of the LORD as waters cover sea | Universal presence and influence of God |
| Joel 3:18 | Fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD | Abundance of spiritual blessing |
| Zech 14:8 | Living waters flowing from Jerusalem | Vitality and blessing from God's dwelling |
| Acts 1:8 | Witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to end of the earth | Outpouring of the Spirit’s power |
| Rev 7:17 | Lamb at the center will be their shepherd, lead them to springs of living water | Christ’s ultimate care and provision |
| Isa 25:4 | Refuge for the poor, for the needy in his storm, shelter from rain | God as a strong defender and refuge |
| Isa 28:2 | Mighty torrent and flood | Powerful, overwhelming divine judgment |
| Jer 17:8 | Rooted by the water | Spiritual strength and vitality |
| Song 4:15 | Fountain of gardens, well of living waters | Beauty and refreshment of relationship |
| Amos 8:11 | Not hunger for bread, nor thirst for water, but for hearing word | Spiritual sustenance above physical needs |
| Acts 2:17 | Pour out my Spirit on all flesh | Fulfillment of prophetic promise |
| Phil 4:7 | Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding | Inner security found in God's presence |
| Isa 8:14 | Stone of stumbling and rock of offense | Christ’s dual role; for salvation or ruin |
Isaiah 33 verses
Isaiah 33 21 Meaning
Isaiah 33:21 declares Zion will be a place of a river of abundant waters. God Himself will be there as a powerful, protective presence, not like a usual navigable river, but one where "no boat with oars" can go. This signifies divine sovereignty and a level of inaccessible perfection for any human enterprise, highlighting God's ultimate authority and safeguarding. It is a future promise of an unassailable refuge where God’s presence ensures ultimate security and blessing.
Isaiah 33 21 Context
This prophecy in Isaiah 33 occurs in a section that addresses God’s judgment on His enemies and the subsequent deliverance and establishment of Zion. Following descriptions of Assyria's destruction (chapters 34-35, with parts in 33 anticipating this), chapter 33 focuses on the security and peace of God's people in Jerusalem (Zion) once their oppressors are removed and God reigns among them. This specific verse offers a vivid image of the city's future security and prosperity, a stark contrast to the turmoil of past invasions and impending divine judgments upon hostile nations. The imagery of Zion being spacious, with broad river-like canals, underscores an era of peace, abundance, and inviolable divine presence.
Isaiah 33 21 Word Analysis
- Yeshveh (יִשְׁבֶ֖ה): From the root yashab (יָשַׁב). Means "dwells," "inhabits," "settles." Implies a stable, permanent, and secure presence. God Himself is the ultimate resident, making the place secure.
- Lɔ ’ərîm (לֹ֥א־): "Not." A strong negation.
- ʿôniy·yâ (אֳנִיָּ֔ה): "Ship," "vessel." Specifically, a large sea-going vessel, implying capabilities of navigating extensive waterways or seas.
- Yəlɛḵ (יֵלֵ֖ךְ): From halak (הָלַךְ). Means "goes," "walks," "travels." Implies movement, progression, or the ability to navigate.
- Mɔḵô·reṯ (מַשְׁמ֔וּרֶת): From mašmeret. Possibly means "oars" or something related to rowing/navigating a boat. It denotes an instrument of human effort and propulsion for a vessel. This word's exact meaning is debated, but the sense of a means of human navigation is consistent.
- ’ā·ḇer (עָבֵֽר): From ʿabar (עָבַר). Means "pass over," "cross," "go through." Specifically refers to traversing a body of water.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "Lɔ ’ərîyâ yəlɛḵ” (לא־אניה יֵלֵךְ): "No ship shall go" or "no vessel shall travel." This highlights an impassable nature. The river is so vast or potent that it cannot be traversed by normal seafaring vessels.
- “Mɔḵô·reṯ ’ā·ḇer” (מַשְׁמ֥וּרֶת עָבֵֽר): "Any rowing" or "any oared vessel passing." This reinforces the idea that no means of human navigation can conquer this divine "river." It speaks of the supremacy of God's provision over human endeavor or conventional means. The inability of human boats to navigate signifies the transcendence and self-sufficiency of God's provision and presence.
Isaiah 33 21 Bonus Section
The imagery of an unnavigable river powerfully contrasts with typical worldly representations of rivers as avenues for commerce, travel, and conquest. In the ancient Near East, controlling water routes was a sign of power. This verse inverts that concept: Zion's ultimate defense and sustenance come from a source that cannot be controlled or navigated by human means, thus emphasizing its unique, divinely ordained character. It points to the coming messianic age where God's presence transforms the earthly city into an eternal, impregnable fortress of life. Some scholars connect this imagery to Ezekiel’s vision of the healing river flowing from the temple, but Isaiah’s version emphasizes the unapproachability for profane human endeavor. It highlights the sanctified, exclusive nature of God’s dwelling and protection, distinct from human endeavors.
Isaiah 33 21 Commentary
Isaiah 33:21 paints a picture of ultimate divine security and presence for Zion. God Himself will be Zion's sovereign protector, manifesting as a powerful, unnavigable waterway. This is not a natural river navigable by man, but a symbol of God’s omnipresence, overflowing life, and insurmountable defense. The inability for any boat with oars to traverse it signifies that human effort, technological prowess, or worldly powers are irrelevant to the safety and sustenance God provides. Zion will be a place of divine establishment and provision, untouched by external threat or human intervention to control its divine resources. This imagery foreshadows the ultimate dwelling of God with His people, where His presence is the source of unending life and absolute peace, surpassing all earthly means of transport or control.