Isaiah 33 4

Isaiah 33:4 kjv

And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

Isaiah 33:4 nkjv

And Your plunder shall be gathered Like the gathering of the caterpillar; As the running to and fro of locusts, He shall run upon them.

Isaiah 33:4 niv

Your plunder, O nations, is harvested as by young locusts; like a swarm of locusts people pounce on it.

Isaiah 33:4 esv

and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.

Isaiah 33:4 nlt

Just as caterpillars and locusts strip the fields and vines,
so the fallen army of Assyria will be stripped!

Isaiah 33 verses

Isaiah 33 4 meaning

Isaiah 33:4 describes the abundant and thorough gathering of spoil, comparing it to the relentless and complete consumption of various types of locusts. This means that after a divine intervention and victory, the plundered wealth of the defeated enemies will be collected with great speed and in such an overwhelming quantity that it resembles swarms of devastating insects clearing everything in their path. The imagery conveys not only the vastness of the bounty but also the zealous, immediate, and all-encompassing manner in which it will be taken.

Isaiah 33 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 33 begins with a prophetic curse against the Assyrian oppressor, who is described as a "destroyer" and "treacherous one" (Isa 33:1). Judah has been crying out to God for help, acknowledging His majesty and power (Isa 33:2-3). In response, this verse (Isa 33:4) marks a dramatic turning point. It announces the swift and comprehensive defeat of the oppressor, resulting in abundant spoil for God's people. This passage is likely set during the historical period of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah (c. 701 BC), where Jerusalem was under siege and Judah was on the brink of destruction. Amidst this great national distress, the prophet assures that divine judgment will fall upon the aggressor, and the tables will be completely turned, with the once-dominant enemy becoming the source of great wealth for those they sought to destroy.

Isaiah 33 4 Word analysis

• And your spoil (וְאֻסַּף שְׁלַלְכֶם - ve'usaf shelalkhem):
  • וְאֻסַּף (ve'usaf): From the verb אָסַף (asaf), meaning "to gather, collect." Here, it's in the Pual perfect form, indicating a passive sense, "it shall be gathered." This emphasizes that the gathering is an accomplished fact and likely Divinely ordained or made possible.
  • שְׁלַלְכֶם (shelalkhem): "Your spoil" or "your plunder." The word שָׁלָל (shalal) refers to booty taken in war. This "spoil" likely refers to the immense wealth and provisions left behind by the routed Assyrian army, which the people of Judah would then collect. It signifies a complete reversal of fortune – the plundered become the plunderers.
• shall be gathered (אֲסֹף - asof):
  • This is the infinitive absolute form of אָסַף (asaf), meaning "to gather." Its use intensifies the verb, emphasizing the thoroughness, certainty, and perhaps the immense scale of the gathering. It can be translated as "a thorough gathering."
• as the gathering of the caterpillar (הֶחָסִיל - hechasil):
  • הֶחָסִיל (hechasil): This refers to a type of destructive locust, often translated as "cutting locust" or "caterpillar." It's one of several Hebrew terms for locusts, often used in Joel to describe different stages or kinds of devastating swarms. The chasil is known for its voracious appetite and its ability to completely strip an area of vegetation. The simile highlights the exhaustive and complete nature of the spoil collection – nothing will be left behind, just as a cutting locust devours everything.
• as the running to and fro of locusts (כְּמַשַּׁק גַּבִּים - kemashaq gabbim):
  • כְּמַשַּׁק (kemashaq): "As the rushing," "as the trampling," or "as the commotion." It denotes rapid, perhaps noisy, movement.
  • גַּבִּים (gabbim): This word is sometimes translated as "locusts" or "hoppers," referring to a specific type or stage of locust, emphasizing their teeming numbers and frenzied activity. While the primary meaning of gab is "back," in context of a simile with insects, it strongly suggests overwhelming swarms of pests like locusts. It speaks to the multitudinous nature and frantic activity of those gathering the spoil.
• shall he run upon them (יְשׁוֹקֵק בּוֹ - yeshoqeq bo):
  • יְשׁוֹקֵק (yeshoqeq): "He/one shall run upon" or "he/one shall rush over." From the verb שָׁקַק (shaqaq), meaning "to rush, to dart, to long for." This implies a swift, eager, and overwhelming rush by the victors (the Judahites) to collect the immense spoil.
  • בּוֹ (bo): "On it" or "upon them," referring to the spoil itself. This indicates the focus of the rushing action.

Isaiah 33 4 Bonus section

The use of multiple terms for "locust" (chasil and gabim by interpretation) in a single verse emphasizes a comprehensive and overwhelming act, painting a picture of relentless and exhaustive collection. It highlights the vastness of the enemy's resources that will become spoil and the total collapse of their power. This prophetic reversal is not merely a military victory, but a manifestation of Yahweh's unique power and faithfulness to His people, transforming desolation into abundance and fear into praise, contrasting the Assyrian boasts with God's ultimate sovereignty.

Isaiah 33 4 Commentary

Isaiah 33:4 powerfully articulates a pivotal shift from impending doom to triumphant plenty, mediated by divine intervention. The verse employs vivid locust imagery to describe the magnitude and manner of spoil gathering. Just as a cutting locust (chasil) thoroughly devours every last morsel, the enemy's wealth will be completely seized, leaving nothing. Furthermore, the frantic rush of the victors is likened to a swarming multitude of locusts (gabbim), eager and relentless in their consumption. This depicts not a slow, calculated collection, but an immediate, zealous, and overwhelming rush to claim the bounty. The prophecy assured Judah that God's justice would be manifest in the thorough disarming and plundering of their oppressors, transforming their sorrow into immense provision and reversing the fate they expected. This emphasizes that divine victory is absolute, converting the tools of oppression into the sustenance of the oppressed.