King James Version

What Does Isaiah 33:1 Mean?

Isaiah 33:1 in the King James Version says “Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with t...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.”

Isaiah 33:1 · KJV

Context

1

Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

2

O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3

At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

Read Isaiah 33 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled (הוֹי שׁוֹדֵד וְאַתָּה לֹא שָׁדוּד, hoy shoded ve'atah lo shadud)—woe to the שׁוֹדֵד (shoded, spoiler, plunderer, devastator) who wasn't שָׁדַד (shadad, spoiled, plundered). And dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee (וּבוֹגֵד וְלֹא־בָגְדוּ בוֹ, uvoged velo-vagedu vo)—who acts treacherously (בָּגַד, bagad) though none was treacherous to you. When thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee (כַּהֲתִמְךָ שׁוֹדֵד תּוּשַּׁד כַּנְּלֹתְךָ לִבְגֹּד יִבְגְּדוּ־בָךְ, kahatiṁka shoded tushad kanelotka livgod yivgedu-vakh).

The eighth and final woe targets the treacherous destroyer—most likely Assyria, though applicable to any oppressor. The poetic justice is precise: lex talionis applied by divine hand. The spoiler will be spoiled; the betrayer will be betrayed. Assyria's empire, built on brutality and covenant-breaking, will experience the same. Revelation 13:10 states: 'He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.' Judgment matches crime. Habakkuk 2:8 declares similar principle: 'Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee.'

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Historical & Cultural Context

Assyria conquered through terror—impaling captives, flaying alive, mass deportations, burning cities. They broke treaties routinely, invaded former allies. Isaiah prophesies divine reversal: Assyria will experience its own medicine. In 612 BC, Babylon and Medes destroyed Nineveh brutally—the spoiler spoiled. Sennacherib's assassination by his own sons (681 BC, Isaiah 37:38) exemplifies treachery repaid. God ensures moral justice even when delayed.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this principle—spoilers being spoiled, betrayers betrayed—reveal God's moral governance?
  2. When have you seen oppressors eventually experience the oppression they inflicted?
  3. How should certainty of divine justice affect our response to current injustice and persecution?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
ה֣וֹי1 of 16

“Woe”

H1945

oh!

תּוּשַּׁ֔ד2 of 16

“and thou wast not spoiled”

H7703

properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage

וְאַתָּה֙3 of 16
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

לֹ֣א4 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תּוּשַּׁ֔ד5 of 16

“and thou wast not spoiled”

H7703

properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage

יִבְגְּדוּ6 of 16

“and dealest treacherously”

H898

to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage

וְלֹא7 of 16
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִבְגְּדוּ8 of 16

“and dealest treacherously”

H898

to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage

ב֑וֹ9 of 16
H0
כַּהֲתִֽמְךָ֤10 of 16

“with thee! when thou shalt cease”

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

תּוּשַּׁ֔ד11 of 16

“and thou wast not spoiled”

H7703

properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage

תּוּשַּׁ֔ד12 of 16

“and thou wast not spoiled”

H7703

properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage

כַּנְּלֹתְךָ֥13 of 16

“and when thou shalt make an end”

H5239

to complete

יִבְגְּדוּ14 of 16

“and dealest treacherously”

H898

to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage

יִבְגְּדוּ15 of 16

“and dealest treacherously”

H898

to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage

בָֽךְ׃16 of 16
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 33:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 33:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 7:2Isaiah 24:16Isaiah 10:12Jeremiah 25:12-14Obadiah 1:10-16Revelation 17:17

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