King James Version

What Does Isaiah 33:14 Mean?

Isaiah 33:14 in the King James Version says “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring f...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 33 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

Isaiah 33:14 · KJV

Fear & CourageEternal Life

Context

12

And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

13

Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.

14

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

15

He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; righteously: Heb. in righteousnesses uprightly: Heb. uprightnesses oppressions: or, deceits blood: Heb. bloods

16

He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. high: Heb. heights, or, high places

Read Isaiah 33 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites (פָּחֲדוּ בְצִיּוֹן חַטָּאִים אָחֲזָה רְעָדָה חֲנֵפִים, pachedu veTsiyon chata'im achazah re'adah chanefim)—חַטָּאִים (chata'im, sinners) in Zion are terrified (פָּחַד, pachad); trembling (רְעָדָה, re'adah) seizes חֲנֵפִים (chanefim, hypocrites, godless ones). Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (מִי־יָגוּר לָנוּ אֵשׁ אוֹכֵלָה מִי־יָגוּר לָנוּ מוֹקְדֵי עוֹלָם, mi-yagur lanu esh okhelah mi-yagur lanu moqdey olam)—who can dwell (גּוּר, gur, sojourn, abide) with אֵשׁ אוֹכֵלָה (esh okhelah, devouring fire) and מוֹקְדֵי עוֹלָם (moqdey olam, everlasting burnings)?

God's judgment on Assyria (vv. 10-13) terrifies sinners within Zion. If God consumes mighty Assyria like lime kilns and burning thorns, what about Judah's own sin? The hypocrites (חֲנֵפִים, chanefim, those professing faith but living wickedly) realize proximity to holy God is dangerous for the unholy. The rhetorical questions anticipate verses 15-16's answer. Hebrews 12:29: 'For our God is a consuming fire.' Psalm 15:1 asks similarly: 'LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?'

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Historical & Cultural Context

Witnessing Assyria's destruction, Judean sinners recognized God's holiness. If He wouldn't spare blasphemous enemies, would He spare hypocritical worshipers? The Temple's Most Holy Place, where God dwelt, was separated by curtain—unauthorized entry meant death (Leviticus 16:2). God's fire consumed Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2). The question isn't academic but existential: how can sinners survive in the holy God's presence?

Reflection Questions

  1. How does witnessing God's judgment on enemies cause self-examination about your own sin?
  2. What does it mean that God is a 'devouring fire'—both to enemies and to impurity in His people?
  3. How do you answer the question: 'Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?'

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
פָּחֲד֤וּ1 of 16

“are afraid”

H6342

to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general

בְצִיּוֹן֙2 of 16

“in Zion”

H6726

tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem

חַטָּאִ֔ים3 of 16

“The sinners”

H2400

a criminal, or one accounted guilty

אָחֲזָ֥ה4 of 16

“hath surprised”

H270

to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)

רְעָדָ֖ה5 of 16

“fearfulness”

H7461

a shudder

חֲנֵפִ֑ים6 of 16

“the hypocrites”

H2611

soiled (i.e., with sin), impious

מִ֣י׀7 of 16
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יָג֥וּר8 of 16

“Who among us shall dwell”

H1481

properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);

לָ֗נוּ9 of 16
H0
אֵ֚שׁ10 of 16

“fire”

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

אוֹכֵלָ֔ה11 of 16

“with the devouring”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

מִי12 of 16
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

יָג֥וּר13 of 16

“Who among us shall dwell”

H1481

properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);

לָ֖נוּ14 of 16
H0
מוֹקְדֵ֥י15 of 16

“burnings”

H4168

a fire or fuel; abstractly, a conflagration

עוֹלָֽם׃16 of 16

“with everlasting”

H5769

properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

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 33:14 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 33:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hebrews 12:29Matthew 25:46Isaiah 66:24Matthew 25:41Deuteronomy 5:24-25Matthew 18:8

Places in This Verse

ZionSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E148 verses across 19 books
View all places in Isaiah 33 →

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