Isaiah 33:21

21 The LORD will be our mighty defender in a place surrounded by wide rivers and streams. Ships with oars won't travel on them. Stately ships won't sail on them.

Isaiah 33:21 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 33:21

But there the glorious Lord [will be] unto us a place of
broad rivers [and] streams
Egypt had its Nile, and Babylon its Euphrates, but Jerusalem had no such river for its convenience, commerce, and defence; but God promises to be that to his Jerusalem, his church and people, as will answer to, and be "instead" ^F7 of, a river that has the broadest streams; which is expressive of the abundance of his grace, and the freeness of it, for the supply of his church, as well as of the pleasant situation and safety of it; see ( Psalms 46:1-4 ) ( Ezekiel 47:1-4 ) where the Lord appears "glorious"; where he displays the glorious perfections of his nature, his power, faithfulness, truth, holiness, love, grace, and mercy; where his glorious Gospel is preached; where he grants his gracious and glorious presence; and where saints come to see his glory, do see it, and speak of it; see ( 2 Samuel 6:20 ) ( Psalms 63:1 Psalms 63:2 ) ( 29:9 ) : wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ships
pass thereby:
this advantage literal Jerusalem had, that, though it had no river for its pleasure, profit, and protection, yet no enemy could come up to it in that way; and the Lord, though he is indeed instead of a broad river to his people for their supply and safety, yet such an one as will not admit any enemy, great or small, signified by the "galley with oars", and the "gallant ship", to come near them; and in the New Jerusalem church state, when there will be new heavens and a new earth, there will be no sea, ( Revelation 21:1 ) and so no place for ships and galleys. The design of these metaphors is to show that the church of Christ at this time will be safe from all enemies whatsoever, as they must needs be, when the Lord is not only a place of broad rivers, but a wall of fire round about them, and the glory in the midst of them, ( Zechariah 2:5 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F7 (Myrxn Mwqm) "loco fluviorum", Junius & Tremellius; (Mwqm) pro (txt) "non in talione, sed saltem ut significat loco ac vice, Deus ecclesiae est pro fluminibus", Gusset. Ebr. Comment, p. 740.

Isaiah 33:21 In-Context

19 You will no longer see those savage people, those people with an unrecognizable language, with a foreign language that you can't understand.

20 Look at Zion, the city of our festivals. Your eyes will see Jerusalem as a peaceful place. It is a tent that can't be moved. Its tent pegs will never be pulled out, and none of its ropes will be broken.

21 The LORD will be our mighty defender in a place surrounded by wide rivers and streams. Ships with oars won't travel on them. Stately ships won't sail on them.

22 The LORD is our judge. The LORD is our lawgiver. The LORD is our king. The LORD is our savior.

23 Your ropes hang loose, your mast isn't secure, and your sail isn't spread out. A large amount of loot will be distributed. Lame people will carry off your loot.