Isaiah 33:1
New International Version
Woe to you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, betrayer, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed.

New Living Translation
What sorrow awaits you Assyrians, who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourselves. You betray others, but you have never been betrayed. When you are done destroying, you will be destroyed. When you are done betraying, you will be betrayed.

English Standard Version
Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.

Berean Standard Bible
Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Woe to you who plunder, though you have not been plundered; And you who deal treacherously, though they have not dealt treacherously with you! When you cease plundering, You will be plundered; When you make an end of dealing treacherously, They will deal treacherously with you.

New American Standard Bible
Woe to you, destroyer, While you were not destroyed; And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you cease to deal treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.

NASB 1995
Woe to you, O destroyer, While you were not destroyed; And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you cease to deal treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.

NASB 1977
Woe to you, O destroyer, While you were not destroyed; And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you shall finish destroying, you shall be destroyed; As soon as you shall cease to deal treacherously, others shall deal treacherously with you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Woe to you, O destroyer, While you were not destroyed; And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you cease to deal treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.

Amplified Bible
Woe (judgment is coming) to you, O destroyer, You who were not destroyed, And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you stop dealing treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.

Christian Standard Bible
Woe, you destroyer never destroyed, you traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, they will betray you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Woe, you destroyer never destroyed, you traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, they will betray you.

American Standard Version
Woe to thee that destroyest, and thou wast not destroyed; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to destroy, thou shalt be destroyed; and when thou hast made an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

Contemporary English Version
You defeated my people. Now you're in for trouble! You've never been destroyed, but you will be destroyed; you've never been betrayed, but you will be betrayed. When you have finished destroying and betraying, you will be destroyed and betrayed in return.

English Revised Version
Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou hast made an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How horrible it will be for you, you destroyer, although you haven't been destroyed. How horrible it will be for you, you traitor, although you haven't been betrayed. When you've finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you've finished being a traitor, you will be betrayed.

Good News Translation
Our enemies are doomed! They have robbed and betrayed, although no one has robbed them or betrayed them. But their time to rob and betray will end, and they themselves will become victims of robbery and treachery.

International Standard Version
"How terrible it will be for you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed yourself! And how terrible it will be for you, traitor, one whom people have not betrayed! When you have sunk so low in destroying others, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you."

Majority Standard Bible
Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.

NET Bible
The destroyer is as good as dead, you who have not been destroyed! The deceitful one is as good as dead, the one whom others have not deceived! When you are through destroying, you will be destroyed; when you finish deceiving, others will deceive you!

New Heart English Bible
Woe to you who destroy, but you weren't destroyed; and who betray, but nobody betrayed you. When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to thee that layest waste, and thou wast not laid waste; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to lay waste, thou shalt be wasted; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

World English Bible
Woe to you who destroy, but you weren’t destroyed, and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betrayal, you will be betrayed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Woe, spoiler! And you not spoiled, "" And treacherous! And they did not deal treacherously with you, "" When you finish, O spoiler, you are spoiled, "" When you finish dealing treacherously, "" They deal treacherously with you.

Young's Literal Translation
Woe, spoiler! and thou not spoiled, And treacherous! and they dealt not treacherously with thee, When thou dost finish, O spoiler, thou art spoiled, When thou dost finish dealing treacherously, They deal treacherously with thee.

Smith's Literal Translation
Wo to thee oppressing, and thou not oppressed; and spoiling, and they spoiled not upon thee! when thou finishing to oppress, thou shalt be oppressed; when thou ceasing to spoil, they shall spoil upon thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
WOE to thee that spoilest, shalt not thou thyself also be spoiled? and thou that despisest, shalt not thyself also be despised? when thou shalt have made an end of spoiling, thou shalt be spoiled: when being wearied thou shalt cease to despise, thou shalt be despised.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Woe to you who plunder! Will you yourselves not also be plundered? And woe to you who despise! Will you yourselves not also be despised? When you will have completed your plundering, you will be plundered. When, out of fatigue, you will have ceased acting with contempt, you will be treated with contempt.

New American Bible
Ah! You destroyer never destroyed, betrayer never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; when you have stopped betraying, you will be betrayed.

New Revised Standard Version
Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed; you treacherous one, with whom no one has dealt treacherously! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have stopped dealing treacherously, you will be dealt with treacherously.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WOE to you that plunder, but you shall not plunder, and let no one deal treacherously among you; for when you seek to plunder, they will plunder you; and when you seek to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Woe to those who plunder you! You shall not plunder, and let none be accused of deceit among you. Whenever you choose to plunder, you shall be plundered, and whenever you choose to deceive, one shall be accused of deceit among you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; And dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; And when thou art weary with dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Woe to them that afflict you; but no one makes you miserable: and he that deals perfidiously with you does not deal perfidiously: they that deal perfidiously shall be taken and given up, and as a moth on a garment, so shall they be spoiled.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD is Exalted
1Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed. 2O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:2
For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Obadiah 1:15
For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

Revelation 13:10
“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

Proverbs 22:8
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

Psalm 7:15-16
He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. / His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

Habakkuk 2:8
Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you—because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.

Jeremiah 50:29
Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.

Revelation 18:6
Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.

Psalm 35:8
May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.

Micah 2:1-3
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. / They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. / Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

Ezekiel 25:12-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Nahum 3:1
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without prey.

Proverbs 26:27
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.


Treasury of Scripture

Woe to you that spoil, and you were not spoiled; and deal treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with you! when you shall cease to spoil, you shall be spoiled; and when you shall make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with you.

thee that

Isaiah 10:5,6
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation…

Isaiah 17:14
And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

Isaiah 24:16
From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

when thou shalt cease

Isaiah 10:12
Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

Isaiah 21:2
A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

Isaiah 37:36-38
Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses…

Jump to Previous
Betray Betrayed Cease Ceased Deal Dealest Dealing Dealt Destroy Destroyed Destroyer Destroyest Destroying End Finish Finished Layest Nobody Others Soon Spoil Spoiled Stop Traitor Treacherous Treacherously Wast Waste Wasted Weary Weren't Woe
Jump to Next
Betray Betrayed Cease Ceased Deal Dealest Dealing Dealt Destroy Destroyed Destroyer Destroyest Destroying End Finish Finished Layest Nobody Others Soon Spoil Spoiled Stop Traitor Treacherous Treacherously Wast Waste Wasted Weary Weren't Woe
Isaiah 33
1. God's judgments against the enemies of the church
13. The consternation of sinners, and privileges of the godly














Woe to you, O destroyer
The word "Woe" in Hebrew is "הוֹי" (hoy), a term often used by the prophets to pronounce judgment or lamentation. It signifies impending doom and divine displeasure. The "destroyer" refers to those who bring ruin and devastation, likely the Assyrians in the historical context of Isaiah. This term is a reminder of the moral law that governs the universe, where those who live by destruction will ultimately face divine justice.

never destroyed
The phrase "never destroyed" highlights the arrogance and perceived invincibility of the Assyrians, who had not yet faced defeat. Historically, the Assyrians were known for their military prowess and conquests. This serves as a warning that no earthly power is beyond the reach of God's judgment.

you who have never been betrayed
This phrase underscores the Assyrians' experience of dominance and control, having never been victims of treachery themselves. It reflects a false sense of security and self-reliance, which is contrasted with the inevitable divine retribution that awaits them.

when you have finished destroying
The completion of their destructive acts is a pivotal moment. The Hebrew root "כָּלָה" (kalah) implies a sense of fulfillment or completion. This suggests that God's judgment is perfectly timed and will occur when the Assyrians have reached the zenith of their destructive power.

you will be destroyed
This is a prophetic declaration of divine justice. The certainty of this statement reflects the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where those who inflict harm will ultimately face the consequences of their actions. It is a call to trust in God's righteous judgment.

when you have finished betraying
The act of betrayal, "בָּגַד" (bagad) in Hebrew, is a serious offense in biblical terms, often associated with treachery and deceit. This phrase indicates that the Assyrians' treacherous actions will not go unpunished, reinforcing the theme of divine justice.

they will betray you
This final phrase serves as a poetic justice, where the betrayer becomes the betrayed. It is a fulfillment of the principle that those who live by deceit will ultimately be ensnared by it. This serves as a powerful reminder of the moral order established by God, where justice prevails.

XXXIII.

(1) Woe to thee that spoilest . . .--No chapter in the prophet's writings presents so little traceable connection. A thought is expressed in one, or it may be two, verses, and then another follows without anything to link it on. This may be, perhaps, explained either by the strong emotion which filled the prophet's mind as he looked on the coming perils of his country, or, as I think, more probably, on the assumption that we have a series of rough notes, memoranda for a long discourse, which was afterwards delivered in a more continuous form. They would, perhaps, be more intelligible if they were printed separately, as we print Pascal's Pensees, the verse arrangement giving a fictitious semblance of continuity. The opening words are addressed to Sennacherib when he entered on his second campaign against Judah, as it seemed to Isaiah, without the slightest provocation. Hezekiah had submitted, and had paid an enormous indemnity for the costs of the war (2Kings 18:13-16) at the close of the first campaign, and had, in the meantime, taken no aggressive action. The invasion was one of undisguised spoliation and rapacity. (For "treacherously," read rapaciously.) Upon such aggressiveness there was sure to come a righteous retribution, and in that thought the prophet finds comfort.

Verses 1-6. - THE JUDGMENT ON ASSYRIA AND DELIVERANCE OF JERUSALEM, STATED GENERALLY. Events had progressed since the preceding prophecies were delivered. The negotiations carried on with Sennacherib had been futile (ver. 7), the heavy fine imposed and paid (2 Kings 18:14) had been of no avail (ver. 18); the Assyrian monarch was still dissatisfied, and threatened a second siege. Already he was upon his march, spoiling and ravaging (ver. 1). The people of the country districts had removed into the town (ver. 8) - in a little time the vast host might be expected to appear before the walls. All was terror, grief, and confusion. Under these circumstances, Isaiah is once more commissioned to declare the approaching discomfiture of the mighty conqueror, and deliverance of Jerusalem out of his hand (vers. 3, 4). The deliverance ushers in a reign of righteousness (Vers. 5, 6). Verse 1. - Woe to thee that spoilest. The "spoiler" is here, evidently, Assyria - the world-power of this entire group of prophecies (see especially Isaiah 30:31; Isaiah 31:8), and the greatest "spoiler" of Isaiah's time. Thou wast not spoiled; i.e. "that hast not yet been spoiled thyself." A covert threat is conveyed in the words. And dealest treacherously; rather, usest violence (compare the comment on Isaiah 21:2). When thou shalt cease to spoil, etc. Conquering nations cannot with safety pause on their career. Their aggressions have roused so many enmities that, let them cease to attack, and at once they are attacked in their turn. Every man's baud is against the spoiler whose hand has been against every man.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Woe
ה֣וֹי (hō·w)
Interjection
Strong's 1945: Ah! alas! ha!

to you,
וְאַתָּה֙ (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

O destroyer
שׁוֹדֵ֗ד (šō·w·ḏêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

never
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

destroyed,
שָׁד֔וּד (šā·ḏūḏ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

O traitor
וּבוֹגֵ֖ד (ū·ḇō·w·ḡêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage

never
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

betrayed!
בָ֣גְדוּ (ḇā·ḡə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage

When you have finished
כַּהֲתִֽמְךָ֤ (ka·hă·ṯim·ḵā)
Preposition-k | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8552: To be complete or finished

destroying,
שׁוֹדֵד֙ (šō·w·ḏêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

you will be destroyed.
תּוּשַּׁ֔ד (tūš·šaḏ)
Verb - QalPass - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin

When you have finished
כַּנְּלֹתְךָ֥ (kan·nə·lō·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-k | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5239: Perhaps to obtain, attain

betraying,
לִבְגֹּ֖ד (liḇ·gōḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage

you will be betrayed.
יִבְגְּדוּ־ (yiḇ·gə·ḏū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 33:1 Woe to you who destroy but you (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 32:20
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