THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
The Lord serves as our righteous judge, our divine lawgiver, and our sovereign king; He is our Savior. As our Prince, He will discipline us.
Isaiah 33:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us.
כִּ֤י יְהוָה֙ שֹׁפְטֵ֔נוּ יְהוָ֖ה מְחֹקְקֵ֑נוּ יְהוָ֥ה מַלְכֵּ֖נוּ ה֥וּא יוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Cyrill of Alexandria
Indeed, he affirms, we have every reason to be courageous: my God is mighty and will not overlook me; in other words, Satan will not prevail against me as he did previously. I will not submit to him, for the Lord is our judge, our leader, our sovereign, and He is our Savior. Once, that rebellious and unruly one held the position of our ruler. However, after we have taken upon ourselves the yoke of the Gospel and salvation, we have the Son of God as our judge, leader, sovereign, and Lord, and He will deliver us. Furthermore, the prophet Isaiah declares this truth, referring to both the people of God and those who are justified in Christ through faith: ‘The way shall be pure, and the way shall be called holy, and the way shall not be unclean. And there shall not be a lion therein, neither shall any man go up from the beasts of the wicked therein, but they that are delivered by the Lord shall walk therein’ (Isaiah 35:8-10).
Ephraem the Syrian
The Lord serves as our judge, our lawgiver, and our king; He is our savior. This message is directed toward Jerusalem, where its people have fled and lack a stronghold.
Jerome of Stridon
Behold Zion, the city of our victory; your eyes will gaze upon Jerusalem, a glorious dwelling, an unshakeable sanctuary, whose pegs will remain steadfast eternally, and all its cords shall remain intact. It is here that our Lord is exalted, where the expanse for the waters is immense and wide; no vessel will navigate its depths, nor will a mighty ship traverse its breadth. For the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver, our king; He will deliver us. Your ropes are loosened and lack strength; so will your mast be, rendering it impossible for you to unfurl a banner upon it. The spoils from numerous conquests shall then be shared, and the weak shall seize the bounty. No neighbor will declare that they are diminished; sin will be removed from the inhabitants of this holy place.
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The righteous, to whom it was previously stated, Your heart shall be guided in reverence, and you will not encounter an unwise people, shall witness a king in his splendor! Gaze upon Zion, the city of our victory, and behold the body of Christ, which embodies the true triumph: your eyes will experience a vision of creation and unexpected wealth, which no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered the heart of man, and an immovable sanctuary. For the tabernacle that once belonged to Judah was transitory and met its end. Its supports shall stand forever, and all its cords shall be fortified, so that the Lord may dwell within it, the source of all rivers and streams, which none can navigate from the opposite shore, nor shall the great ship, a symbol of evil, be able to cross it; for the Lord himself is our judge, prince, and king, our Savior, and under His protection, we need not fear the terrors of men. This is declared of Zion, the city of our victory, and of Jerusalem, a richly adorned residence, which the Lord Himself shall encircle and empower with His flowing rivers. The earthly Jerusalem's tabernacle has loose cords that can no longer support its drapes, and its mast, once adorned with splendid sails, has succumbed to the broken lines, making it unfit for sailing or hoisting any banner. Yet, after their vessel is wrecked and the tabernacle dismantled, with ropes frayed on all sides, the victors shall apportion the spoils, appearing to be so feeble they may be deemed broken, but strengthened by divine wrath, they will feel no weakness nor proclaim weariness. For those among them, sin and transgression shall be removed, as they have done the will of God.
Clement of Alexandria
The redemption of humanity represents the most profound and sovereign act of God. Just as the sick may feel frustration towards a doctor who fails to provide guidance regarding their health, we too should recognize the immense gratitude owed to the Divine Teacher for His willingness to communicate. He is not silent; He openly declares warnings of impending doom while also addressing the fervent desires that lead to ruin. Instead, He imparts teachings that guide us towards a righteous way of living. Certainly, we ought to express deep appreciation for such generosity.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Jas 4:12There is one lawgiver and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver.
- Acts 5:31Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be Prince and Saviour. to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins.
- Zeph 3:15The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy enemies: the king of Israel, the Lord, is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more.
- Zeph 3:17The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.
- Ps 89 (88):18
- Isa 25:9And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyful in his salvation.
- Isa 35:4Say to the fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your God will bring the revenge of recompense: God himself will come and will save you.
- Isa 12:2Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not fear: because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become my salvation.