Isaiah 33:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They imposed a ban upon them, commanding they not speak of this name, yet Jerusalem became alive with your teachings (Acts 5:28; Acts 4:17). We even observe the holy Apostles themselves gripped by the fear of Jewish attacks, humbling themselves before the Most High and crying out, ‘And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant your servants to speak your word with all boldness’ (Acts 4:29). Hence, He assures them that it is they who will fear you, not the reverse: those who are afraid of you shall be filled with dread. In due course, they shall send forth messengers to plead for peace and wail in the mountains. Yet, those who oppose God and resist His divine plans will find their paths desolate. For Israel, in its early days—a time when the Divine message began to be preached—was hostile towards the guardians of sacred mysteries. However, as the number of believers grew, their madness was subdued in every city and region, resulting in their submission to the believers, who brought them to tears, finding solace in mere reconciliation, even if it was accompanied by peace. This, I believe, encapsulates the essence of the prophecy: the fear of tongues shall cease, as He declares, and the covenant will be removed from them, since they have become estranged from the closeness of God and distanced from His promises. Not all descendants of Israel belong to Israel; neither are all children of Abraham his true offspring. Rather, those regarded as the children are the offspring of the promise (Rom. 9:6-8), signifying those who have faith in Christ, for it was through faith that Abraham, the forefather, was justified.

The Jews interpret the Hebrew term avellam differently, suggesting that Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion's translation as are lahem refers to angels. They believe that following the prophecy concerning the Gentiles' calling and the church's wealth, the temple's destruction is foretold, which will cause anguish for the angels who previously brought tidings of peace. The ones who once proclaimed tranquility will now weep sorrowfully. Alternatively, this could refer to the apostles themselves, sent to declare peace to Jerusalem. To them, the Lord remarked, “If thou wouldest understand thine own peace” (Lk. 19:42). He appeared to them to provide encouragement, and they will mourn for Jerusalem because it rejected their message. The roads lie empty; none travel the righteous path, resonating with the Lamentations of Jeremiah: "The ways of Zion weep, for there is no one who walks by them in the feast" (Lamentations 1:4).

The covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has been breached. The cities of the Jewish people have been destroyed, and He did not recognize those who sought to live like cattle as human beings. The land is dismayed and exhausted, lamenting the absence of its inhabitants. Lebanon, signifying the temple, is filled with shame and deafness, as noted in Zechariah: “Open, O Lebanon, thy doors, and let the fire girdle thy cedars” (Zech. 11:1). Jerusalem is referred to as Lebanon in Ezekiel, where the prophet states, “The great eagle with great wings, long of pinion, full of feathers, which had diverse colors, came unto Lebanon” (Ezek. 17:3). This divine utterance alludes to Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem, clearly illustrating that the eagle represents the Babylonian king and Lebanon signifies Jerusalem.

Sharon has become akin to a desert, and Bashan and Carmel have trembled. The Septuagint referred to Galilee instead of Wasan, indicating a wider region rather than a single locale. Sharon encompasses the area around Jonah and Lydda, characterized by its vast and fertile lands. Bashan refers to the territory beyond the Jordan, occupied by two and a half tribes, known for its richness. Carmel has also been mentioned earlier. Thus, the once-prosperous lands of Judea have transformed into wastelands, symbolizing the transition from abundance to scarcity for the Jews. Due to their refusal to heed the apostles’ message, Lebanon is shamed, Sharon is desolate, and Bashan and Carmel tremor in response to their plight.

Consequently, the Lord proclaims that He will rise either from boundless patience or from the depths of the earth. He will be exalted among the nations and lifted upon the cross. He speaks to the Jews, saying that they will ignite fire but produce only stubble; their breath will breed flames, consuming all that is generated. The Jewish nations will be reduced to ashes, reflecting the extent of their calamity. Their thorns, gathered from their multitude of sins, will be consumed by fire, a fate primarily associated with the final captivity and ruin of Jerusalem. Others contend that this will be fully realized during the Day of Judgment.