Isaiah 33 — Dead Sea Scrolls
24 verses • 7 variants • Columns XXVI–XXVII of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 33 concludes the woe oracles with a vision of Zion's ultimate security. The 24 verses contain a mix of orthographic and moderate variants. The theophanic imagery and the question 'Who among us can dwell with everlasting fire?' are notable.
Notable Variants
Verse 6 has a variant in the treasure/wisdom passage. Verse 14 has the 'sinners in Zion' passage with the everlasting fire question. Verse 22 has the triple designation of the LORD as judge, lawgiver, and king.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
Woe to you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! You treacherous one, whom none has betrayed! When you finish destroying, you shall be destroyed; when you cease your treachery, they shall deal treacherously with you.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 24
O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of distress.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 25
At the thunderous noise, peoples flee; when you rise up, nations scatter.
Masoretic (WLC)
רוֹמֶמוּתֶךָ
your exaltation
Dead Sea Scroll
רוממותכה
your exaltation
1QIsaiah-a writes רוממותכה with a fuller suffix form. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 26
Your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap upon it, so shall they leap upon your plunder.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 27
The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVI, line 28
And he shall be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD — this is his treasure.
Masoretic (WLC)
אֱמוּנַת
faithfulness of
Dead Sea Scroll
אמונת
faithfulness of
1QIsaiah-a reads אמונת identically. The treasure of salvation is 'wisdom and knowledge — the fear of the LORD is his treasure.' The DSS and MT agree that emunah (faithfulness/stability) characterizes this divine provision. No impact on meaning, but the passage's emphasis on wisdom and fear of the LORD as 'treasure' (otsar) is theologically rich.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 1
Behold, their valiant ones cry out in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 2
The highways lie desolate, the traveler has ceased. He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he regards no one.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 3
The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is ashamed and withers. Sharon has become like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 4
"Now I will arise," says the LORD. "Now I will be exalted; now I will lift myself up."
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 5
You conceive chaff, you bring forth stubble; your own breath is a fire that shall consume you.
Masoretic (WLC)
מִשְׁפָּט
justice
Dead Sea Scroll
משפט
justice
Identical consonantal text. The LORD fills Zion with justice and righteousness. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 6
And the peoples shall be as if burned to lime, like cut thorns consumed in the fire.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 7
"Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might."
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 8
The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling has seized the godless: "Who among us can dwell with consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting flames?"
Masoretic (WLC)
אֵשׁ עוֹלָם
everlasting fire
Dead Sea Scroll
אש עולם
everlasting fire
1QIsaiah-a reads אש עולם identically. The question 'Who among us can dwell with everlasting fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?' is one of the most dramatic in Isaiah. The answer (v. 15) is not escape from fire but righteousness within it — the one who walks righteously can dwell with God's consuming holiness. Both traditions preserve this startling redefinition of who can endure divine presence.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 9
He who walks in righteousness and speaks what is upright, who despises the gain of oppression, who shakes his hands free from holding a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil —
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 10
he shall dwell on the heights; his refuge shall be the fortress of rocks. His bread shall be given him; his water shall be sure.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 11
Your eyes shall behold the king in his beauty; they shall see a land that stretches far away.
Masoretic (WLC)
מֶלֶךְ
king
Dead Sea Scroll
מלך
king
Identical consonantal text. 'Your eyes will see the king in his beauty' — the promise of beholding the divine king in eschatological splendor. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 12
Your heart shall muse on the former terror: "Where is the one who counted? Where is the one who weighed? Where is the one who counted the towers?"
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 13
You shall no longer see the fierce people, the people of obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, of a stammering tongue that you cannot understand.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 14
Gaze upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes shall see Jerusalem — a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be moved: its stakes shall never be pulled up, nor any of its cords be broken.
Masoretic (WLC)
אַדִּיר
majestic/mighty
Dead Sea Scroll
אדיר
majestic/mighty
Identical consonantal text. The LORD as 'a place of broad rivers and streams' where no galley or mighty ship passes — divine protection described in maritime metaphor. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 15
But there the LORD in majesty shall be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars shall go, and no mighty ship shall pass.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 16
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king — he will save us.
Masoretic (WLC)
שֹׁפְטֵנוּ...מְחֹקְקֵנוּ...מַלְכֵּנוּ
our judge...our lawgiver...our king
Dead Sea Scroll
שופטנו...מחוקקנו...מלכנו
our judge...our lawgiver...our king
1QIsaiah-a writes the triple designation with plene spellings. The LORD is identified as judge, lawgiver, and king — three functions of governance concentrated in the divine sovereign. This threefold designation influenced later discussions of divine sovereignty and the separation of powers. Both traditions preserve the same triadic formula.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 17
Your rigging hangs loose; it cannot hold the mast firm or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoil shall be divided — even the lame shall carry off plunder.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 18
And no inhabitant shall say, "I am sick"; the people who dwell there shall be forgiven their iniquity.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXVII, line 19