Isaiah 33:1
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.
Isaiah 33:1 · King James Version
Meaning
The verse "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" serves as a warning about the consequences of mistreating others. It emphasizes the idea that those who harm others will eventually face harm themselves. The verse is a reminder of the principle of reaping what one sows, highlighting the importance of treating others with integrity and fairness. It conveys a message of accountability and justice, suggesting that those who engage in deceit and cruelty will eventually face the same in return. This verse serves as a cautionary tale, urging individuals to consider their actions and treat others with respect and honesty to avoid facing similar treatment in the future.
Theological Overview
This verse from the book of Isaiah contains a warning about the consequences of treating others unjustly. The word "woe" is used to express sorrow or grief over the impending judgment on those who oppress the innocent. The verse highlights the concept of reciprocity - what goes around, comes around. The phrase "when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled" emphasizes the poetic justice that awaits those who engage in acts of exploitation and deceit. The language used in this verse is powerful and serves as a reminder of the importance of treating others with fairness and integrity. Through theological interpretation, this verse can be understood as a call to uphold moral principles and to avoid engaging in harmful or manipulative behaviors. It serves as a reminder that God ultimately sees all actions and will judge accordingly.
Isaiah 33:1 in other translations
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.
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 made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed.
Douay-Rheims
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.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Woe to thee that spoylest, and wast not spoyled: and doest wickedly, and they did not wickedly against thee: when thou shalt cease to spoyle, thou shalt be spoyled: when thou shalt make an ende of doing wickedly, they shall doe wickedly against thee.