What Does Isaiah 33:10 Mean in the King James?
Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The three “nows” unfold as a rising sequence: the LORD stands, takes height, and is lifted up.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s repeated “now” meets the reader’s present: he rises and is exalted. Three verbs give that presence movement, from standing up, through height, into lifting.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that the present moment proves the LORD will remain inactive: the verse repeats “now” three times.
THE ROOT
אָקוּם
ʾāqūm
GROWS FROM
קום
Rise or stand; in causative forms, establish or make stand.
The root carries more than upward motion: to rise can mean to take a stand, and its causative forms can establish something in place. The verse’s opening rise is the first movement in a declaration that continues through height and lifting.
ALSO GROWS
maqom: Place; position or standing place.
מָקוֹם
The word for place shares this root, linking rising with taking a position.
heqim: Raise up; establish.
הֵקִים
This causative form shows how the root can move from standing to making something stand.
אֵרוֹמָם
ʾērōmēm
GROWS FROM
רום
Be high, rise, or raise high; exalt.
“be exalted” in this verse is ʾērōmēm. This root holds height as both a condition and an action: what is high can also be raised. Here it intensifies the first rise, carrying the declaration from standing to exaltation.
ALSO GROWS
ram: High; exalted.
רָם
This adjective makes the root’s sense of height visible.
terumah: A raised portion; contribution or offering.
תְּרוּמָה
The raised portion shows how the root can describe something lifted out and set apart.
אִנָּשֵׂא
ʾinnāśēʾ
GROWS FROM
נשא
Lift, carry, or bear.
“lift up myself” in this verse is ʾinnāśēʾ. This root adds the sense of carrying to the rising sequence: elevation is also something borne upward. Its branches connect being lifted with both leadership and the weight one carries.
ALSO GROWS
nasi: Prince or leader; one lifted up.
נָשִׂיא
The word for a leader connects elevation with being raised to a position.
massa: Burden or load; something carried.
מַשָּׂא
The word for a burden preserves the root’s other shade: lifting can also mean bearing weight.
THE PATTERN
The LORD’s rising marks a present turning in which divine height becomes visible and those held low can be lifted.
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.THE THREAD
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.The threefold “now” echoes this declaration: “now will I arise.” Both verses use קום (qum, rise or stand), so rising carries the force of taking a stand amid oppression and need.
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