He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
Parallel translations
- WEB he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.
- BSB he will dwell on the heights; the mountain fortress will be his refuge; his food will be provided and his water assured.
- NKJV He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
- NASB He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
- NLT these are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The righteous person is promised security, provision, and refuge in God himself.
Overview
Those who walk uprightly will dwell on high in an unassailable fortress, with bread and water assured. The imagery of a rocky stronghold and steady provision pictures God as the safe and faithful protector of his people. It echoes the believer's confidence that God supplies every need and keeps secure all who trust in him, ultimately in Christ our refuge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Luke 12:29–31And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
- Isa 32:18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;
- Prov 1:33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
- Isa 49:10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
- Ps 107:41Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
- Prov 18:10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
- Ps 90:1Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
- Ps 37:3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
- Ps 18:33He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
- Ps 111:5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
- Ps 91:14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
- Hab 3:19The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
- Ps 33:18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
- Isa 25:4For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
- Ps 34:10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
- Isa 26:1–5In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
- Ps 15:1Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
- Ps 91:1–10He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 33:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.