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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- BSB he will dwell on the heights; the mountain fortress will be his refuge; his food will be provided and his water assured.
- 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 12:29–31Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
- Isa 32:18My people will live in a peaceful habitation, in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
- Prov 1:33But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
- Isa 49:10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them by springs of water.
- Ps 107:41Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, and increases their families like a flock.
- Prov 18:10Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
- Ps 90:1A Prayer by Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
- Ps 37:3Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
- Ps 18:33He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places.
- Ps 111:5He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant.
- Ps 91:14“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
- Hab 3:19Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on my stringed instruments.
- Ps 33:18Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness;
- Isa 25:4For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.
- Ps 34:10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
- Isa 26:1–5In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
- Ps 15:1A Psalm by David. Yahweh, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill?
- Ps 91:1–10He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in 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.