Isaiah 33:11
Isaiah 33:11 in Multiple Translations
You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will consume you.
Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath is a fire that shall devour you.
Your designs will be without profit, and their effect will be nothing: you will be burned up by the fire of my breath.
All you give birth to is only dry grass, all you deliver is just stubble. Your breath is a fire that will burn you up.
Ye shall conceiue chaffe, and bring forth stubble: the fire of your breath shall deuoure you.
Ye conceive chaff, ye bear stubble, Your spirit! — fire devoureth you.
You will conceive chaff. You will give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will devour you.
Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
You shall conceive heat, you shall bring forth stubble: your breath as fire shall devour you.
You people of Assyria make plans that are as useless as [MET] chaff and straw. Your breath will become a fire that will burn you up.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 33:11
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 33:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
תַּהֲר֥וּ
חֲשַׁ֖שׁ
תֵּ֣לְדוּ
קַ֑שׁ
רוּחֲ/כֶ֕ם
אֵ֖שׁ
תֹּאכַלְ/כֶֽם
תַּהֲר֥וּ
hârâh
H2029
to conceive
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
חֲשַׁ֖שׁ
châshash
H2842
chaff
N-ms
תֵּ֣לְדוּ
yâlad
H3205
to beget
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
קַ֑שׁ
qash
H7179
stubble
N-ms
רוּחֲ/כֶ֕ם
rûwach
H7307
spirit
N-cs | Suff
אֵ֖שׁ
ʼêsh
H784
fire
N-cs
תֹּאכַלְ/כֶֽם
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 33:11
תַּהֲר֥וּ
hârâh
H2029
"to conceive"
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
To conceive or become pregnant, as seen in the story of Sarah and Abraham in Genesis 17, where Sarah conceives Isaac in her old age. This word is used to describe the miracle of birth and new life.
Definition: 1) to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor 1a)(Qal) to conceive, become pregnant 1b) (Pual) to be conceived 1c) (Poel) to conceive, contrive, devise
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: been, be with child, conceive, progenitor. See also: Genesis 4:1; Numbers 11:12; Psalms 7:15.
חֲשַׁ֖שׁ
châshash
H2842
"chaff"
N-ms
Means dry grass or chaff, which is the outer husk of grain that's often blown away by the wind.
Definition: chaff, dry grass
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: chaff. See also: Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 33:11.
תֵּ֣לְדוּ
yâlad
H3205
"to beget"
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
קַ֑שׁ
qash
H7179
"stubble"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to dry straw or stubble, often used to describe something that is worthless or easily destroyed. It appears in prophetic passages, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, to symbolize God's judgment.
Definition: stubble, chaff
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: stubble. See also: Exodus 5:12; Isaiah 40:24; Psalms 83:14.
רוּחֲ/כֶ֕ם
rûwach
H7307
"spirit"
N-cs | Suff
In the Bible, this word for spirit refers to the breath of life, the wind, or a person's mind and emotions, as seen in the book of Ezekiel.
Definition: : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) 1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being 1e) spirit (as seat of emotion) 1e1) desire 1e2) sorrow, trouble 1f) spirit 1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts 1f2) rarely of the will 1f3) as seat especially of moral character 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). See also: Genesis 1:2; Job 6:26; Psalms 1:4.
אֵ֖שׁ
ʼêsh
H784
"fire"
N-cs
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) fire 1a) fire, flames 1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany) 1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching) 1d) altar-fire 1e) God's anger (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. See also: Genesis 15:17; Joshua 7:15; Psalms 11:6.
תֹּאכַלְ/כֶֽם
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
Study Notes — Isaiah 33:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 33:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 33:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 33:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 33:11
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 33:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
- Sermons on Isaiah 33:11
Context — The LORD Is Exalted
9The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is ashamed and decayed. Sharon is like a desert; Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.
10“Now I will arise,” says the LORD. “Now I will lift Myself up. Now I will be exalted.
11You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will consume you.
12The peoples will be burned to ashes, like thorns cut down and set ablaze. 13You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge My might.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 7:14 | Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood. |
| 2 | Isaiah 59:4 | No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. |
| 3 | James 1:15 | Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. |
| 4 | Isaiah 8:9–10 | Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us. ” |
| 5 | Psalms 83:5–18 | For with one mind they plot together, they form an alliance against You— the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.” Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with Your storm. Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD. May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth. |
| 6 | Isaiah 17:13 | The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale. |
| 7 | Isaiah 30:30–33 | And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones. For Assyria will be shattered at the voice of the LORD; He will strike them with His scepter. And with every stroke of the rod of punishment that the LORD brings down on them, the tambourines and lyres will sound as He battles with weapons brandished. For Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its funeral pyre is deep and wide, with plenty of fire and wood. The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. |
| 8 | Isaiah 26:18 | We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world. |
| 9 | Isaiah 29:5–8 | But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire. All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel— even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her— will be like a dream, like a vision in the night, as when a hungry man dreams he is eating, then awakens still hungry; as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking, then awakens faint and parched. So will it be for all the many nations who go to battle against Mount Zion. |
| 10 | Isaiah 5:24 | Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. |
Isaiah 33:11 Summary
This verse is saying that when we try to do things on our own without God, it's like trying to make something valuable out of worthless things. Our efforts will ultimately be consumed by our own selfish desires, like a fire that burns us up (as in James 1:14-15). But when we turn to God and trust in Him, He can take our worthless things and make them into something beautiful and valuable (as in Isaiah 61:3). By trusting in God, we can avoid the destruction that comes from our own selfish ways and instead find life and purpose in Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to conceive chaff and give birth to stubble in Isaiah 33:11?
This phrase is a metaphor for the futility of human efforts that are not rooted in God, as seen in Isaiah 55:11 where God's word will not return empty, and in contrast, the works of man without God will be like chaff and stubble, as in Matthew 3:12.
How does the breath being a fire that consumes relate to the rest of the verse?
The image of breath as a fire that consumes is a warning of God's judgment, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 32:22 and 2 Thessalonians 1:8, where God's wrath is poured out on those who oppose Him.
Is this verse talking about individuals or nations?
While the context of Isaiah 33 suggests a national judgment, the principles can also apply to individuals who reject God, as seen in Proverbs 1:24-31, where those who reject wisdom will face the consequences of their actions.
How does this verse fit into the broader message of Isaiah?
Isaiah 33:11 is part of a larger theme of God's judgment and redemption, as seen in Isaiah 2:10-22 and Isaiah 40:1-31, where God promises to comfort His people after a time of judgment and purification.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I may be 'conceiving chaff' or pursuing things that are not of eternal value?
- How can I ensure that my 'breath' or the words and actions that come from me are not destructive, but rather life-giving and glorifying to God?
- What are some 'stubble' or worthless things that I can cut out of my life to make room for more of God's presence and purposes?
- In what ways can I trust in God's sovereignty and judgment, even when it seems like evil is prevailing, and how can I have confidence in His ultimate redemption?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 33:11
Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble,.... Signifying that all the counsels, designs, and schemes, of the antichristian party, to continue themselves in their present state, and save
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 33:11
Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. Ye - the enemy. Shall conceive chaff - (Isaiah 26:18; Isaiah 59:4).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble, instead of solid corn. Your great hopes and designs, O ye Assyrians! shall be utterly disappointed. Your breath, as fire, shall devour you; your rage against my people shall bring ruin upon yourselves.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
Isaiah 33:11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, [as] fire, shall devour you.Ver. 11. Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble.] Gravidi estis stramiue, parietis stipulum. So did Pharaoh, Antiochus, Julian, &c. So doth Antichrist and his champions, notwithstanding his bloody alarms to them, such as was that sounded out in the year 1582. “ Utere iure tao, Caesar, sectamque Lutheri Ease, rota, ponto, funibus, igne neca. ” And that other of the King of France not many years since, exhorting him to kill up all the Protestants per Galliam stabulantes, the very words of the Pope’ s bull, that had any stable room in France. Your breath as fire shall devour you.] Shall blow up the fire that shall consume your chaff and stubble. Your iniquity shall be your ruin. Turdus sibi malum cacat. Hic est gladius quem ipse fecisti: This is a sword of thine own making, said the soldier to Marius, when he ran him through with it.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
(11) Ye shall conceive chaff . . .—Primarily the words are addressed to the Assyrian invaders, but not without a side glance at all who had been weaving their own webs of policy instead of trusting in Jehovah. Scheme and result, conception and parturition, would be alike worthless. Your breath, as fire . . .—“Breath,” the hot panting of rage; this, instead of working the destruction of Judah, should prove suicidal.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
Verse 11. Your breath - "And my spirit"] "For רוחכם ruchechem, your spirit, read רוחי כמו ruchi kemo." Secker. Which reading is confirmed by the Chaldee, where מימרי meywri, "my word," answers to רוחי ruchi, "my spirit."
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 33:11
11. Still the words of Jehovah, addressed to the enemy. The present tense would be better than the future. For the first figure see ch. Isaiah 59:4; Job 15:35; Psalms 7:14. your breath …] Better as R.V. your breath (i.e. “anger”) is a fire that devours you.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 33:11
Ye shall conceive chaff - An address of God to the Assyrians. The figure is one that denotes that their counsels would be in vain.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 33:11
10-12. This iniquity is now full. The day of judgment to Assyria has come.
Sermons on Isaiah 33:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Giving Birth to a Monster by Warren Wiersbe | Warren Wiersbe delivers a powerful sermon based on Psalms 7:10-17, emphasizing the consequences of sin and the importance of maintaining integrity in the face of persecution. The p |
|
The Secret of Holiness by Dennis Kinlaw | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of finding just one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth in order to bring salvation and forgiveness to a city. The s |
|
(Genesis) Genesis 4:6-7 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis. He explains that Cain became angry and jealous when God accepted Abel's sacrifice but n |
|
Law of Sin and Death by Charles Anderson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the issue of watching movies and videos in the privacy of one's home. He argues that while there may be logical explanations for why certain p |
|
And Not Be Burned? by Erlo Stegen | This sermon delves into the analogy of sin being likened to a fire that, if hidden within, will not only burn but ultimately lead to death. It emphasizes the danger of concealing s |
|
Discerning Between Temptation and Sin by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the distinction between temptation and sin, using the analogy of conception to explain how yielding to temptation leads to sin. It also delves into the impor |
|
|
The Church: A Three Storey Building by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of repeating key messages in the church, especially for new members and growing children. It encourages elders to prioritize repeating foundat |