Isaiah 33:15-16
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The verse doesn't just list righteous actions, it emphasizes the active refusal of evil. Notice how it speaks of "despising" ill-gotten gain, "shaking hands" to reject bribes, and "stopping ears" and "shutting eyes" from evil—these are all vivid images of actively turning away from temptation and corruption. This isn't passive innocence, but a vigorous defense of one's soul.
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the preceding verses, Zion (representing Jerusalem and its people) has been in turmoil, questioning God's justice and presence amidst the turmoil caused by invaders. This verse and the following ones shift to describe the character of those who will truly endure and dwell with God, contrasting them with the unrighteous who are consumed by His judgment. It details the moral and ethical conduct expected of those who are truly aligned with God's kingdom, emphasizing integrity in actions and speech, and a profound aversion to corruption and violence.
Isaiah doesn't just list good deeds; he points to the heart's disposition behind them. What's the real difference between simply doing good and being good?
In Isaiah 33:15, the prophet moves beyond mere outward actions to describe the inner character of those who truly belong to God's kingdom. Notice how the verse starts:
Walking Righteously, Speaking Uprightly
This isn't just about following rules. It's about a life aligned with God's ways (walking righteously) and words that are honest and true (speaking uprightly). This internal alignment is the foundation.
Despising Ill-Gotten Gain
The passage then emphasizes a deep aversion to sin:
Guarding the Senses from Evil
Finally, Isaiah highlights the intentional guarding of one's inner life:
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These actions aren't just a checklist; they flow from a heart that has been transformed by God, a heart that has chosen God's way over sin's allure.
The language Isaiah uses is incredibly active. It’s not just about not doing bad things, but about actively pushing them away. What does this active stance look like in our daily lives?
Isaiah 33:15 paints a vivid picture of someone actively engaged in righteousness. The prophet uses strong verbs that show a deliberate and energetic rejection of sin.
The 'Shaking Away' of Corruption
Consider the phrase, 'who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe.' This isn't passive resistance. It's a forceful, almost instinctive, recoil. Imagine someone quickly pulling their hand back from something repulsive or dangerous.
This imagery suggests:
The 'Shutting Out' of Harm
Similarly, 'who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil' speaks of deliberate sensory control. It's not about ignoring God's call to justice, but about actively filtering out influences that lead to sin:
This active stance is crucial. True righteousness isn't just the absence of sin; it's the presence of a vibrant, engaged pursuit of God's ways, coupled with a determined pushback against anything that opposes Him.
Understand the original words
tsedaqah · Hebrew Adverb/Adjective
A life aligned with God's moral character, characterized by integrity, justice, and faithfulness to His commands.
meysharim · Hebrew Adverb
Refers to the moral quality of honesty and truthfulness, specifically regarding what is straight, just, and congruent with God’s standard.
osheq · Hebrew Noun
Wealth or benefit acquired through the mistreatment or exploitation of others, which is strictly forbidden by biblical standards of justice.
shochad · Hebrew Noun
A gift given to corrupt justice; the Bible consistently condemns it as a perversion of the law and an affront to God’s impartial righteousness.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Moral wickedness, malice, or that which is ethically deficient; it represents everything that is contrary to the character and will of God.
shakan · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew verb generally refers to living, settling, or abiding. In a theological sense, it often denotes a state of permanent fellowship or security in the presence of God.
Isaiah 33:15 describes the character of those who can trust in God's deliverance amidst the terror of invasion and divine judgment. The immediate context is the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, highlighting how godly individuals, by rejecting oppression, bribery, and evil, find security not in human strength but in God's protection.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event creates widespread fear and turmoil among the people.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Demands and Diplomacy
Sennacherib sends envoys to Jerusalem demanding unconditional surrender. King Hezekiah, though initially seeking a peaceful resolution, ultimately trusts in God.
c. 701 BC
Divine Intervention and Assyrian Defeat
The Assyrian army is miraculously struck down by an angel of the Lord, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw from Jerusalem. This event demonstrates God's power and protection.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Empire's Decline
Following the failed invasion of Judah, the Assyrian Empire gradually begins to weaken, eventually falling to the Babylonians decades later.
This passage lists the same kind of ethical requirements for dwelling in God's presence as Isaiah 33:15, emphasizing righteous living and upright speech.
Psalm 24:3-5Similar to Isaiah's description, this psalm asks 'Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?' and answers with those who have clean hands and pure hearts, aligning with the upright character described.
Proverbs 10:2This proverb directly contrasts ill-gotten treasure with righteousness, echoing Isaiah's point that 'gain of oppressions' is something to be despised by the righteous.
1 John 3:7-8This New Testament passage connects the practice of righteousness with the nature of Christ, paralleling Isaiah's depiction of righteous actions as evidence of a right relationship with God.
Matthew 7:17-19Jesus' teaching about good trees bearing good fruit illustrates the same principle as Isaiah 33:15: a righteous life, characterized by upright actions and speech, flows from a good inner source.
bensonIsaiah 33:15: "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;"
Isaiah 33:15-16 . He that walketh righteously — He who, being first made righteous by the justification of his person, and the renovation of his nature, (see on Genesis 15:6 , and Psalm 32:1-2 ,) afterward practises righteousness in all its branches: ( 1…
cambridgeIsaiah 33:15: "He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;"
15, 16 . A triumphant answer to the fearful self-questionings of the ungodly. The passage closely resembles Psalm 15:2 ff; Psalm 24:4 f. First the character of the true citizen of God’s Kingdom is expressed in general terms, and then the details are give…
The verse doesn't just list righteous actions, it emphasizes the active refusal of evil. Notice how it speaks of "despising" ill-gotten gain, "shaking hands" to reject bribes, and "stopping ears" and "shutting eyes" from evil—these are all vivid images of actively turning away from temptation and corruption. This isn't passive innocence, but a vigorous defense of one's soul.
In the preceding verses, Zion (representing Jerusalem and its people) has been in turmoil, questioning God's justice and presence amidst the turmoil caused by invaders. This verse and the following ones shift to describe the character of those who will truly endure and dwell with God, contrasting them with the unrighteous who are consumed by His judgment. It details the moral and ethical conduct expected of those who are truly aligned with God's kingdom, emphasizing integrity in actions and speech, and a profound aversion to corruption and violence.
In the preceding verses, Zion (representing Jerusalem and its people) has been in turmoil, questioning God's justice and presence amidst the turmoil caused by invaders. This verse and the following ones shift to describe the character of those who will truly endure and dwell with God, contrasting them with the unrighteous who are consumed by His judgment. It details the moral and ethical conduct expected of those who are truly aligned with God's kingdom, emphasizing integrity in actions and speech, and a profound aversion to corruption and violence.
"He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on…" — The verse doesn't just list righteous actions, it emphasizes the active refusal of evil. Notice how it speaks of "despising" ill-gotten gain, "shaking hands" to reject bribes, and "stopping ears" a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
