Isaiah 33:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 33:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.
Isaiah 33:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 33

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpillar, &c.] This is the answer of the Lord to the prayer of his church, signifying that their enemies should flee, be scattered, and perish, and that they should be victorious, and enjoy the spoils of them; which they should gather as easily as the caterpillar or locust, as some render it, gathers and consumes herbs, and every green thing; or as easily as they are gathered, and laid on heaps, being weak and unable to defend themselves: most understand it of the Jews going into the camp of the Assyrians, after the destruction of them by the angel, and gathering their spoil. The Targum is, “and the house of Israel shall gather…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The invaders' "spoil" shall be left behind by them in their flight, and the Jews shall gather it. caterpillar--rather, "the wingless locust"; as it gathers; the Hebrew word for "gathers" is properly used of the gathering of the fruits of harvest (Isa 32:10). running to and fro--namely, in gathering harvest fruits. he--rather, "they." them--rather, "it," that is, the prey.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And your spoil - The booty that the Assyrian army bad gathered in their march toward Jerusalem, and which would now be left by them to be collected by the Jews. Shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar - The grammatical construction here is such that this may admit of two interpretations. It may either mean, as the caterpillar or the locust is gathered; or it may mean, as the caterpillar gathers its spoil. It often occurred that in countries where the locust was an article of food, they were scraped together in large quantities, and thrown into ditches, or into reservoirs, and retained to be eaten. This is the custom in some parts of Africa. But the meaning here is,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Your spoil - That treasure which you have raked together, by spoiling divers people. Gathered - By the Jews at Jerusalem, when you flee away. Like the caterpillar - As caterpillars gather and devour the fruits of the earth. As locusts - As locusts, especially when they are armed by commission from God, come with great force, and run hither and thither. Isaiah 33:5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“your spoil: Isa 33:23; Kg2 7:15, Kg2 7:16; Ch2 14:13, Ch2 20:25 the running: Joe 2:9, Joe 2:25 Isaiah 33:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification