Isaiah 33:15

He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah addresses the terrified sinners in Zion who question who can survive God's consuming fire, outlining the conduct required to safely inhabit the coming refuge.

The words — The text highlights הֹלֵ֣ךְ (ho.Lekh), meaning "[one who] walks," and נֹעֵ֤ר (no.'Er), meaning "[one who] shakes out," to describe a person who walks in righteousness and shakes unjust gain from his hand.

The thread — This behavioral standard aligns with the call to turn eyes from worthless things (Psalms 119:37), practice righteousness as Christ did (1 John 3:7), and expose the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).

Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to actively reject corrupt gain and deliberately block violent and evil influences before claiming security in God's presence.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הֹלֵ֣ךְho.Lekh[one who] walks צְדָק֔וֹתtze.da.Kotrighteousness<es>וְדֹבֵ֖רve./do.Verand/ [one who] speaks מֵֽישָׁרִ֑יםmei.sha.Rimuprightness<es>מֹאֵ֞סmo.'Es[one who] rejects בְּבֶ֣צַעbe./Ve.tza'<in>/ unjust gain of מַעֲשַׁקּ֗וֹתma.'a.sha.Kotextortion<s>נֹעֵ֤רno.'Er[one who] shakes out כַּפָּיו֙ka.Pa/vhands/ his מִתְּמֹ֣ךְmi./te.Mokhfrom/ taking hold בַּשֹּׁ֔חַדba./Sho.chadon <the>/ bribe אֹטֵ֤ם'o.Tem[one who] shuts אָזְנוֹ֙'a.ze.N/oear/ his מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַmi./she.Mo.a'from/ hearing דָּמִ֔יםda.Mimblood<s>וְעֹצֵ֥םve./'o.Tzemand/ [one who] shuts עֵינָ֖יו'ei.Na/veyes/ his מֵרְא֥וֹתme./re.'otfrom/ looking בְּרָֽע׃be./Ra'on/ evil

King James Version

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;

Cross-references

Psalms 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
Ephesians 5:11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Deuteronomy 16:19 Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
Psalms 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.
Psalms 106:3 Blessed are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times.
Isaiah 56:1 This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
Romans 2:7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.