Isa 10:33 | NETfull | STEP | Look, the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. The tallest trees will be cut down, the loftiest ones will be brought low.

Isaiah 10:33

33 Look, the sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies,
is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. ^{▼▼ The Hebrew text reads “with terrifying power,” or “with a crash.” מַעֲרָצָה (ma’aratsah, “terrifying power” or “crash”) occurs only here. Several have suggested an emendation to מַעֲצָד (ma’atsad, “ax”) parallel to “ax” in v. 34; see HALOT 615 s.v. מַעֲצָד and H. Wildberger, Isaiah, 1:448.} ^{▼▼ As in vv. 12 (see the note there) and 18, the Assyrians are compared to a tree/forest in vv. 33–34.}
The tallest trees ^{▼▼ Heb “the exalted of the height.” This could refer to the highest branches (cf. TEV) or the tallest trees (cf. NIV, NRSV).} will be cut down,
the loftiest ones will be brought low.