Isa 10:33 | NET2full | STEP | Look , the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s 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 Lord of Heaven’s Armies
is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. ^{▼▼tc The Hebrew text reads “with terrifying power,” or “with a crash.” מַעֲרָצָה (maʿaratsah, “terrifying power” or “crash”) occurs only here. Several have suggested an emendation to מַעֲצָד (maʿatsad, “ax”) parallel to “ax” in v. 34; see HALOT 615 s.v. מַעֲצָד and H. Wildberger, Isaiah, 1:448.} ^{▼▼sn 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 ^{▼▼tn 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.