Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 10:33

"Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will lop the boughs with terror: and the high of stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low." — Isaiah 10:33 (ASV)

Behold, the Lord ... - The prophet had described, in the previous verses, the march of the Assyrians toward Jerusalem, station by station. He had accompanied the Assyrian in his description until he had arrived in full sight of the city, which was the object of all his preparation. He had described the consternation which was felt at his approach in all the smaller towns. Nothing had been able to stand before him; and now, flushed with success, and confident that Jerusalem would fall, he stands before the devoted city.

But here, the prophet announces that his career was to close, and here his arms were to be stopped. Here he was to meet with an overthrow, and Jerusalem would still be safe. This is the design of the prophecy: to comfort the inhabitants of Jerusalem with the assurance that they still would be safe.

Will lop the bough - The word “bough” here (פארה pû'râh) is from פאר pâ'ar (to adorn, to beautify); and is given to a branch or bough of a tree on account of its beauty. It is, therefore, descriptive of that which is beautiful, honored, proud, and is applied to the Assyrian on account of his pride and magnificence.

In Isaiah 10:18-19, the prophet had described the army of the Assyrian as a magnificent forest. Here he says that the glory of that army would be destroyed, just as the vitality and beauty of a tree’s waving bough is quickly destroyed when it is lopped off with an axe. One can scarcely conceive a description that would more beautifully represent the fading strength of the Assyrian army than this.

With terror - In such a way as to inspire terror.

The high ones of stature - The chief men and officers of the army.