Isaiah 29:8-14

8 It will be like a hungry one who dreams he is eating, then wakes and is still hungry; and like a thirsty one who dreams he is drinking, then wakes and is still thirsty, longing for water. So will be the multitude of all the nations who go to battle against Mount Zion.
9 Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk,[a] but not with wine; they stagger,[b] but not with beer.
10 For the Lord has poured out on you an overwhelming urge to[c] sleep; He has shut your eyes-the prophets, and covered your heads-the seers.
11 For you the entire vision will be like the words of a sealed document. If it is given to one who can read and he is asked to read it,[d] he will say, "I can't read it, because it is sealed."
12 And if the document is given to one who cannot read and he is asked to read it,[e] he will say, "I can't read."
13 The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service[f]- yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship [consists of] man-made rules learned [by rote]-
14 therefore I will again confound these people with wonder after wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will vanish, and the understanding of the perceptive will be hidden.

Isaiah 29:8-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 29

This chapter contains a prophecy concerning the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem by the Romans; the character and condition of the people of the Jews, previous to it; the calling of the Gentiles, by the preaching of the Gospel; the ruin of antichrist, and the conversion of the Jews, in the latter day. The siege and destruction of Jerusalem are described in Isa 29:1-6 the disappointment of their enemies, notwithstanding their taking and destroying it, Isa 29:7,8 the stupidity, judicial blindness, and hardness of the Jews, which brought on their ruin, are predicted, Isa 29:9,10 the ignorance of their learned, as well as of their unlearned men, with respect to the Scripture, and the prophecies of it, Isa 29:11,12 their hypocrisy and formality in worship, Isa 29:13 a blast upon all their wisdom and prudence, who thought to be wiser than the Lord, and too many for him, whose folly and atheism are exposed, Isa 29:14-16, and a great change both in Judea and the Gentile world, by the removal of the Gospel from the one to the other, Isa 29:17 the effects of which are, deaf sinners hear the word, dark minds are enlightened, and joy increased among the meek and poor, Isa 29:18,19 the fall of the Jews, or else of antichrist, is foretold, Isa 29:20,21 and the chapter is closed with a promise and prophecy of the conversion of the seed of Abraham and Jacob, Isa 29:22-24.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. LXX, Tg, Vg read Be drunk
  • [b]. Tg, Vg read wine; stagger
  • [c]. Lit you a spirit of
  • [d]. Lit If one gives it to one who knows the document, saying, "Read this, please"
  • [e]. Lit who does not know the document, saying, "Read this, please"
  • [f]. Lit their mouth and honor Me with its lips
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