Isaiah 29:1-6

Jerusalem Is Warned

1 Woe, O Ariel, Ariel the city where David once 1camped! Add year to year, 2observe your feasts on schedule.
2 I will bring distress to Ariel, And she will be a city of lamenting and 3mourning; And she will be like an Ariel to me.
3 I will 4camp against you encircling you, And I will set siegeworks against you, And I will raise up battle towers against you.
4 Then you will 5be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust.
5 But the multitude of your enemies will become like fine 6dust, And the multitude of the 7ruthless ones like the chaff which blows away; And it will happen 8instantly, suddenly.
6 From the LORD of hosts you will be 9punished with 10thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.

Isaiah 29:1-6 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.

Cross References 10

  • 1. 2 Samuel 5:9
  • 2. Isaiah 1:14; Isaiah 5:12; Isaiah 22:12, 13; Isaiah 29:9, 13
  • 3. Isaiah 3:26; Lamentations 2:5
  • 4. Luke 19:43, 44
  • 5. Isaiah 8:19
  • 6. Isaiah 17:13; Isaiah 41:15, 16
  • 7. Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 25:3; Isaiah 29:20
  • 8. Isaiah 17:14; Isaiah 30:13; Isaiah 47:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3
  • 9. Isaiah 10:3; Isaiah 26:14, 21
  • 10. 1 Samuel 2:10; Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11; Revelation 11:13, 19; Revelation 16:18

Footnotes 7

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