Isaiah 29:17-24

17 Whether not yet in a little time and short, the Lebanon shall be turned into Carmel, and Carmel shall be areckoned into the forest? (Whether not yet in a brief, or a short, time, Lebanon shall be turned into a plentiful land, and the plentiful land shall be reckoned as a forest?)

18 And in that day deaf men shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of blind men shall see from darknesses and misty (And on that day, the deaf shall hear the words read from a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of their darkness and mist;)

19 and mild men shall increase gladness in the Lord, and poor men shall make full out joy in the Holy of Israel. (and the meek, or the humble, shall increase their happiness in the Lord, and the poor shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.)

20 For he that had the mastery, failed, and the scorner is ended, and all they be cut down that waked on wickedness; (For he who had the mastery, hath failed, and the mocker is ended, and all those who watch for wickedness shall be cut down;)

21 which made men to do sin in word, and deceived a reprover in the gate, and bowed away in vain from a just man. (who made people to do sin in word, and deceived a rebuker at the gate, and bowed away justice from the upright, for an empty and a futile thing.)

22 For this thing the Lord, that again-bought Abraham, saith these things to the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not be confounded now, neither now his cheer shall be ashamed; (For this thing the Lord who bought back, or ransomed, Abraham, saith these things to the house of Jacob, Jacob shall no longer be ashamed, nor shall his face now become pale;)

23 but when he shall see his sons, the works of mine hands, hallowing my name in the midst of him. And they shall hallow the Holy of Jacob, and they shall preach [the] God of Israel; (but when he seeth his sons and daughters, the work of my hands, in his midst, they shall hallow my name, yea, they shall hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and they shall have reverence for the God of Israel;)

24 and they that err in spirit, shall know understanding, and idle men, either grutchers, shall learn the law. (and they who err in spirit, shall gain understanding, and those who be idle, or the grumblers, shall learn the Law.)

Isaiah 29:17-24 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.