Isaiah 1:29

29 You will be ashamed of the oaks you once desired, and embarrassed by the gardens you once chose.

Isaiah 1:29 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 1:29

For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have
desired
Though there is a change of persons in the words, the same are intended; and design such, who being convinced of the idolatries of the church of Rome they have been fond of, and delighted in, will be ashamed of them, and relinquish them, and come out of Babylon a little before the destruction of it; for under oaks, and such like green trees, idolatry used to be committed, to which the allusion is; see ( Jeremiah 2:20 ) ( 3:6 ) and so the Targum interprets it of "trees of idols"; that is, under which idolatry was practised: and ye shall be confounded for the gardens ye have chosen;
where also idolatrous practices were used, see ( Isaiah 65:3 ) ( 66:17 ) and so the Targum paraphrases it,

``and ye shall be ashamed of the gardens of idols, from whom ye have sought help.''

The sense is the same as before; unless both clauses should rather be understood of the destruction of sinners, before spoken of, who at that time will be filled with shame and confusion, they in vain praying to their idols for help; which sense the following words incline to.

Isaiah 1:29 In-Context

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, and those who change their lives by righteousness.

28 But God will shatter rebels and sinners alike; those who abandon the LORD will be finished.

29 You will be ashamed of the oaks you once desired, and embarrassed by the gardens you once chose.

30 You will be like an oak with withering leaves, like a garden without water.

31 The strong will be like dry twigs, their deeds like sparks; the two will burn together, with no one to extinguish them.