Isaiah 29:17

Blessing after Punishment

17 {In a very little while} shall not Lebanon change into [a] fruitful land, and the fruitful land be regarded as [a] forest?

Isaiah 29:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 29:17

[Is] it not yet a very little while
In a short space of time, in a few years, what follows would come to pass; when there would be a strange change and alteration made in the world, and by which it would appear, that the Lord not only knows, but foreknows, all things: and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field;
the forest of Lebanon should be as Carmel. The meaning is, that the Gentile world, which was like a forest uncultivated, and full of unfruitful trees, to which wicked men may be compared, should through the preaching of the Gospel be manured, become God's husbandry, and be like a fruitful field, abounding with people and churches, fruitful in grace and good works: and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
the people of the Jews, who once had the word and ordinances of God, and were a fruitful and flourishing people in religion; through their rejection of the Messiah, and contempt of his Gospel, should be deprived of all their privileges, and become like a forest or barren land: this was fulfilled, when the kingdom of God was taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it, ( Matthew 21:43 ) . See ( Isaiah 32:15 ) ( Isaiah 35:1 Isaiah 35:2 ) .

Isaiah 29:17 In-Context

15 Ah! Those who make a plan deep, to hide [it] from Yahweh, and their deeds are in a dark place. And they say, "Who sees us? And who knows us?"

16 Your perversity! As if {a potter} shall be regarded as [the] clay! That [the] product of its maker [says], "He did not make me," and [the] thing made into shape says of its {potter}, "He has no understanding."

17 {In a very little while} shall not Lebanon change into [a] fruitful land, and the fruitful land be regarded as [a] forest?

18 And on that day, the deaf shall hear [the] words of a scroll, and [the] eyes of [the] blind shall see out of gloom and darkness.

19 And [the] meek {have joy after joy} in Yahweh, and [the] needy of [the] people shall rejoice in the holy one of Israel.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "Not still a trifling [of time]"