17 Is it not yet a very H4213 little while, H4592 and Lebanon H3844 shall be turned H7725 into a fruitful field, H3759 and the fruitful field H3759 shall be esteemed H2803 as a forest? H3293
Until the spirit H7307 be poured H6168 upon us from on high, H4791 and the wilderness H4057 be a fruitful field, H3759 and the fruitful field H3759 be counted H2803 for a forest. H3293
Thou wilt say G2046 then, G3767 The branches G2798 were broken off, G1575 that G2443 I G1473 might be graffed in. G1461 Well; G2573 because of unbelief G570 they were broken off, G1575 and G1161 thou G4771 standest G2476 by faith. G4102 Be G5309 not G3361 highminded, G5309 but G235 fear: G5399 For G1063 if G1487 God G2316 spared G5339 not G3756 the natural G5449 branches, G2798 G2596 take heed lest G4458 G3381 he G5339 also G3381 spare G5339 not G3761 thee. G4675 Behold G1492 therefore G3767 the goodness G5544 and G2532 severity G663 of God: G2316 on G1909 them which fell, G4098 G3303 severity; G663 but G1161 toward G1909 thee, G4571 goodness, G5544 if G1437 thou continue G1961 in his goodness: G5544 otherwise G1893 thou G4771 also G2532 shalt be cut off. G1581 And G1161 they G1565 also, G2532 if G3362 they abide G1961 not G3362 still in unbelief, G570 shall be graffed in: G1461 for G1063 God G2316 is G2076 able G1415 to graff G1461 them G846 in G1461 again. G3825 For G1063 if G1487 thou G4771 wert cut G1581 out of G1537 the olive tree which is wild G65 by G2596 nature, G5449 and G2532 wert graffed G1461 contrary to G3844 nature G5449 into G1519 a good olive tree: G2565 how much G4214 more G3123 shall these, G3778 which be the natural G2596 G5449 branches, be graffed into G1461 their own G2398 olive tree? G1636 For G1063 I would G2309 not, G3756 brethren, G80 that ye G5209 should be ignorant G50 of this G5124 mystery, G3466 lest G3363 ye should be G5600 wise G5429 in G3844 your own conceits; G1438 that G3754 blindness G4457 in G575 part G3313 is happened G1096 to Israel, G2474 until G891 G3739 the fulness G4138 of the Gentiles G1484 be come in. G1525 And G2532 so G3779 all G3956 Israel G2474 shall be saved: G4982 as G2531 it is written, G1125 There shall come G2240 out of G1537 Sion G4622 the Deliverer, G4506 and G2532 shall turn away G654 ungodliness G763 from G575 Jacob: G2384 For G2532 this G3778 is my G3844 G1700 covenant G1242 unto them, G846 when G3752 I shall take away G851 their G846 sins. G266
I say G3004 then, G3767 G3361 Have they stumbled G4417 that G2443 they should fall? G4098 God forbid: G3361 G1096 but G235 rather through their G846 fall G3900 salvation G4991 is come unto the Gentiles, G1484 for to G1519 provoke G3863 them G846 to jealousy. G3863 Now G1161 if G1487 the fall G3900 of them G846 be the riches G4149 of the world, G2889 and G2532 the diminishing G2275 of them G846 the riches G4149 of the Gentiles; G1484 how G4214 much more G3123 their G846 fulness? G4138 For G1063 I speak G3004 to you G5213 Gentiles, G1484 inasmuch as G1909 G3745 G3303 I G1473 am G1510 the apostle G652 of the Gentiles, G1484 I magnify G1392 mine G3450 office: G1248 If by any means G1513 G4458 I may provoke to emulation G3863 them which are my G3450 flesh, G4561 and G2532 might save G4982 some G5100 of G1537 them. G846 For G1063 if G1487 the casting away G580 of them G846 be the reconciling G2643 of the world, G2889 what G5101 shall the receiving G4356 of them be, but G1508 life G2222 from G1537 the dead? G3498 For G1161 if G1487 the firstfruit G536 be holy, G40 the lump G5445 is also G2532 holy: and G2532 if G1487 the root G4491 be holy, G40 so G2532 are the branches. G2798 And G1161 if some G1536 of the branches G2798 be broken off, G1575 and G1161 thou, G4771 being G5607 a wild olive tree, G65 wert graffed in G1461 among G1722 them, G846 and G2532 with G4791 them G1096 partakest G4791 of the root G4491 and G2532 fatness G4096 of the olive tree; G1636
Now G1161 in the morning G4405 as he returned G1877 into G1519 the city, G4172 he hungered. G3983 And G2532 when he saw G1492 a G3391 fig tree G4808 in G1909 the way, G3598 he came G2064 to G1909 it, G846 and G2532 found G2147 nothing G3762 thereon, G1722 G846 but G1508 leaves G5444 only, G3440 and G2532 said G3004 unto it, G846 Let no G1096 fruit G2590 grow G1096 on G1537 thee G4675 henceforward G3371 for G1519 ever. G165 And G2532 presently G3916 the fig tree G4808 withered away. G3583
But G1161 many G4183 that are first G4413 shall be G2071 last; G2078 and G2532 the last G2078 shall be first. G4413
Open H6605 thy doors, H1817 O Lebanon, H3844 that the fire H784 may devour H398 thy cedars. H730 Howl, H3213 fir tree; H1265 for the cedar H730 is fallen; H5307 because the mighty H117 are spoiled: H7703 howl, H3213 O ye oaks H437 of Bashan; H1316 for the forest H3293 of the vintage H1208 H1219 is come down. H3381
For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Yet once, H259 it is a little while, H4592 and I will shake H7493 the heavens, H8064 and the earth, H776 and the sea, H3220 and the dry H2724 land;
Who passing H5674 through the valley H6010 of Baca H1056 H1057 make H7896 it a well; H4599 the rain H4175 also filleth H5844 the pools. H1293
Then said H559 God, Call H7121 his name H8034 Loammi: H3818 for ye are not my people, H5971 and I will not be your God. Yet the number H4557 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall be as the sand H2344 of the sea, H3220 which cannot be measured H4058 nor numbered; H5608 and it shall come to pass, that in the place H4725 where it was said H559 unto them, Ye are not my people, H5971 there it shall be said H559 unto them, Ye are the sons H1121 of the living H2416 God. H410
Son H1121 of man, H120 set H7760 thy face H6440 toward H1870 the south, H8486 and drop H5197 thy word toward the south, H1864 and prophesy H5012 against the forest H3293 of the south H5045 field; H7704 And say H559 to the forest H3293 of the south, H5045 Hear H8085 the word H1697 of the LORD; H3068 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I will kindle H3341 a fire H784 in thee, and it shall devour H398 every green H3892 tree H6086 in thee, and every dry H3002 tree: H6086 the flaming H3852 flame H7957 shall not be quenched, H3518 and all faces H6440 from the south H5045 to the north H6828 shall be burned H6866 therein.
Therefore will I number H4487 you to the sword, H2719 and ye shall all bow down H3766 to the slaughter: H2874 because when I called, H7121 ye did not answer; H6030 when I spake, H1696 ye did not hear; H8085 but did H6213 evil H7451 before mine eyes, H5869 and did choose H977 that wherein I delighted H2654 not. Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 Behold, my servants H5650 shall eat, H398 but ye shall be hungry: H7456 behold, my servants H5650 shall drink, H8354 but ye shall be thirsty: H6770 behold, my servants H5650 shall rejoice, H8055 but ye shall be ashamed: H954 Behold, my servants H5650 shall sing H7442 for joy H2898 of heart, H3820 but ye shall cry H6817 for sorrow H3511 of heart, H3820 and shall howl H3213 for vexation H7667 of spirit. H7307 And ye shall leave H3240 your name H8034 for a curse H7621 unto my chosen: H972 for the Lord H136 GOD H3069 shall slay H4191 thee, and call H7121 his servants H5650 by another H312 name: H8034 That he who blesseth H1288 himself in the earth H776 shall bless H1288 himself in the God H430 of truth; H543 and he that sweareth H7650 in the earth H776 shall swear H7650 by the God H430 of truth; H543 because the former H7223 troubles H6869 are forgotten, H7911 and because they are hid H5641 from mine eyes. H5869
The people H5971 of thy holiness H6944 have possessed H3423 it but a little while: H4705 our adversaries H6862 have trodden down H947 thy sanctuary. H4720
And now, saith H559 the LORD H3068 that formed H3335 me from the womb H990 to be his servant, H5650 to bring H7725 Jacob H3290 again H7725 to him, Though Israel H3478 be not gathered, H622 yet shall I be glorious H3513 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 and my God H430 shall be my strength. H5797 And he said, H559 It is a light thing H7043 that thou shouldest be my servant H5650 to raise up H6965 the tribes H7626 of Jacob, H3290 and to restore H7725 the preserved H5341 H5336 of Israel: H3478 I will also give H5414 thee for a light H216 to the Gentiles, H1471 that thou mayest be my salvation H3444 unto the end H7097 of the earth. H776
I will plant H5414 in the wilderness H4057 the cedar, H730 the shittah tree, H7848 and the myrtle, H1918 and the oil H8081 tree; H6086 I will set H7760 in the desert H6160 the fir tree, H1265 and the pine, H8410 and the box tree H8391 together: H3162
The wilderness H4057 and the solitary place H6723 shall be glad H7797 for them; and the desert H6160 shall rejoice, H1523 and blossom H6524 as the rose. H2261 It shall blossom H6524 abundantly, H6524 and rejoice H1523 even with joy H1525 and singing: H7444 the glory H3519 of Lebanon H3844 shall be given H5414 unto it, the excellency H1926 of Carmel H3760 and Sharon, H8289 they shall see H7200 the glory H3519 of the LORD, H3068 and the excellency H1926 of our God. H430
And I will lay H7896 it waste: H1326 it shall not be pruned, H2168 nor digged; H5737 but there shall come up H5927 briers H8068 and thorns: H7898 I will also command H6680 the clouds H5645 that they rain H4305 no rain H4306 upon it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 29
Commentary on Isaiah 29 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 29
Isa 29:1-24. Coming Invasion of Jerusalem: Its Failure: Unbelief of the Jews.
This chapter opens the series of prophecies as to the invasion of Judea under Sennacherib, and its deliverance.
1. Ariel—Jerusalem; Ariel means "Lion of God," that is, city rendered by God invincible: the lion is emblem of a mighty hero (2Sa 23:20). Otherwise "Hearth of God," that is, place where the altar-fire continually burns to God (Isa 31:9; Eze 43:15, 16).
add … year to year—ironically; suffer one year after another to glide on in the round of formal, heartless "sacrifices." Rather, "add yet another year" to the one just closed [Maurer]. Let a year elapse and a little more (Isa 32:10, Margin).
let … kill sacrifices—rather, "let the beasts (of another year) go round" [Maurer]; that is, after the completion of a year "I will distress Ariel."
2. Yet—rather, "Then."
heaviness … sorrow—rather, preserving the Hebrew paronomasia, "groaning" and "moaning."
as Ariel—either, "the city shall be as a lion of God," that is, it shall emerge from its dangers unvanquished; or "it shall be as the altar of burnt offering," consuming with fire the besiegers (Isa 29:6; Isa 30:30; 31:9; Le 10:2); or best, as Isa 29:3 continues the threat, and the promise of deliverance does not come till Isa 29:4, "it shall be like a hearth of burning," that is, a scene of devastation by fire [G. V. Smith]. The prophecy, probably, contemplates ultimately, besides the affliction and deliverance in Sennacherib's time, the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome, the dispersion of the Jews, their restoration, the destruction of the enemies that besiege the city (Zec 14:2), and the final glory of Israel (Isa 29:17-24).
3. I—Jehovah, acting through the Assyrian, &c., His instruments (Isa 10:5).
mount—an artificial mound formed to out-top high walls (Isa 37:33); else a station, namely, of warriors, for the siege.
round about—not fully realized under Sennacherib, but in the Roman siege (Lu 19:43; 21:20).
forts—siege-towers (De 20:20).
4. Jerusalem shall be as a captive, humbled to the dust. Her voice shall come from the earth as that of the spirit-charmers or necromancers (Isa 8:19), faint and shrill, as the voice of the dead was supposed to be. Ventriloquism was doubtless the trick caused to make the voice appear to come from the earth (Isa 19:3). An appropriate retribution that Jerusalem, which consulted necromancers, should be made like them!
5. Moreover—rather, "Yet"; yet in this extremity help shall come, and the enemy be scattered.
strangers—foreign enemies, invaders (Isa 25:2).
it shall be—namely, the destruction of the enemy.
at an instant—in a moment (Isa 30:23).
6. Thou—the Assyrian army.
thunder, &c.—not literally, in the case of the Assyrians (Isa 37:36); but figuratively for an awful judgment (Isa 30:30; 28:17). The ulterior fulfilment, in the case of the Jews' foes in the last days, may be more literal (see as to "earthquake," Zec 14:4).
7. munition—fortress.
8. Their disappointment in the very height of their confident expectation of taking Jerusalem shall be as great as that of the hungry man who in a dream fancies he eats, but awakes to hunger still (Ps 73:20); their dream shall be dissipated on the fatal morning (Isa 37:36).
soul—simply his appetite: he is still thirsty.
9. Stay—rather, "Be astounded"; expressing the stupid and amazed incredulity with which the Jews received Isaiah's announcement.
wonder—The second imperative, as often (Isa 8:9), is a threat; the first is a simple declaration of a fact, "Be astounded, since you choose to be so, at the prophecy, soon you will be amazed at the sight of the actual event" [Maurer].
cry … out … cry—rather, "Be ye blinded (since you choose to be so, though the light shines all round you), and soon ye shall be blinded" in good earnest to your sorrow [Maurer], (Isa 6:9, 10).
not with wine—but with spiritual paralysis (Isa 51:17, 21).
ye … they—The change from speaking to, to speaking of them, intimates that the prophet turns away from them to a greater distance, because of their stupid unbelief.
10. Jehovah gives them up judicially to their own hardness of heart (compare Zec 14:13). Quoted by Paul, with variations from the Septuagint, Ro 11:8. See Isa 6:10; Ps 69:23.
eyes; the prophets, &c.—rather, "hath closed your eyes, the prophets; and your heads (Margin; see also Isa 3:2), the seers, He hath covered." The Orientals cover the head to sleep; thus "covered" is parallel to "closed your eyes" (Jud 4:19). Covering the face was also preparatory to execution (Es 7:8). This cannot apply to the time when Isaiah himself prophesied, but to subsequent times.
11. of all—rather, "the whole vision." "Vision" is the same here as "revelation," or "law"; in Isa 28:15, the same Hebrew word is translated, "covenant" [Maurer].
sealed—(Isa 8:16), God seals up the truth so that even the learned, because they lack believing docility, cannot discern it (Mt 13:10-17; 11:25). Prophecy remained comparatively a sealed volume (Da 12:4, 9), until Jesus, who "alone is worthy," "opened the seals" (Re 5:1-5, 9; 6:1).
12. The unlearned succeed no better than the learned, not from want of human learning, as they fancy, but from not having the teaching of God (Isa 54:13; Jer 31:34; Joh 6:45; 1Co 2:7-10; 1Jo 2:20).
13. precept of men—instead of the precepts of God, given by His prophets; also worship external, and by rule, not heartfelt as God requires (Joh 4:24). Compare Christ's quotation of this verse from the Septuagint.
14. (Hab 1:5; Ac 13:41). The "marvellous work" is one of unparalleled vengeance on the hypocrites: compare "strange work," Isa 28:21. The judgment, too, will visit the wise in that respect in which they most pride themselves; their wisdom shall be hid, that is, shall no longer appear, so as to help the nation in its distress (compare 1Co 1:19).
15. seek deep to hide—rather, "That seek to hide deeply," &c. (compare Isa 30:1, 2). The reference is to the secret plan which many of the Jewish nobles had of seeking Egyptian aid against Assyria, contrary to the advice of Isaiah. At the same time the hypocrite in general is described, who, under a plausible exterior, tries to hide his real character, not only from men, but even from God.
16. Rather, "Ah! your perverseness! just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay!" [Maurer]. Or, "Ye invert (turn upside down) the order of things, putting yourselves instead of God," and vice versa, just as if the potter should be esteemed as the clay [Horsley], (Isa 45:9; 64:8).
17. turned—as contrasted with your "turnings of things upside down" (Isa 29:16), there shall be other and better turnings or revolutions; the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter days (Isa 32:15); first on the Jews; which shall be followed by their national restoration (see on Isa 29:2; Zec 12:10) then on the Gentiles (Joe 2:28).
fruitful field—literally, "a Carmel" (see on Isa 10:18). The moral change in the Jewish nation shall be as great as if the wooded Lebanon were to become a fruitful field, and vice versa. Compare Mt 11:12, Greek: "the kingdom of heaven forces itself," as it were, on man's acceptance; instead of men having to seek Messiah, as they had John, in a desert, He presents Himself before them with loving invitations; thus men's hearts, once a moral desert, are reclaimed so as to bear fruits of righteousness: vice versa, the ungodly who seemed prosperous, both in the moral and literal sense, shall be exhibited in their real barrenness.
18. deaf … blind—(Compare Mt 11:5). The spiritually blind, &c., are chiefly meant; "the book," as Revelation is called pre-eminently, shall be no longer "sealed," as is described (Isa 29:11), but the most unintelligent shall hear and see (Isa 35:5).
19. meek—rather, the afflicted godly: the idea is, virtuous suffering (Isa 61:1; Ps 25:9; 37:11) [Barnes].
poor among men—that is, the poorest of men, namely, the pious poor.
rejoice—when they see their oppressors punished (Isa 29:20, 21), and Jehovah exhibited as their protector and rewarder (Isa 29:22-24; Isa 41:17; Jas 2:5).
20. terrible—namely, the persecutors among the Jewish nobles.
scorner—(Isa 28:14, 22).
watch for—not only commit iniquity, but watch for opportunities of committing it, and make it their whole study (see Mic 2:1; Mt 26:59; 27:1).
21. Rather, "Who make a man guilty in his cause" [Gesenius], that is, unjustly condemn him. "A man" is in the Hebrew a poor man, upon whom such unjust condemnations might be practiced with more impunity than on the rich; compare Isa 29:19, "the meek … the poor."
him that reproveth—rather, "pleadeth"; one who has a suit at issue.
gate—the place of concourse in a city, where courts of justice were held (Ru 4:11; Pr 31:23; Am 5:10, 12).
just—one who has a just cause; or, Jesus Christ, "the Just One" [Horsley].
for a thing of naught—rather, "through falsehood," "by a decision that is null in justice" [Barnes]. Compare as to Christ, Pr 28:21; Mt 26:15; Ac 3:13, 14; 8:33.
22. Join "saith … concerning the house of Jacob."
redeemed—out of Ur, a land of idolaters (Jos 24:3).
not now—After the moral revolution described (Isa 29:17), the children of Jacob shall no longer give cause to their forefathers to blush for them.
wax pale—with shame and disappointment at the wicked degeneracy of his posterity, and fear as to their punishment.
23. But—rather, "For."
he—Jacob.
work of mine hands—spiritually, as well as physically (Isa 19:25; 60:21; Eph 2:10). By Jehovah's agency Israel shall be cleansed of its corruptions, and shall consist wholly of pious men (Isa 54:13, 14; 2:1; 60:21).
midst of him—that is, his land. Or else "His children" are the Gentiles adopted among the Israelites, his lineal descendants (Ro 9:26; Eph 3:6) [Horsley].
24. They … that erred—(Isa 28:7).
learn doctrine—rather, "shall receive discipline" or "instruction." "Murmuring" was the characteristic of Israel's rebellion against God (Ex 16:8; Ps 106:25). This shall be so no more. Chastisements, and, in Horsley's view, the piety of the Gentiles provoking the Jews to holy jealousy (Ro 11:11, 14), shall then produce the desired effect.