Isaiah 29 - Printer Friendly

What does Isaiah 29 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

This chapter opens with the second of five uses of "woe" or "ah" in the longer section of woes (Isaiah 28–33). "Woe" is an exclamation of grief and judgment for something terrible that is coming. In this passage, the Lord describes judgment coming on Jerusalem.

These verses come with an element of sarcasm. God tells the people of Jerusalem to keep meandering through their religious calendar as if they aren't subject to judgment for their idolatry. Yet the Lord will bring judgment. The Hebrew word ari'ēl is repeated numerous times in this section. Most translators understand this as a reference to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7). The word literally means "Lion of God," but some scholars think it refers to the hearth of an altar. In verse 2, for instance, the Lord intends to turn the city into an ari'ēl, which is where the altar hearth meaning would come into play. This seems to predict the impending invasion by Assyria (Isaiah 36). A siege of war machines will devastate the people until they are as good as dead (Isaiah 29:1–4).

Just when this assault seems fatal, the Lord will appear, and all Jerusalem's enemies will be scattered like dust. This corresponds to a miraculous intervention around 701 BC which annihilated the Assyrian army (Isaiah 37:33–38). The enemy assault will become like a dream that seems real only to dissolve in the morning (Isaiah 29:5–8).

When people resist God's messages, He may "give them up" (Romans 1:24–28) to their own delusions. He can harden them (Exodus 7:3–4). This can include making them even more resistant to obvious spiritual truths. Jesus uses the same imagery when speaking to His critics among the Pharisees (Matthew 23:16; John 9:39). Jerusalem's so-called prophets have rejected truth, so they will be unable to understand Isaiah's predictions until it is too late. They will bring about their own spiritual blindness, drunkenness, and ignorance. They will be as unaware as is an illiterate man attempting to read a book (Isaiah 29:9–12).

A major flaw in Jerusalem's religion is insincerity. The people say words which don't match their thoughts. They think of God's Word as just another statement by men. So, they have no reverent respect—no godly "fear" of their Creator. They practice a hollow, fake version of faith. This is why God plans to bring these amazing events. These incredible moments are meant to snap Judah out of its daze, and to prove their false teachers wrong (Isaiah 29:13–14).

Those who actively rebel against God seem to think He will not notice. This flips reality backwards; it assumes that man is in control, and the Lord is conformed to human will. These disobedient ones are like clay pots that reject their own maker, claiming their Creator is ignorant. But the Lord will soon make everything obvious and true. God will accomplish miracles including physical and spiritual healing. The disadvantaged will be empowered. The corrupt will be stopped. Such events will lead to God's glory. When His people are rescued and redeemed, it will prove His love, convincing many who once resisted (Isaiah 29:15–24).

Isaiah 29:1–12 contains the Lord's warning to the leaders of Jerusalem. His judgment is coming in the form of a siege that will bring them to the point of death. Then God will arrive and turn Jerusalem's enemies to dust. The threat will be gone like a dream in the morning. The Lord has blinded the leaders of Jerusalem so that they cannot understand the revelation He has given to them through Isaiah. This is compared to a man who cannot read trying to understand a book.

Isaiah 29:13–24 begins with a description of Judah's empty worship. The nation knows the words, but their hearts are far from God. The Lord will do wonders among them. Jerusalem's leaders try to hide from Him. They think they are in control and can tell God how to act. God promises to give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and joy to the meek and poor in Himself. The ruthless and scoffers will be stopped and a future generation will sanctify His name.

Chapter Summary:

The Lord declares that He will bring judgment on Jerusalem. Enemies will put the city under siege until the people are as good as dead. Then God will arrive suddenly, and Jerusalem's enemies will disappear like dust. The threat from the nations will be gone like a bad dream. Jerusalem's leaders are blinded to this revelation. The people use the words and motions of worship, but their hearts are far from God. He will one day make everything right and a future generation of Israelites will sanctify His name and stand in awe of Him.

Chapter Context:

Isaiah 29 is part of a larger section (Isaiah 28—33) pronouncing consequences for those who oppose the Lord's prophecy. Isaiah declares "woe" on Jerusalem and its leaders as they attempt to hide their actions from the Lord. God will lay siege against the city, then turn Judah's enemies to dust. After a time, the Lord will heal and correct all things. Chapter 30 emphasizes that Judah is foolish to ally with the Egyptians against Assyria, rather than trusting in God.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 1/4/2026 9:47:24 PM