Isaiah 29:9-12
New English Translation
God’s People Are Spiritually Insensitive
9 You will be shocked and amazed![a]
You are totally blind![b]
They are drunk, but not because of wine;
they stagger,[c] but not because of beer.
10 For the Lord has poured out on you
a strong urge to sleep deeply.[d]
He has shut your eyes (you prophets),
and covered your heads (you seers).
11 To you this entire prophetic revelation[e] is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read[f] and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.” 12 Or when they hand the scroll to one who can’t read[g] and say, “Read this,” he says, “I can’t read.”[h]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Isaiah 29:9 tn The form הִתְמַהְמְהוּ (hitmahmehu) is a Hitpalpel imperative from מָהַהּ (mahah, “hesitate”). If it is retained, one might translate “halt and be amazed.” The translation assumes an emendation to הִתַּמְּהוּ (hittammehu), a Hitpael imperative from תָּמַה (tamah, “be amazed”). In this case, the text, like Hab 1:5, combines the Hitpael and Qal imperatival forms of תָּמַה (tamah). A literal translation might be “Shock yourselves and be shocked!” The repetition of sound draws attention to the statement. The imperatives here have the force of an emphatic assertion. On this use of the imperative in Hebrew, see GKC 324 §110.c and IBHS 572 §34.4c.
- Isaiah 29:9 tn Heb “Blind yourselves and be blind!” The Hitpalpel and Qal imperatival forms of שָׁעַע (shaʿaʿ, “be blind”) are combined to draw attention to the statement. The imperatives have the force of an emphatic assertion.
- Isaiah 29:9 tc Some prefer to emend the last two verbs from their perfect form to an imperative (e.g., NAB, NCV, NRSV), since the people are addressed in the immediately preceding and following contexts.
- Isaiah 29:10 tn Heb “a disposition [or “spirit”] of deep sleep.” Through this mixed metaphor (sleep is likened to a liquid which one pours and in turn symbolizes spiritual dullness) the prophet emphasizes that God himself has given the people over to their spiritual insensitivity as a form of judgment.
- Isaiah 29:11 tn Heb “vision” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
- Isaiah 29:11 tn Heb “one who knows a/the scroll.”
- Isaiah 29:12 tn Heb “and if the scroll is handed to one who does not know a scroll.”
- Isaiah 29:12 tn Heb “I do not know a scroll.”
Isaiah 29:9-12
International Standard Version
Blind to God’s Words
9 “Act stupid!
Be astonished!
Act blind,
and be blind!
Be drunk,[a] but not from[b] wine;
stagger around,[c] but not from strong drink.
10 For the Lord has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep—
he has closed your eyes, you prophets,
he has covered your heads, you seers!”
11 “And this entire vision has become for you like the words of a sealed book. When people give it to someone who can read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers,[d] ‘I cannot, because it is sealed.’ 12 Or when they give the book[e] to someone who cannot read, and say, ‘Read this, please,’ he answers,[f] ‘I don’t know how to read.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Isaiah 29:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads They have become drunk
- Isaiah 29:9 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT lacks from
- Isaiah 29:9 So 1QIsaa; MT reads They stagger around
- Isaiah 29:11 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will answer
- Isaiah 29:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read the book will be given
- Isaiah 29:12 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read he will answer
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