Isaiah 29:17-21
New English Translation
Changes Are Coming
17 In just a very short time[a]
Lebanon will turn into an orchard,
and the orchard will be considered a forest.[b]
18 At that time[c] the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll,
and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.[d]
19 The downtrodden will again rejoice in the Lord;
the poor among humankind will take delight[e] in the Holy One of Israel.[f]
20 For tyrants will disappear,
those who taunt will vanish,
and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated[g]—
21 those who bear false testimony against a person,[h]
who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate[i]
and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges.[j]
Notas al pie
- Isaiah 29:17 tn The Hebrew text phrases this as a rhetorical question, “Is it not yet a little, a short [time]?”
- Isaiah 29:17 sn The meaning of this verse is debated, but it seems to depict a reversal in fortunes. The mighty forest of Lebanon (symbolic of the proud and powerful; see 2:13; 10:34) will be changed into a common orchard, while the common orchard (symbolic of the oppressed and lowly) will grow into a great forest. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:538.
- Isaiah 29:18 tn Or “In that day” (KJV).
- Isaiah 29:18 tn Heb “and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”sn Perhaps this depicts the spiritual transformation of the once spiritually insensitive nation (see vv. 10-12, cf. also 6:9-10).
- Isaiah 29:19 tn Or “will rejoice” (NIV, NCV, NLT).
- Isaiah 29:19 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
- Isaiah 29:20 tn Heb “and all the watchers of wrong will be cut off.”
- Isaiah 29:21 tn Heb “the ones who make a man a sinner with a word.” The Hiphil of חָטָא (khataʾ) here has a delocutive sense: “declare a man sinful/guilty.”
- Isaiah 29:21 sn Legal disputes were resolved at the city gate, where the town elders met. See Amos 5:10.
- Isaiah 29:21 tn Heb “and deprive by emptiness the innocent.”
Isaiah 29:17-21
American Standard Version
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? 18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of [a]the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19 The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth, and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off; 21 that [b]make a man an offender [c]in his cause, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just with a thing of nought.
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- Isaiah 29:18 Or, a book (or, writing)
- Isaiah 29:21 Or, make men to offend by their words
- Isaiah 29:21 Or, for a word
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)