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]
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- 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
American Standard Version
9 [a]Tarry ye and wonder; [b]take your pleasure and be blind: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For Jehovah hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed [c]your eyes, the prophets; and your heads, the seers, hath he covered. 11 And all vision is become unto you as the words of a [d]book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that [e]is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed: 12 and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned.
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- Isaiah 29:9 Or, Be ye amazed
- Isaiah 29:9 Or, blind yourselves and be blind
- Isaiah 29:10 Or, your eyes; the prophets, and etc.
- Isaiah 29:11 Or, writing
- Isaiah 29:11 Hebrew knoweth writing (or, letters).
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