Yesaya 29:2

29:2 I will threaten Ariel,

and she will mourn intensely

and become like an altar hearth ¹  before me.

Yesaya 29:6

29:6 Judgment will come from the Lord who commands armies, ² 

accompanied by thunder, earthquake, and a loud noise,

by a strong gale, a windstorm, and a consuming flame of fire.

Yesaya 29:9

God’s People are Spiritually Insensitive

29:9 You will be shocked and amazed! ³ 

You are totally blind! ⁴ 

They are drunk, ⁵  but not because of wine;

they stagger, ⁶  but not because of beer.

Yesaya 29:11

29:11 To you this entire prophetic revelation ⁷  is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read ⁸  and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.”

Yesaya 29:13

29:13 The sovereign master ⁹  says,

“These people say they are loyal to me; ¹⁰ 

they say wonderful things about me, ¹¹ 

but they are not really loyal to me. ¹² 

Their worship consists of

nothing but man-made ritual. ¹³ 

[29:2]  ¹ tn The term אֲרִיאֵל (’ari’el, “Ariel”) is the word translated “altar hearth” here. The point of the simile is not entirely clear. Perhaps the image likens Jerusalem’s coming crisis to a sacrificial fire.

[29:6]  ² tn Heb “from the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts] there will be visitation.” The third feminine singular passive verb form תִּפָּקֵד (tippaqed, “she/it will be visited”) is used here in an impersonal sense. See GKC 459 §144.b.

[29:9]  ³ tn The form הִתְמַהְמְהוּ (hitmahmÿhu) 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 (hittammÿhu), 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.

[29:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “Blind yourselves and be blind!” The Hitpalpel and Qal imperatival forms of שָׁעַע (sha’a’, “be blind”) are combined to draw attention to the statement. The imperatives have the force of an emphatic assertion.

[29:9]  ⁵ tc Some prefer to emend the perfect form of the verb to an imperative (e.g., NAB, NCV, NRSV), since the people are addressed in the immediately preceding and following contexts.

[29:9]  ⁶ tc Some prefer to emend the perfect form of the verb to an imperative (e.g., NAB, NCV, NRSV), since the people are addressed in the immediately preceding and following contexts.

[29:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “vision” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[29:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “one who knows a/the scroll.”

[29:13]  ⁹ tn The Hebrew term translated “sovereign master” here is אֲדֹנָי (’adonai).

[29:13]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Because these people draw near to me with their mouth.”

[29:13]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and with their lips they honor me.”

[29:13]  ¹² tn Heb “but their heart is far from me.” The heart is viewed here as the seat of the will, from which genuine loyalty derives.

[29:13]  ¹³ tn Heb “their fear of me is a commandment of men that has been taught.”