
Text -- Isaiah 29:17 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley -> Isa 29:17
Wesley: Isa 29:17 - -- The forest of Lebanon, which was a barren mountain, shall by God's providence, become a fruitful and populous place; and these places which are now fr...
The forest of Lebanon, which was a barren mountain, shall by God's providence, become a fruitful and populous place; and these places which are now fruitful and populous, shall then become as barren and desolate, as that forest. This is a prophecy of the rejection of the Jews, and of the calling of the Gentiles.
JFB: Isa 29:17 - -- As contrasted with your "turnings of things upside down" (Isa 29:16), there shall be other and better turnings or revolutions; the outpouring of the S...
As contrasted with your "turnings of things upside down" (Isa 29:16), there shall be other and better turnings or revolutions; the outpouring of the Spirit in the latter days (Isa 32:15); first on the Jews; which shall be followed by their national restoration (see on Isa 29:2; Zec 12:10) then on the Gentiles (Joe 2:28).

JFB: Isa 29:17 - -- Literally, "a Carmel" (see on Isa 10:18). The moral change in the Jewish nation shall be as great as if the wooded Lebanon were to become a fruitful f...
Literally, "a Carmel" (see on Isa 10:18). The moral change in the Jewish nation shall be as great as if the wooded Lebanon were to become a fruitful field, and vice versa. Compare Mat 11:12, Greek: "the kingdom of heaven forces itself," as it were, on man's acceptance; instead of men having to seek Messiah, as they had John, in a desert, He presents Himself before them with loving invitations; thus men's hearts, once a moral desert, are reclaimed so as to bear fruits of righteousness: vice versa, the ungodly who seemed prosperous, both in the moral and literal sense, shall be exhibited in their real barrenness.
Clarke -> Isa 29:17
Clarke: Isa 29:17 - -- And Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field "Ere Lebanon become like Carmel"- A mashal , or proverbial saying, expressing any great revolution...
And Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field "Ere Lebanon become like Carmel"- A
Calvin -> Isa 29:17
Calvin: Isa 29:17 - -- 17.Is it not yet a little while? The Lord now declares that he will make those wicked men to know who they are; as if he had said, “You are now asl...
17.Is it not yet a little while? The Lord now declares that he will make those wicked men to know who they are; as if he had said, “You are now asleep in your pride, but I shall speedily awake you.” Men indulge themselves, till they feel the powerful hand of God; and therefore the Prophet threatens that the judgment of God will overtake such profound indifference.
And Lebanon shall be turned into Carmel 278 Under the names “Lebanon” and “Carmel” he intended to express a renovation of the world and a change of affairs. But as to the object of the allusion, commentators differ widely from each other. As Mount “Lebanon” was clothed with trees and forests, and “Carmel” had fruitful and fertile fields. Many think that the Jews are compared to “Carmel,” because they will be barren, and Christians to “Lebanon,” because they will yield a great abundance of fruits. That opinion is certainly plausible, as men are usually gratified by everything that is ingenious; but a parallel passage, which we shall afterwards see, (Isa 32:15), will shew that the Prophet here employs the comparison for the purpose of magnifying the grace of God; for, when he shall again begin to bless his people, the vast abundance of all blessings will take away from “Carmel” the celebrity which it possessed. He therefore threatens that he will turn “Lebanon” into “Carmel,” that is, a forest will become a cultivated field, and will produce corn, and the cultivated fields shall yield so great an abundance of fruits that, if their present and future conditions be compared, they may now be pronounced to be unfruitful and barren. This mode of expression will be more fully explained when we come to consider Isa 32:15
Others view “Carmel” as an appellative, but I prefer to regard it as a proper name; for it means that those fruitful fields may now be reckoned uncultivated and barren, in comparison of the new and unwonted fertility. Others explain it allegorically, and take “Lebanon” as denoting proud men, and “Carmel” as denoting mean and ordinary persons. This may be thought to be acute and ingenious, but I choose rather to follow that more simple interpretation which I have already stated. That the godly may not be discouraged, he passes from threatenings to proclaim grace, and declares that when, by enduring for a little the cross laid on them, they shall have given evidence of the obedience of their faith, a sudden renovation is at hand to fill them with joy. And yet, by shutting out the ungodly from this hope, he intimates that, when they are at ease, and promise to themselves peace or a truce, destruction is very near at hand; for, “when they shall say, Peace and Safety,” as Paul tells us, “then sudden destruction will overtake them.” (1Th 5:3.)
TSK -> Isa 29:17
TSK: Isa 29:17 - -- yet a very : Isa 63:18; Hab 2:3; Hag 2:6; Heb 10:37
Lebanon : Isa 32:15, Isa 35:1, Isa 35:2, Isa 41:19, Isa 49:5, Isa 49:6, Isa 55:13, Isa 65:12-16; H...
yet a very : Isa 63:18; Hab 2:3; Hag 2:6; Heb 10:37
Lebanon : Isa 32:15, Isa 35:1, Isa 35:2, Isa 41:19, Isa 49:5, Isa 49:6, Isa 55:13, Isa 65:12-16; Hos 1:9, Hos 1:10; Mat 19:30; Mat 21:43; Rom 11:11-17
the fruitful : Isa 5:6; Eze 20:46, Eze 20:47; Hos 3:4; Mic 3:12; Zec 11:1, Zec 11:2; Mat 21:18, Mat 21:19; Rom 11:19-27

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Isa 29:17
Barnes: Isa 29:17 - -- Is it not yet a very little while - The idea here is, ‘ you have greatly perverted things in Jerusalem. The time is at hand when there sha...
Is it not yet a very little while - The idea here is, ‘ you have greatly perverted things in Jerusalem. The time is at hand when there shall be "other"overturnings - when the wicked shall be cut off, and when there shall be poured out upon the nation such judgments that the deaf shall hear, and the blind see, and when those who have erred in spirit shall come to understanding’ Isa 29:18-24.
And Lebanon shall be tutored into a fruitful field - This is evidently a proverbial expression, denoting any great revolution of things. It is probable that in the times of Isaiah the whole chain of Lebanon was uncultivated, as the word is evidently used here in opposition to a fruitful field (see the note at Isa 2:13). The word which is rendered ‘ fruitful field’ (
And the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest - That is, there shall be great changes in the nation, as if a well-cultivated field should be allowed to lie waste, and grow up into a forest. Perhaps it means that that which was then apparently flourishing would be overthrown, and the land lie waste. Those who were apparently in prosperity, would be humbled and punished. The effect of this revolution is stated in the following verses.
Poole -> Isa 29:17
Poole: Isa 29:17 - -- The forest of Lebanon, which was a barren mountain and a desolate wilderness, shall by God’ s wonderful providence become a fruitful and populo...
The forest of Lebanon, which was a barren mountain and a desolate wilderness, shall by God’ s wonderful providence become a fruitful and populous place; and these places, which are now fruitful and populous, shall then become as barren and desolate as that forest. The sense is confirmed by that parallel place, Isa 32:15 . And from both places compared together, this seems to be a prophecy of the rejection of the wicked and unbelieving Jews, whose sins and marvellous judgments, and particularly infatuation, are declared in the foregoing verses; and of the calling of the Gentiles, of which he speaks in the following verse, as appears further by comparing that verse with Isa 35:5 . And this opinion may receive some countenance from Mat 15:7 , &c., where Christ expounds the foregoing words, Isa 29:13 , upon which these have a dependence, of his own times.
Haydock -> Isa 29:17
Haydock: Isa 29:17 - -- Charmel. This word signifies a fruitful field. (Challoner) ---
Shall Carmel be presently a forest or barren mountain? No. But I will work a gr...
Charmel. This word signifies a fruitful field. (Challoner) ---
Shall Carmel be presently a forest or barren mountain? No. But I will work a greater miracle, ver. 18. Jerusalem shall rejoice, and Sennacherib shall be filled with dismay.
Gill -> Isa 29:17
Gill: Isa 29:17 - -- Is it not yet a very little while,.... In a short space of time, in a few years, what follows would come to pass; when there would be a strange chang...
Is it not yet a very little while,.... In a short space of time, in a few years, what follows would come to pass; when there would be a strange change and alteration made in the world, and by which it would appear, that the Lord not only knows, but foreknows, all things:
and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; the forest of Lebanon should be as Carmel. The meaning is, that the Gentile world, which was like a forest uncultivated, and full of unfruitful trees, to which wicked men may be compared, should through the preaching of the Gospel be manured, become God's husbandry, and be like a fruitful field, abounding with people and churches, fruitful in grace and good works:
and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? the people of the Jews, who once had the word and ordinances of God, and were a fruitful and flourishing people in religion; through their rejection of the Messiah, and contempt of his Gospel, should be deprived of all their privileges, and become like a forest or barren land: this was fulfilled, when the kingdom of God was taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it, Mat 21:43. See Isa 32:15.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Isa 29:17 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,...
Geneva Bible -> Isa 29:17
Geneva Bible: Isa 29:17 [Is] it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be ( p ) turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
(...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Isa 29:1-24
TSK Synopsis: Isa 29:1-24 - --1 God's heavy judgment upon Jerusalem.7 The unsatiableness of her enemies.9 The senselessness,13 and deep hypocrisy of the Jews.17 A promise of sancti...
MHCC -> Isa 29:17-24
MHCC: Isa 29:17-24 - --The wonderful change here foretold, may refer to the affairs of Judah, though it looks further. When a great harvest of souls was gathered to Christ f...
Matthew Henry -> Isa 29:17-24
Matthew Henry: Isa 29:17-24 - -- Those that thought to hide their counsels from the Lord were said to turn things upside down (Isa 29:16), and they intended to do it unknown to God;...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Isa 29:17-21
Keil-Delitzsch: Isa 29:17-21 - --
But the prophet's God, whose omniscience, creative glory, and perfect wisdom they so basely mistook and ignored, would very shortly turn the present...
Constable: Isa 7:1--39:8 - --III. Israel's crisis of faith chs. 7--39
This long section of the book deals with Israel's major decision in Isa...

Constable: Isa 13:1--35:10 - --B. God's sovereignty over the nations chs. 13-35
This major section of the book emphasizes the folly of ...

Constable: Isa 28:1--33:24 - --3. The folly of trusting the nations chs. 28-33
Chapters 28-35 are somewhat similar to chapters ...
