Isaiah 29:10-11

Context

29:10 For the Lord has poured out on you

a strong urge to sleep deeply.¹

He has shut your eyes (the prophets),

and covered your heads (the seers).

29:11 To you this entire prophetic revelation² is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read³ and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.”

[29:10] ¹tn 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.

[29:11] ²tn Heb “vision” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[29:11] ³tn Heb “one who knows a/the scroll.”