Isaiah 29:17-21

Changes are Coming

29:17 In just a very short time ¹ 

Lebanon will turn into an orchard,

and the orchard will be considered a forest. ² 

29:18 At that time ³  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. ⁴ 

29:19 The downtrodden will again rejoice in the Lord;

the poor among humankind will take delight ⁵  in the Holy One of Israel. ⁶ 

29:20 For tyrants will disappear,

those who taunt will vanish,

and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated ⁷  –

29:21 those who bear false testimony against a person, ⁸ 

who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate ⁹ 

and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges. ¹⁰ 

[29:17]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text phrases this as a rhetorical question, “Is it not yet a little, a short [time]?”

[29:17]  ² 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.

[29:18]  ³ tn Or “In that day” (KJV).

[29:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”

[29:19]  ⁵ tn Or “will rejoice” (NIV, NCV, NLT).

[29:19]  ⁶ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

[29:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “and all the watchers of wrong will be cut off.”

[29:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “the ones who make a man a sinner with a word.” The Hiphil of חָטָא (khata’) here has a delocutive sense: “declare a man sinful/guilty.”

[29:21]  ⁹ sn Legal disputes were resolved at the city gate, where the town elders met. See Amos 5:10.

[29:21]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and deprive by emptiness the innocent.”