Isaiah 29:5
Isaiah 29:5 in Multiple Translations
But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,
Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be in an instant suddenly.
And the army of your attackers will be like small dust, and all the cruel ones like dry stems gone before the wind; suddenly it will come about.
But then all your enemies will become like fine dust; all your cruel oppressors like chaff that's blown away. Then suddenly, in no time at all,
Moreouer, the multitude of thy strangers shalbe like small dust, and the multitude of strong men shalbe as chaffe that passeth away, and it shall be in a moment, euen suddenly.
And as small dust hath been The multitude of those scattering thee, And as chaff passing on the multitude of the terrible, And it hath been at an instant — suddenly.
But the multitude of your foes will be like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless ones like chaff that blows away. Yes, it will be in an instant, suddenly.
Moreover, the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yes, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
And the multitude of them that fan thee, shall be like small dust: and as ashes passing away, the multitude of them that have prevailed against thee.
But, suddenly your enemies will be blown away like dust; their armies will disappear like [SIM] chaff that is blown away by the wind. It will happen very suddenly.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 29:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 29:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הָיָ֛ה
כְּ/אָבָ֥ק
דַּ֖ק
הֲמ֣וֹן
זָרָ֑יִ/ךְ
וּ/כְ/מֹ֤ץ
עֹבֵר֙
הֲמ֣וֹן
עָֽרִיצִ֔ים
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
לְ/פֶ֥תַע
פִּתְאֹֽם
וְ/הָיָ֛ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
כְּ/אָבָ֥ק
ʼâbâq
H80
dust
Prep | N-ms
דַּ֖ק
daq
H1851
thin
Adj
הֲמ֣וֹן
hâmôwn
H1995
crowd
N-ms
זָרָ֑יִ/ךְ
zûwr
H2114
be a stranger
Adj | Suff
וּ/כְ/מֹ֤ץ
môts
H4671
chaff
Conj | Prep | N-ms
עֹבֵר֙
ʻâbar
H5674
to pass
V-Qal
הֲמ֣וֹן
hâmôwn
H1995
crowd
N-ms
עָֽרִיצִ֔ים
ʻârîyts
H6184
ruthless
Adj
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
לְ/פֶ֥תַע
pethaʻ
H6621
suddenness
Prep | N-ms
פִּתְאֹֽם
pithʼôwm
H6597
suddenly
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 29:5
וְ/הָיָ֛ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
כְּ/אָבָ֥ק
ʼâbâq
H80
"dust"
Prep | N-ms
This word refers to dust or small particles that are easily blown away, like powder or clouds. It's used in the Bible to describe the ground or a cloudy sky.
Definition: 1) dust 1a) on ground 1b) clouds (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: (small) dust, powder. See also: Exodus 9:9; Isaiah 29:5; Isaiah 5:24.
דַּ֖ק
daq
H1851
"thin"
Adj
Means thin or small, like a thin cloth or a gaunt person, used to describe something or someone as fragile or weak.
Definition: 1) thin, small, fine, gaunt 1a) thin 1b) small, fine
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: dwarf, lean(-fleshed), very little thing, small, thin. See also: Genesis 41:3; Exodus 16:14; Isaiah 29:5.
הֲמ֣וֹן
hâmôwn
H1995
"crowd"
N-ms
Being in a state of turmoil or having a lot of noise is what this Hebrew word means. It can also refer to a large crowd or abundance of something, like in the book of Proverbs where it describes a multitude of people.
Definition: 1) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound 1a) sound, murmur, rush, roar 1b) tumult, confusion 1c) crowd, multitude 1d) great number, abundance 1e) abundance, wealth
Usage: Occurs in 78 OT verses. KJV: abundance, company, many, multitude, multiply, noise, riches, rumbling, sounding, store, tumult. See also: Genesis 17:4; Isaiah 33:3; Psalms 37:16.
זָרָ֑יִ/ךְ
zûwr
H2114
"be a stranger"
Adj | Suff
This word has several meanings, including being a stranger or foreigner, like when Abraham lived in Egypt as a foreigner. It can also mean to commit adultery, highlighting the idea of turning aside from what is right and proper, as warned against in Proverbs 5.
Definition: 1) to be strange, be a stranger 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to become estranged 1a2) strange, another, stranger, foreigner, an enemy (participle) 1a3) strange woman, prostitute, harlot (meton) 1b) (Niphal) to be estranged 1c) (Hophal) to be a stranger, be one alienated
Usage: Occurs in 76 OT verses. KJV: (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman). See also: Exodus 29:33; Proverbs 11:15; Psalms 44:21.
וּ/כְ/מֹ֤ץ
môts
H4671
"chaff"
Conj | Prep | N-ms
Mots refers to chaff, the loose outer covering of grain that is blown away by the wind, as described in the KJV.
Definition: 1) chaff 1a) always as driven by wind
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: chaff. See also: Job 21:18; Isaiah 29:5; Psalms 1:4.
עֹבֵר֙
ʻâbar
H5674
"to pass"
V-Qal
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Definition: 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish 1a6c) to perish, cease to exist 1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree) 1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands 1b) (Niphal) to be crossed 1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote 1d2) to cause to pass through 1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by 1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away 1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Usage: Occurs in 493 OT verses. KJV: alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. See also: Genesis 8:1; Deuteronomy 27:2; 1 Samuel 25:19.
הֲמ֣וֹן
hâmôwn
H1995
"crowd"
N-ms
Being in a state of turmoil or having a lot of noise is what this Hebrew word means. It can also refer to a large crowd or abundance of something, like in the book of Proverbs where it describes a multitude of people.
Definition: 1) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound 1a) sound, murmur, rush, roar 1b) tumult, confusion 1c) crowd, multitude 1d) great number, abundance 1e) abundance, wealth
Usage: Occurs in 78 OT verses. KJV: abundance, company, many, multitude, multiply, noise, riches, rumbling, sounding, store, tumult. See also: Genesis 17:4; Isaiah 33:3; Psalms 37:16.
עָֽרִיצִ֔ים
ʻârîyts
H6184
"ruthless"
Adj
This word describes someone or something that inspires fear or awe, often due to great power or strength. It can be translated as mighty, oppressor, or ruthless in different contexts.
Definition: awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: mighty, oppressor, in great power, strong, terrible, violent. See also: Job 6:23; Isaiah 25:5; Psalms 37:35.
וְ/הָיָ֖ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/פֶ֥תַע
pethaʻ
H6621
"suddenness"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word means suddenness or quickness, often used to describe something happening in an instant. It appears in the Bible to convey a sense of urgency or surprise. In the KJV, it is translated as 'at an instant' or 'suddenly'.
Definition: suddenness, in an instant
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: at an instant, suddenly, [idiom] very. See also: Numbers 6:9; Proverbs 29:1; Proverbs 6:15.
פִּתְאֹֽם
pithʼôwm
H6597
"suddenly"
Adv
This word means happening suddenly or quickly, like an unexpected event. It is used in the Bible to describe surprising things that happen to people like Jacob and Joseph.
Definition: adv 1) suddenly, surprisingly subst 2) suddenness
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: straightway, sudden(-ly). See also: Numbers 6:9; Proverbs 7:22; Psalms 64:5.
Study Notes — Isaiah 29:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 29:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 29:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 29:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 29:5
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 29:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
- Sermons on Isaiah 29:5
Context — Woe to David’s City
3I will camp in a circle around you; I will besiege you with towers and set up siege works against you.
4You will be brought low, you will speak from the ground, and out of the dust your words will be muffled. Your voice will be like a spirit from the ground; your speech will whisper out of the dust.
5But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,
6you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire. 7All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel— even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her— will be like a dream, like a vision in the night,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Thessalonians 5:3 | While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. |
| 2 | Isaiah 17:13–14 | The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale. In the evening, there is sudden terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us and the lot of those who plunder us. |
| 3 | Isaiah 37:36 | Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies! |
| 4 | Isaiah 30:13 | this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse will come suddenly— in an instant! |
| 5 | Isaiah 25:5 | like heat in a dry land. You subdue the uproar of foreigners. As the shade of a cloud cools the heat, so the song of the ruthless is silenced. |
| 6 | Psalms 46:5–6 | God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns. Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice. |
| 7 | Job 21:18 | Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? |
| 8 | Isaiah 31:3 | But the Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit. When the LORD stretches out His hand, the helper will stumble, and the one he helps will fall; both will perish together. |
| 9 | Isaiah 31:8 | “Then Assyria will fall, but not by the sword of man; a sword will devour them, but not one made by mortals. They will flee before the sword, and their young men will be put to forced labor. |
| 10 | Psalms 35:5 | May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away. |
Isaiah 29:5 Summary
[This verse is saying that even when it seems like our enemies are strong and many, God can quickly and easily defeat them, like blowing away dust or chaff. This is a promise of God's protection and deliverance for His people, as seen in Psalm 23:4 and Deuteronomy 31:6. We can trust that God is in control and will take care of us, even when things seem scary or overwhelming. By trusting in His sovereignty, we can find peace and comfort, just like the Psalmist did in Psalm 46:1-3.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for foes to be like fine dust and the ruthless like blowing chaff?
This means that God will reduce the power and influence of those who oppose His people to nothing, just like dust and chaff are easily blown away, as seen in Psalm 1:4 and Isaiah 41:14-16.
How does this verse relate to the preceding verses?
The preceding verses, such as Isaiah 29:3-4, describe the siege and humiliation of God's people, but this verse offers a contrast, promising that their enemies will ultimately be the ones who are overcome, much like in Isaiah 40:24.
What is the significance of the phrase 'Then suddenly, in an instant'?
This phrase indicates that God's deliverance and judgment will come quickly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 and Revelation 3:3.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives?
We can trust that God will protect and deliver us from our enemies, just as He promises to do for His people in this verse, and we can find comfort in knowing that He is sovereign over all things, as stated in Romans 8:28 and Psalm 23:4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I feel besieged or overwhelmed by enemies, and how can I trust God to deliver me in those situations?
- How can I balance the reality of present struggles with the promise of future deliverance, and what role does faith play in that balance?
- In what ways can I be like the 'fine dust' or 'blowing chaff' in my own life, surrendering my will and desires to God's sovereignty?
- What does it mean for me to 'speak from the ground' and have my 'voice like a spirit from the ground', and how can I cultivate a posture of humility and dependence on God?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 29:5
Moreover, the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust,.... Or "of those that fan thee" (q), as the Vulgate Latin Version; and so the Targum, "of those that scatter thee;'' or of thine
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 29:5
Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
Of thy strangers; either, 1. Of the strangers that encamp and fight against thee. Or, 2. Of the Egyptians, and other strangers, whom thou hast hired to assist thee, as indeed they did, when the Chaldeans came against them. This exposition seems to agree best, as with the phrase, thy strangers, so with the scope of the place, and with the whole context, especially the foregoing verses; which plainly shows that this is not a promise to Jerusalem, but a threatening against it. Like small dust; quickly blown away with the least wind, by comparing this with the following clause. Of the terrible ones; of thy great commanders and stoutest soldiers. It shall be; this dissipation and destruction of thy strangers and terrible ones shall come to pass.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
Isaiah 29:5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.Ver. 5. Moreover, the multitude of thy strangers.] Thy foreign auxiliaries; these shall do thee no good, but be blown away as with a whirlwind. It shall be at an instant, suddenly.] The last siege and sack of Jerusalem was so by a specialty, as is to be read in Josephus. And some interpreters understand this whole chapter of the times of the New Testament, because our Saviour and St Paul do cite some places herehence, and apply the same to those their times, not by way of accommodation only, but as the proper and true sense of the text.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
(5) Moreover the multitude . . .—Better, But. The words interpret those of Isa 30:28. The tribulation should be great, but it should last but for a while. As in Isaiah 25:5, the “strangers”—i.e., the “enemies,” and the “terrible ones”—should be brought low. A sudden catastrophe, pointing, probably, to the destruction of Sennacherib’s army, should bring them low. They, too, should pass under the “threshing instrument” of God’s judgments, and be as chaff before the wind.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
Verse 5. The multitude of thy strangers - "The multitude of the proud"] For זריך zarayich, thy strangers, read זדים zedim, the proud, according to the Septuagint; parallel to and synonymous with עריצים aritsim, the terrible, in the next line: the ר resh was at first ד daleth in a MS. See Clarke on Isaiah 25:2. The fifth, sixth, and seventh verses contain an admirable description of the destruction of Sennacherib's army, with a beautiful variety of the most expressive and sublime images: perhaps more adapted to show the greatness, the suddenness, and horror of the event, than the means and manner by which it was effected. Compare Isaiah 30:30-33.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 29:5
ch. Isaiah 29:1-14. The announcement of Jehovah’s wonderful purpose regarding Jerusalem, and its reception on the part of the peopleUnder the second “Woe” (Isaiah 29:1) are grouped two oracles, which may have been originally independent; or they may be intimately connected, the second describing the effect of the first on the minds of Isaiah’s hearers. i. Isaiah 29:1-8. The impending humiliation and deliverance of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, apostrophised by the mystic name of “Ariel,” is at present gay and careless and secure, the festal calendar follows its accustomed course, and this state of things may endure for a short time longer (1). But already in vision the prophet sees her beset by hosts of enemies, and reduced to the lowest depths of despair (2–4) when suddenly the Lord Himself, arrayed in the terrors of earthquake and tempest, appears in judgment (6), and in a moment the scene is changed. In the very hour of their triumph, the enemies of Zion are disappointed of their expectation, and vanish like a vision of the night (7, 8). ii. Isaiah 29:9-14. A rebuke of the spiritual blindness and unbelief, and the hollow formal religion prevalent amongst all classes of the people.
(1) Isaiah 29:9-12. Jehovah has visited the leaders of the people with judicial blindness (9 f.); the consequence is that neither among the cultured nor the unlettered can the word of the Lord find entrance (11 f.). (2) Isaiah 29:13-14. Because the popular religion has degenerated into a mechanical routine of traditional observances (13) it is necessary for Jehovah to adopt startling measures, transcending all human calculation and insight (14).
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 29:5
Moreover - These verses Isaiah 29:5, Isaiah 29:7-8 contain a beautiful description of the destruction of the army of Sennacherib.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 29:5
5-8. Now there is promise. At the close of Isa 29:2 it is stated that Jerusalem shall become God’s altar-fire-hearth — indeed, the burning place of wrath upon her enemies. These verses expand this meaning.
Sermons on Isaiah 29:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Judgement Seat 1-31-91 - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the corruption and violence present in the world today. He criticizes the politicians in Washington for their involvement in financial scand |
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Death, and After This, the Judgment by Rolfe Barnard | In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the certainty of death and the judgment that follows. He mentions significant events in recent history, such as the televised funeral servi |
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Daniel as a Type of Godly Remnant by Reggie Kelly | Reggie Kelly delves into the critical and timely revelations found in the book of Daniel, emphasizing the importance of understanding prophetic interpretations and the significance |
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Twelfth Lesson. ‘Have Faith in God;’ Or, the Secret of Believing Prayer by Andrew Murray | Greek Word Studies delves into the meaning of 'asphales,' which signifies security, safety, and certainty, describing something unshakeable and immovable. This term is used in vari |
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The World War and What Followed by Arno Clemens Gaebelein | Arno Clemens Gaebelein preaches about the events leading up to and during World War I, highlighting the divine inspiration behind the pre-written history of world affairs as penned |
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Signs of the Coming of Christ by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson emphasizes the signs of Christ's imminent return amidst the world's turmoil, reminding believers that while many may cry 'peace and safety,' sudden destruction is c |
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The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul Is to Be Sought by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches about the importance of undertaking great endeavors for our own salvation, using Noah's obedience in building the ark as an example. He emphasizes the tho |