Isaiah 29:13-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 29:9-16

Here, I. The prophet stands amazed at the stupidity of the greatest part of the Jewish nation. They had Levites, who taught the good knowledge of the Lord and had encouragement from Hezekiah in doing so, 2 Chron. 30:22. They had prophets, who brought them messages immediately from God, and signified to them what were the causes and what would be the effects of God's displeasure against them. Now, one would think, surely this great nation, that has all the advantages of divine revelation, is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said ,.... Concerning the hypocritical people of the Jews in Christ's time, as the words are applied by our Lord himself, Matthew 15:7 , Forasmuch as this people draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me ; Kimchi observes, there is a double reading of the word נגש , rendered "draw near": in one reading of it, it signifies to be "afflicted"; and then the sense is, "when this people are afflicted, with their mouth, and with their lips, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 29:14

Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people ,.... Because of their hypocrisy and formality, their regard to men, their doctrines and commandments, and not to the will and word of God, therefore he determines "to deal marvellously with this people": even a marvellous work, and a wonder ; that is, something exceedingly marvellous, which would be matter of astonishment to everyone that observed it; and is as follows: for the wisdom of their wise men ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 29:13

The Lord "Jehovah" - For אדני Adonai , sixty-three MSS. of Kennicott's, and many of De Rossi's, and four editions, read יהוה Yehovah , and five MSS. add יהוה . Kimchi makes some just observations on this verse. The vision, meaning the Divine revelation of all the prophets, is a book or letter that is sealed - is not easily understood. This is delivered to one that is learned - instructed in the law. Read this; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed; a full proof that he does... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said ; rather, moreover the Lord said . This people draw near me with their mouth. Samaria had been punished for open idolatry and flagrant neglect of Jehovah ( 2 Kings 17:7-17 ). Jerusalem had not gone these lengths. She still, in profession, clung to the worship of Jehovah, and had even recently accepted a purification of religion at the hand of Hezekiah, who had "removed the high places," and cut down the groves, and broken in pieces the brazen serpent," because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Insincerity. "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me." Sincerity is the life of devotion. Eloquence in prayer is execrable if the heart be worldly and vain. Here we have Divine insight into man's soul. I. HERE IS THE BENDED KNEE WITHOUT THE PROSTRATE HEART . Reverential manner and sacred solemnities of speech may deceive others, but with God all hearts are open, all desires known.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13

Lip-service; or, the peril of losing the heart out of our piety. There was a time when Israel rendered heart-service to God. There was a life in the Mosaic system. Taking a figure from the sacrifice which Noah offered as consecrating a regenerate earth unto God, there was "a savor of a sweet smell" to rise up to God. The reproach of Isaiah is that the sacrifice was left, but the savor was gone; the husk was left, but the kernel was gone; the form was left, the heart was gone; the voice... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-14

God's hatred of mere lip-service Lip-service is offensive to God on two accounts. I. IT IS DISHONORING TO HIMSELF . It implies, either that he has not the power of reading the heart and of perceiving when worship is rendered to him sincerely and when feignedly, or that he does not care which kind of homage he receives, whether adoration is offered to him really or formally. In the one case he must be considered as a Being of very limited power and capacity; in the other, as a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-16

A RENEWAL OF WARNING . The inability of the Jews to comprehend Isaiah's threatening prophecies probably arose in part from their accomplishment seeming to be inconceivable, since they ran counter to the covenant promises made by God to Israel. Isaiah is therefore instructed to inform them that it was a most marvelous and almost inconceivable thing that God was now purposing to do, yet a thing justified by their hypocrisy (verse 13) and their rebellion (verses 15, 16). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 29:13-16

Lip-service and dissimulation. I. THE SEMBLANCE WITHOUT THE REALITY OF RELIGION . To "draw men" is a Scripture phrase full of expressiveness for true worship. To draw near to God is to assume our holiest mood of feeling; it is to humble one's self in the presence of the Highest and Holiest. The distance between ourselves and the Supreme is not to be overcome by an effort of thought; it is in the sphere of intelligence that that distance is most deeply felt, which mere thought... read more

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