Isaiah 29 3

Isaiah 29:3 kjv

And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.

Isaiah 29:3 nkjv

I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, And I will raise siegeworks against you.

Isaiah 29:3 niv

I will encamp against you on all sides; I will encircle you with towers and set up my siege works against you.

Isaiah 29:3 esv

And I will encamp against you all around, and will besiege you with towers and I will raise siegeworks against you.

Isaiah 29:3 nlt

I will be your enemy,
surrounding Jerusalem and attacking its walls.
I will build siege towers
and destroy it.

Isaiah 29 verses

Isaiah 29 3 Meaning

Isaiah 29:3 states that God will encamp against Jerusalem and surround it. This action is described as a siege, with plans and devices being made against the city. The verse vividly portrays God's judgment against a people who have strayed from Him, using overwhelming force. It emphasizes that the siege will be so comprehensive that God Himself is the aggressor.

Isaiah 29 3 Context

Isaiah chapter 29 focuses on the judgment that will come upon Jerusalem and its people, referred to as Ariel ("Lion of God"). The surrounding nations are described as being like a "roar" or a "feast" against Ariel (v. 1, 2). This chapter highlights God's righteous anger against the hypocrisy and idolatry of His people, particularly their reliance on their own strategies and perceived strength rather than on God. Historically, this passage could refer to several instances of sieges against Jerusalem, most notably the Assyrian siege under Sennacherib in Isaiah's time (701 BCE), or the Babylonian conquest. In a broader prophetic sense, it also speaks to future judgments and the ultimate restoration of Zion. The literary context is one of divine pronouncement of judgment upon a specific city that symbolizes God's covenant people, followed by a promise of future restoration and blessing.

Isaiah 29 3 Word analysis

• "And": Connects the action of God's encampment with the following statement.
• "I": The subject, emphasizing that the action is initiated by God Himself.
• "will": Indicates a future certainty of the action.
• "encamp": Hebrew: machanah (מַחֲנֶה), meaning to set up camp, to gather together, often referring to an army's encampment. Implies a strategic positioning, surround, and an extended period of operation.
• "against": Indicates opposition and hostile intent.
• "you": Refers to Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
• "all": Signifies totality, completeness.
• "around": Indicates encirclement, complete surrounding without escape.
• "Therefore": Hebrew: ken (כֵּן), also translated as "so" or "thus," connecting this consequence to a prior cause or established fact, likely referring to God's decision based on their unfaithfulness.
• "I will encamp against you all around": This is the core statement. God Himself is directing and executing the siege, making it inescapable. The language evokes a military strategy of complete encirclement.
• "and": Connects the two actions.
• "I": Again, emphasizing God as the actor.
• "will lay siege": Hebrew: tsur (צוּר), meaning to besiege, to hem in, to blockade. Reinforces the concept of a sustained, comprehensive military pressure.
• "against you": Still referring to Jerusalem.
• "with": Indicates the instruments or means of the siege.
• "batter [your] walls": Hebrew: chavvat (חִבּוֹת), meaning to break down, to dig against, to undermine. Refers to offensive military tactics against fortifications.
• "and": Connects the siege to the subsequent actions.
• "I": God is the actor.
• "will cast": Hebrew: yattzaq (יָצַק), meaning to pour out, to cast down, to throw down. It suggests forceful expulsion or removal.
• "up": Directional, indicating over the city walls or boundaries.
• "a mount": Hebrew: sor (סֹר) or masov (מָסֹב). Refers to a siege ramp or mound, a common military tactic to overcome walls.
• "against": Against the city.
• "you": Jerusalem.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I will encamp against you all around": This phrase portrays God's direct involvement in judging Jerusalem. It's not merely a human enemy attacking, but God orchestrating the downfall, encircling the city. This contrasts with other instances where God is Jerusalem's defense.
• "and I will lay siege against you with batter your walls": The focus here is on the offensive action. The word chavvat implies breaking through fortifications, a systematic dismantling of defenses, underscoring the severity of God's judgment.
• "and I will cast up a mount against you": This details a specific siege tactic. A siege mound (or ram) was built to reach the top of walls, allowing attackers to overwhelm defenders. God's promise to construct this signifies his intent to breach their defenses entirely.

Isaiah 29 3 Bonus section

The name Ariel ("Lion of God") in Isaiah 29 has layers of meaning. It can refer to Jerusalem itself as a powerful, divinely-associated city, but here it's also the object of God's judgment, making it a symbol of the consequences of spiritual failure. The military language used to describe God's actions can also be seen as reflecting the prophet's context where sieges were a stark reality of warfare. The "mount" cast up against the city is a literal siege ramp, a formidable structure that represented the encroaching doom for those inside. This verse starkly contrasts with God's protective actions for Jerusalem in other passages, illustrating the duality of His character: His wrath against sin and His faithfulness to His covenant promises for those who repent.

Isaiah 29 3 Commentary

Isaiah 29:3 depicts God personally directing a military siege against Jerusalem. This judgment is comprehensive, aiming to encircle and break down the city's defenses. The imagery of God laying siege, casting up mounds, and battering walls signifies His active role in punishing sin and apostasy. This act serves as a stern warning, demonstrating that even God's chosen city is not immune to His wrath when it turns away from Him. It emphasizes the futility of human defenses when God is against them, and highlights the devastating consequences of disobedience.