Isaiah 29 5

Isaiah 29:5 kjv

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.

Isaiah 29:5 nkjv

"Moreover the multitude of your foes Shall be like fine dust, And the multitude of the terrible ones Like chaff that passes away; Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly.

Isaiah 29:5 niv

But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant,

Isaiah 29:5 esv

But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff. And in an instant, suddenly,

Isaiah 29:5 nlt

"But suddenly, your ruthless enemies will be crushed
like the finest of dust.
Your many attackers will be driven away
like chaff before the wind.
Suddenly, in an instant,

Isaiah 29 verses

Isaiah 29 5 meaning

Isaiah 29:5 prophesies a sudden and complete reversal of fortunes for Jerusalem. While seemingly besieged by overwhelming, formidable enemies, the verse declares that this vast multitude of adversaries, perceived as powerful and terrifying, will unexpectedly be reduced to nothing. They will become as fine dust and worthless chaff, easily dispersed and vanished in a single, abrupt, divinely ordained moment. This signifies God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His capacity to protect His people despite seemingly insurmountable odds.

Isaiah 29 5 Context

Isaiah chapter 29 begins with a prophetic declaration of woe against "Ariel," which refers to Jerusalem. The city is portrayed as spiritually dull and preparing for judgment due to its hypocrisy and ritualistic religion without true devotion (Isa 29:9-16). Verses 1-4 describe Jerusalem's humbling through a siege, bringing it low and making its voice a whisper from the dust. Yet, amidst this severe warning and impending doom, a sharp turning point appears. Verse 5 contrasts the seeming victory of Jerusalem's formidable besiegers with God's sudden, miraculous intervention. Historically, this prophecy finds its most direct context in the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC during King Hezekiah's reign. The seemingly invincible Assyrian army, under Sennacherib, threatened to annihilate Judah, but God intervened supernaturally to destroy the enemy. The chapter transitions from divine judgment on Jerusalem to its eventual deliverance and a future spiritual revival, making this verse a crucial pivot point.

Isaiah 29 5 Word analysis

• multitude (הָמוֹן - hā·mōwn): Refers to a noisy crowd, a great number, a tumult. It emphasizes the sheer volume and overwhelming presence of the enemy forces, presenting them as an immense, roaring throng, seemingly unstoppable.
• thy strangers (זָרָ֑יִךְ - zā·rā·yiḵ): This word (from זָר - zār) means "foreigners," "adversaries," or "enemies." It signifies those who are outside God's covenant, aliens hostile to His people and purposes.
• small dust (כְּאָבָ֣ק דָּ֑ק - kə·’ā·ḇāq dāq): Avak is dust, and daq means fine, thin, crushed, minute. This imagery paints the mighty host as utterly insignificant, easily swept away, virtually imperceptible, and of no substance when compared to God's power. It conveys a sense of thorough decomposition and eradication.
• terrible ones (וַהֲמ֣וֹן עָרִיצִ֔ים - wa·hă·mōwn ‘ā·rî·ṣîm): Aritzim comes from a root meaning "to terrorize," "oppress," or "to be violent." These are ruthless, powerful, and fearsome oppressors who inspire dread. The term highlights their perceived might and the fear they evoke.
• chaff (כְּמֹץ֙ עוֹבֵ֔ר - kə·mōṣ ‘ō·w·ḇêr): Motz refers to the husks of grain, which are light, valueless, and easily separated from the wheat during winnowing. This symbolizes worthlessness, impermanence, and utter futility.
• passeth away (עוֹבֵ֔ר - ‘ō·w·ḇêr): Implies fleetingness, movement, and eventual disappearance. Combined with "chaff," it evokes an image of being scattered, blown away, and vanishing without a trace, underscoring the enemy's ultimate impotence.
• at an instant (לְפֶ֖תַע - lə·p̄e·ṯa‘): Signifies suddenness, abruptness, or immediately. It stresses the rapid and unexpected nature of the event.
• suddenly (פִּתְאֹֽם - piṯ·’ōm): A repetition of the idea of suddenness, intensifying the previous word. This Hebrew double emphasis (peta pit'om) underlines the instantaneous, unexpected, and utterly swift divine action, leaving no room for gradual decay or forewarning.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust": This phrase dramatically contrasts the imposing presence ("multitude") of Jerusalem's foreign adversaries ("strangers") with their destined outcome. What appears massive and overwhelming to human eyes will be rendered utterly insignificant, as microscopic, easily scattered, and powerless as fine dust when confronted by divine might. This is a deliberate reduction of grandiosity to worthlessness.
• "and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away": Building on the previous image, this parallelism employs a different yet equally potent metaphor. The "terrible ones," known for their might and ability to instill fear, will be like insubstantial, valueless chaff. "Passeth away" further emphasizes their fleeting existence and utter dispersion, demonstrating their ultimate vulnerability to the wind of God's judgment. Both analogies (dust and chaff) denote complete lack of substance and easy obliteration.
• "yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly": This is a powerful, climactic statement that underscores the timing and nature of God's intervention. The doubled word for "suddenly" (l'peta pit'om) serves as an emphatic assurance of the swiftness, unexpectedness, and immediacy of the judgment. God will not gradually dismantle the enemy; He will act decisively and without warning, demonstrating His supreme power to change the course of events in an instant. This provides immense comfort to the besieged, highlighting the definitive and swift reversal that awaits their seemingly invincible foes.

Isaiah 29 5 Bonus section

The imagery of "dust" and "chaff" frequently appears in Scripture, often contrasting the humble, perishable nature of humanity or the fleeting existence of the wicked with the eternal, unwavering nature of God. In this context, it also carries a subtle polemical punch, undermining the common perception of powerful empires and their deities being sustained by superior force. Isaiah declares that their boasted might will be winnowed away, revealing the ultimate emptiness of their humanistic or pagan strength. This verse serves not only as a historical prophecy of deliverance for Hezekiah's Jerusalem but also as a template for understanding God's actions throughout history—and in the future—where the arrogant and those who oppose Him are brought to nothing, often in a swift and unexpected manner, as seen in the sudden collapse of other seemingly invincible empires and the future judgment promised in Revelation.

Isaiah 29 5 Commentary

Isaiah 29:5 stands as a profound declaration of God's sovereignty over all human might. In the face of a terrifyingly large and powerful enemy (symbolized by the Assyrians), God assures His beleaguered people that their foes' impressive strength is ultimately illusory. Their vast numbers and menacing reputation will swiftly crumble into insignificance, becoming as negligible as fine dust and worthless chaff. The dual use of "suddenly" powerfully conveys the unexpected, instantaneous, and complete nature of God's intervention, bypassing human effort or expectation. This verse reveals a central biblical truth: no force, however formidable, can stand against the Lord's purpose, and His deliverance often comes in ways and at times entirely unanticipated, designed to demonstrate His absolute power and faithfulness to His covenant people. It is a timeless reminder that apparent strength against God is but a temporary illusion, destined for rapid and complete disintegration.