Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 29:14
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, [even] a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.
14. Israel being thus hopelessly estranged from true knowledge of Jehovah, Jehovah must (and will) reveal His character in a way not to be misunderstood.
behold, I will proceed ] The Hebr. has the same peculiar construction as in Isa 28:16.
to do a marvellous wonder ] Render: to work wonderfully with this people, wonderfully and wondrously (cf. Isa 28:21).
the wisdom of their wise men (cf. Jer 18:18) shall perish ] so far will the issue surpass human forethought.
shall be hid ] shall hide itself, in shame and confusion.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I will proceed to do – Hebrew, I will add to do; that is, I will do it.
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish – I will bring calamity upon them which shall baffle all the skill and wisdom of their wise men.
Shall be hid – That is, shall not appear; shall vanish. It shall not be sufficient to prevent the calamities that shall come upon the nation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Shall disappear and vanish; for this answers to,
shall perish, in the former clause. A veil shall be east upon the eyes of their minds; they shall give no evidences or proofs of their wisdom, but their folly shall be made manifest. And this was indeed a wonderful thing for their wise men to be made fools.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. (Hab 1:5;Act 13:41). The “marvellouswork” is one of unparalleled vengeance on the hypocrites:compare “strange work,” Isa28:21. The judgment, too, will visit the wise in that respect inwhich they most pride themselves; their wisdom shall be hid,that is, shall no longer appear, so as to help the nation in itsdistress (compare 1Co 1:19).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid; and be no more: this was eminently fulfilled in the wise men, the doctors and learned Rabbins of the Jews; and they themselves own x, that, from the time the temple was destroyed, the wise men became like to Scribes, and the Scribes to those that looked after the synagogues, and these became like the common people, and they grew worse and worse: and Maimonides acknowledges y, that this respects their present case; he says, when the Heathen princes destroyed their best things, took away their wisdom, and their books, and killed their wise men, they became ignorant and unlearned; which evil God threatened them for their iniquities, as is said in this passage: and also this had its accomplishment in the wise philosophers of the Gentiles; see 1Co 1:18.
x Misna Sota, c. 9. sect. 15. y More Nevochim, par. 2. c. 11. p. 212.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. Therefore, behold, I add to do. (274) He threatens that he will punish by blinding not only the ignorant or the ordinary ranks, but those wise men who were held in admiration by the people. From this vengeance we may easily learn how hateful a vice hypocrisy is, and how greatly it is abhorred by God, as the Prophet spoke a little before about human inventions; for what kind of punishment is more dreadful than blindness of mind and stupidity? This indeed is not commonly perceived by men, nor are they aware of the greatness of this evil; but it is the greatest and most wretched of all.
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish. He does not speak of the common herd of men, but of their very leaders, who ought to have been like eyes. The common people in themselves are blind, like the other members of the body; and when the eyes are blinded, what shall become of the rest of the body? “If the light be darkness,” as Christ says, “how great shall be the darkness!” This is added in order to place that vengeance in a more striking light.
Hence also, we may infer how vain and foolish is the boasting of the Papists, who think that they have shut the mouths of all men, when they have brought forward the name of Bishops, or other titles of the same kind, such as Doctors, or Pastors, or the Apostolic See. They have perhaps a different kind of wisdom from that which was possessed by the Jews; but whence did they derive it? They pretend that it came from God; but we see that the Prophet does not speak of the wise men of the Chaldeans or Egyptians, but of the order of priesthood which God had appointed, of the teachers, and chief rulers, and ensign bearers, of the chosen people and of the only Church; for under this term “wise men,” he includes all superior excellence and authority among the people.
(274) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) I will proceed to do a marvellous work . . .The sure doom of hypocrisy would come upon the hypocrites: not loving the light, they would lose the light they had, and be left to their self-chosen blindness. Here, again, history was to repeat itself, and the words of Isaiah were to be fulfilled in an age and in a manner that lay beyond the horizon of his thoughts.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
All spiritual visitations which the Lord makes upon his people, are among the heaviest of his judgments. And in what an awful instance was this prediction fulfilled, and is still fulfilling, on Israel, in their rejection of Christ, the Lord of life and glory!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.
Ver. 14. Therefore, behold, I do a marvellous work, ] scil., By infatuating these masters in Israel, and bereaving their wise men of their wisdom. This was a greater marvel than to take sight from the eye, whiteness from the swan, sweetness from sugar, &c.
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish.
“ Si Christum nescis, nihil est si cratera noscis. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
for. Quoted in 1Co 1:19.
wisdom. Hebrew. chakam. See notes on
understanding. Hebrew. binah. Pro 1:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will: Isa 29:9, Isa 28:21, Hab 1:5, Joh 9:29-34
proceed: Heb. add
for the wisdom: Isa 29:10, Isa 6:9, Isa 6:10, Isa 19:3, Isa 19:11-14, Job 5:13, Jer 8:7-9, Jer 49:7, Oba 1:8, Luk 10:24, Joh 9:39-41, Act 28:26, Act 28:27, Rom 1:21, Rom 1:22, Rom 1:28, 1Co 1:19-24, 1Co 3:19
Reciprocal: Gen 41:8 – the magicians of Egypt Deu 32:28 – General 1Sa 3:11 – I will do 1Ki 11:9 – his heart 1Ki 11:11 – thou hast not Job 12:17 – General Psa 14:4 – Have Isa 19:14 – hath mingled Isa 44:25 – turneth Jer 50:35 – her wise men Luk 8:10 – that seeing Luk 10:21 – thou hast Luk 20:7 – that Joh 7:49 – General Joh 9:30 – herein Act 13:40 – which 1Co 1:27 – General 1Ti 1:7 – understanding Heb 9:7 – errors
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] an wonderful work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall {m} perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.
(m) Meaning, where God is not worshipped according to his word, both magistrates and ministers are fools and without understanding.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Therefore He would again deal with them in a way that would cause others to marvel, as He had done in the past when they sank to this level. Their wise men would not be able to view life from God’s perspective, and their discerning men would not be able to see through things to the real issues (cf. Isa 28:29). Inability to see would be their punishment for choosing not to see (cf. Isa 5:21; Isa 11:2; Isa 26:7-10; 1Co 1:19).