Isaiah 29:17
in Isaiah 29In a very short time, will not Lebanon become an orchard, and the orchard seem like a forest?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
KJV
Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
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This verse in Isaiah 29
Commentary
7 notes on this verse(Verse 17). Will not Lebanon soon become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? Let the Jews and friends of simple history answer, those who seek fruit not on the tree, but only leaves and the shadow of words, which quickly wither and perish. How is it that in the coming of the Lord Savior (because from the time of Isaiah until the incarnation of the flesh, for the comparison of eternity, it is a short and small span of time) the mountain of Lebanon turned towards Phoenicia and moved to Mount Carmel?
This site's exposition
will not Lebanon become an orchard
on Isaiah 29:17-19
In a very short time the order of things is reversed, and "Lebanon become an orchard". Then "the deaf will hear the words of the scroll", the scroll sealed in verse 11, and "the eyes of the blind will see". "The humble will increase their joy in the LORD".
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
663. Is it not yet a very little while? Here he foretells the conversion of the gentiles, and concerning this, he does three things. First, he foretells their conversion to grace: Libanus, a gentile people, for the mountain was in the land of the gentiles; …
Note that [Paul] taught Greeks in Jerusalem, and Jews in Damascus which is a Gentile city, even though this should signify that Gentiles were to be included in the city of God and Jews were to fall into the faithlessness of the Gentiles, in accordance …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Is it not yet a very little while,.... In a short space of time, in a few years, what follows would come to pass; when there would be a strange change and alteration made in the world, and by which it would appear, that the Lord not only knows, but foreknows, all things: and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; the forest of Lebanon should be as Carmel.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Is it not yet a very little while - The idea here is, ‘you have greatly perverted things in Jerusalem. The time is at hand when there shall be “other” overturnings - when the wicked shall be cut off, and when there shall be poured out upon the nation such judgments that the deaf shall hear, and the blind see, and when those who have erred in spirit shall come to understanding’ Isa 29:18-24. And Lebanon shall be tutored into a fruitful field - This is evidently a proverbial expression, denoting any great revolution of things.
And Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field “Ere Lebanon become like Carmel” - A mashal, or proverbial saying, expressing any great revolution of things; and, when respecting two subjects, an entire reciprocal change: explained here by some interpreters, I think with great probability, as having its principal view beyond the revolutions then near at hand, to the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles. The first were the vineyard of God, כרם אל kerem El, (if the prophet, who loves an allusion to words of like sounds, may be supposed to have intended one here), cultivated and watered by him in vain, to be given up, and to become a wilderness: compare Isa 5:1-7. The last had been hitherto barren; but were, by the grace of God, to be rendered fruitful. See Mat 21:43; Rom 11:30, Rom 11:31. Carmel stands here opposed to Lebanon, and therefore is to be taken as a proper name.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֲלוֹא־ | halo'- | ¿ not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| עוֹד֙ | ʾod | yet | H5750 → | 490 times |
| מְעַ֣ט | meat | a little of | H4592 → | 101 times |
| מִזְעָ֔ר | mizar | a little | H4213 → | 4 times |
| וְשָׁ֥ב | veshav | and it will turn | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| לְבָנ֖וֹן | levanon | Lebanon | H3844 → | 71 times |
| לַכַּרְמֶ֑ל | lakarmel | into <the> orchard | H3759 → | 17 times |
| וְהַכַּרְמֶ֖ל | vehakarmel | and the orchard | H3759 → | 17 times |
| לַיַּ֥עַר | laiyaar | to <the> forest | H3293 → | 59 times |
| יֵחָשֵֽׁב׃ | yechashev | it will be considered | H2803 → | 124 times |
הֲלוֹא־¿ not
halo'-H3808 →5168 times
עוֹד֙yet
ʾodH5750 →490 times
מְעַ֣טa little of
meatH4592 →101 times
מִזְעָ֔רa little
mizarH4213 →4 times
וְשָׁ֥בand it will turn
veshavH7725 →1056 times
לְבָנ֖וֹןLebanon
levanonH3844 →71 times
לַכַּרְמֶ֑לinto <the> orchard
lakarmelH3759 →17 times
וְהַכַּרְמֶ֖לand the orchard
vehakarmelH3759 →17 times
לַיַּ֥עַרto <the> forest
laiyaarH3293 →59 times
יֵחָשֵֽׁב׃it will be considered
yechashevH2803 →124 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:37For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.
it leads to
- James 5:7–9
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- Habakkuk 2:3–4
For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
- James 5:7–9
Through
Isaiah 32:15until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 39:29
And I will no longer hide My face from them, for I will pour out My Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Titus 3:5–6
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- Ezekiel 39:29
Through
Matthew 19:30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
it leads to
- Luke 13:30
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
- Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Luke 13:30
Through
Haggai 2:6For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:26–28
At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”
- Hebrews 12:26–28
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts 9; George Adam Smith, The Book of Isaiah, Expositor's Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.