Isaiah 29:12

KJV

And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the book {H5612} is delivered {H5414} to him that is not learned {H3045}{H5612}, saying {H559}, Read {H7121} this, I pray thee: and he saith {H559}, I am not learned {H3045}.

Complete Jewish Bible

If the scroll is given to someone who can't read with the request, "Please read this," he says, "I can't read."

Berean Standard Bible

Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”

American Standard Version

and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 29:12 profoundly illustrates the spiritual and intellectual impasse faced by Judah in receiving divine revelation. Building upon the preceding verse's depiction of a prophetic message inaccessible to the learned, this passage presents the complementary dilemma: the same divine "book" is offered to one who claims "I am not learned," signifying not merely a lack of formal education but, more critically, a pervasive spiritual incapacity to apprehend God's truth. This verse underscores the deep spiritual dullness that afflicted the nation, rendering them incapable of discerning His word, irrespective of their intellectual standing or social status.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 29 functions as a powerful oracle of judgment and eventual restoration for Jerusalem, metaphorically named "Ariel," a term suggesting both its strength as a "lion of God" and its fate as an "altar hearth" for sacrifice. The chapter begins with a pronouncement of impending siege and divine judgment upon the city, followed by a stark portrayal of Judah's spiritual condition. Verses 9-12 specifically detail the profound spiritual stupor that has enveloped the people. [Isaiah 29:9](/isaiah/29-9 "Isaiah 29:9 - Stupor and Blindness") describes a "spirit of deep sleep" poured out by the Lord, causing their prophets and seers to be veiled and blind. [Isaiah 29:11](/isaiah/29-11 "Isaiah 29:11 - The Sealed Book") introduces the metaphor of a "sealed book" that even the literate cannot read, while [Isaiah 29:12](/isaiah/29-12 "Isaiah 29:12 - The Unlearned Cannot Read") extends this metaphor to the illiterate or spiritually unlearned. Together, these verses paint a comprehensive and devastating picture of a nation utterly incapacitated from understanding God's message, highlighting a profound spiritual deafness and blindness that transcends human intellectual capacity or social standing. This immediate context sets the stage for God's condemnation of their hypocritical worship in [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Lip Service and Heart's Distance"), where their outward piety is exposed as a mere human tradition.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies in Isaiah 29 are situated within the tumultuous late 8th century BCE, a period marked by Judah's precarious political position during the reign of King Hezekiah. Caught between the formidable Assyrian Empire and the declining power of Egypt, Judah frequently sought strategic alliances with foreign nations rather than placing its trust in Yahweh. Isaiah consistently condemned these alliances, particularly those with Egypt, as an act of rebellion against God, as seen in [Isaiah 30:1-7](/isaiah/30 "Isaiah 30 - Woe to Rebellious Children"). Spiritually, the nation had largely fallen into a state of formalistic worship and hypocrisy. While outward religious rituals were maintained, the hearts of the people were far from God, and widespread idolatry and social injustice were prevalent despite the presence of the Temple and the Mosaic Law. In this context, the "book" likely refers to God's prophetic word, the Law, or the covenant stipulations, which were meant to guide the nation. The inability to read or understand, whether due to literal illiteracy or, more significantly, spiritual dullness, reflects a society that had severed its vital connection to divine truth, leaving it vulnerable to both internal moral decay and external geopolitical threats.

* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 29:12 contributes significantly to several overarching themes prominent in the book of Isaiah and the broader prophetic corpus. A central theme is **Spiritual Blindness and Deafness**, where the people, despite having direct access to divine revelation, are depicted as unwilling or unable to perceive its truth. This is not merely an intellectual deficiency but a profound spiritual condition, a hardening of the heart against God's voice, leading to a pervasive **Inability to Discern Divine Revelation**. The "book" serves as a potent symbol of God's word, which remains inaccessible to both the learned and the unlearned, underscoring that human wisdom or lack thereof is utterly insufficient for spiritual understanding. This theme stands in stark contrast to the **Sovereignty of God** in both revealing and, at times, concealing truth, as powerfully articulated in [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Hearts Hardened, Eyes Blinded"), where God Himself declares His intention to dull their hearts and close their eyes. Ultimately, the passage highlights the **Necessity of Divine Illumination** for true spiritual comprehension, foreshadowing the promise of a new covenant where God would write His law directly upon the hearts of His people, enabling genuine understanding and obedience (e.g., [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Book (Hebrew, _çêpher'_):** This term (H5612) encompasses "writing (the art or a document)" and, by implication, a "book," "scroll," or "letter." In this prophetic context, it powerfully symbolizes divine revelation—specifically, the prophetic message Isaiah is delivering, or more broadly, God's Law and covenant. The imagery of the book being delivered yet remaining unreadable emphasizes the inaccessibility of God's truth to a people whose hearts have become hardened. The impediment is not in the clarity or validity of the divine message itself, but in the spiritual state of its intended recipients.
* **Delivered (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** The root (H5414) is a versatile verb meaning "to give," "put," or "make," used with a wide range of applications. Here, in the passive voice ("is delivered"), it signifies the active presentation or handing over of the divine word. This highlights God's persistent initiative in communicating His will and truth to His people, even in their state of spiritual rebellion. It underscores that God is not withholding His revelation; rather, He is actively offering it, despite their inability or unwillingness to receive it.
* **Learned (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This primitive root (H3045) means "to know" (properly, to ascertain by seeing) and is used in a vast array of senses, including "comprehend," "discern," "understand," and "be aware." The phrase "not learned" (לֹא יָדַע, _lo yâdaʻ_) therefore means "not knowing" or "not understanding." While it could literally refer to illiteracy, within this spiritual context, it extends far beyond mere intellectual capacity. It denotes a profound lack of spiritual insight, wisdom, or the ability to grasp divine truth, representing an admission of spiritual ignorance and an inability to genuinely engage with the sacred text.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned":** This clause sets the scene, depicting God's divine revelation (the "book") being presented to an individual characterized by a lack of understanding. Following the preceding verse's scenario where the "learned" could not read a sealed book, this clause presents the complementary predicament: even if the book were unsealed, the "unlearned" (those lacking spiritual discernment) would still be unable to comprehend it. This highlights the pervasive nature of Judah's spiritual blindness, affecting all segments of society, regardless of their formal education or intellectual standing.
* **"saying, Read this, I pray thee:":** This phrase represents the divine imperative—the earnest call from God, conveyed through the prophet or the very act of revelation, for the individual to engage with and understand His word. The inclusion of "I pray thee" underscores God's deep desire and persistent invitation for His people to receive and benefit from His instruction, despite their current spiritual state. It is a heartfelt plea for active engagement and comprehension, revealing God's longing for their spiritual awakening.
* **"and he saith, I am not learned.":** This is the human response, a stark admission of profound inability. On a superficial level, it could imply literal illiteracy. However, in the broader context of Judah's spiritual condition described in Isaiah 29, it signifies a deeper spiritual incapacity—a lack of the necessary spiritual discernment, a profound ignorance of divine truth, or an inherent unwillingness to engage with the divine message. It is a tragic confession of spiritual impotence, a refusal or inability to receive the life-transforming truths contained within God's revelation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 29:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of spiritual blindness. The most prominent is **Symbolism**, where the "book" serves as a powerful symbol for God's divine revelation, His Law, and His prophetic word. Its inaccessibility—whether "sealed" for the learned (v. 11) or simply incomprehensible to the "unlearned" (v. 12)—symbolizes the pervasive spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of the people of Judah. The act of "delivering" the book symbolizes God's persistent and gracious act of communicating His will, while the refusal or inability to read it symbolizes the nation's profound spiritual apathy and rebellion. This verse also utilizes **Juxtaposition** by presenting the unlearned's inability to read immediately following the learned's inability in the previous verse, thereby emphasizing the universal spiritual incapacity within Judah that transcends social or intellectual distinctions. The brief dialogue between the deliverer and the recipient creates a sense of **Dramatic Irony**, as the very people to whom God's life-giving word is offered are precisely those who cannot or will not receive it, tragically highlighting their self-imposed spiritual condition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 29:12 profoundly underscores the truth that spiritual understanding is not merely an intellectual exercise but a divinely enabled capacity. The inability of both the learned and the unlearned to comprehend God's "book" reveals a deep spiritual malady—a heart condition that actively resists or is simply incapable of receiving divine truth. This passage serves as a stark reminder that without the illuminating work of the Spirit of God upon the mind and heart, even the clearest and most direct revelation remains opaque and unintelligible. It highlights humanity's inherent spiritual incapacity post-Fall to fully grasp God's will and wisdom, thereby necessitating divine intervention for true discernment. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that God's ways are infinitely higher than human ways, and His wisdom often confounds human intellect and pride.

* [1 Corinthians 2:14](/1_corinthians/2-14 "1 Corinthians 2:14 - The Natural Man Cannot Understand Spiritual Things")
* [Matthew 13:13](/matthew/13-13 "Matthew 13:13 - Parables and Spiritual Blindness")
* [John 6:44](/john/6-44 "John 6:44 - No One Can Come Unless Drawn by the Father")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 29:12 serves as a timeless mirror, inviting us to critically examine our own posture toward God's Word. It challenges the common assumption that intellectual prowess, formal education, or even theological training alone guarantees genuine spiritual insight. Instead, it powerfully asserts that true understanding of divine revelation hinges on a humble, receptive heart, utterly dependent on the illumination of the Holy Spirit. In a world that often prioritizes human wisdom, self-reliance, and academic achievement, this verse calls us back to a posture of profound humility and dependence on God for spiritual comprehension. Are we genuinely seeking to understand His message with an open and teachable spirit, or do we, like the "unlearned" of Isaiah's day, confess an inability born of spiritual indifference, a lack of genuine pursuit, or perhaps even a subtle pride that believes it already knows enough? This passage urges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a vibrant, Spirit-led engagement with Scripture, recognizing that the profound depths of God's truth are unveiled not to the proud or self-sufficient, but to those who earnestly desire to know Him and His ways. It is a compelling call to cultivate spiritual literacy, praying fervently for discernment and diligently applying ourselves to His Word, lest we miss the profound guidance and life-transforming power it offers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the "unlearned" in Isaiah 29:12, be admitting spiritual incapacity or exhibiting indifference towards God's Word, perhaps without consciously realizing it?**
* **How does my current approach to studying Scripture reflect a reliance on human intellect versus a humble dependence on the Holy Spirit for true understanding and application?**
* **What practical and spiritual steps can I take to cultivate a more receptive heart and deepen my spiritual discernment, moving beyond mere surface-level reading of the Bible to a transformative encounter with God's truth?**

### FAQ
**Does "not learned" in Isaiah 29:12 specifically mean someone who is illiterate?**

Answer: While "not learned" (Hebrew: *lo yâdaʻ*) can literally refer to illiteracy, in the broader, profound context of Isaiah 29, it carries a deeper, more significant spiritual meaning. The chapter describes a pervasive spiritual blindness and dullness affecting all segments of Judahite society. Verse 11 speaks of the "sealed book" that even the *learned* (those who are literate and educated) cannot read, clearly indicating that the problem extends beyond a mere lack of formal education. Therefore, in verse 12, the "unlearned" represents those who, regardless of their formal schooling or intellectual capacity, lack the spiritual discernment or willingness to understand God's divine revelation. It points to a spiritual ignorance or apathy that prevents them from grasping the profound truths of God's word, highlighting that human intellect alone is utterly insufficient for true spiritual comprehension. This spiritual inability to perceive and respond to God's truth is a key theme throughout the prophetic books, powerfully illustrated in passages like [Jeremiah 5:21](/jeremiah/5-21 "Jeremiah 5:21 - A Foolish and Senseless People").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 29:12, along with the broader prophetic lament concerning Judah's spiritual blindness, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "book" that remained inaccessible to both the learned and the unlearned in Isaiah's day symbolizes God's eternal redemptive plan and His very self, which remained largely veiled under the Old Covenant. Jesus, however, is the living Word of God, the ultimate and perfect revelation of the Father (e.g., [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God") and [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He came not only to interpret the "sealed book" of God's purposes but to open it fully, not through human intellect or earthly power, but through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. The spiritual blindness and deafness described in Isaiah are overcome through Christ, who gives sight to the blind, both physically and, more importantly, spiritually (e.g., [John 9:39](/john/9-39 "John 9:39 - Jesus Came for Judgment and Sight")). He is the one who enables the "unlearned"—those without human wisdom, social standing, or academic credentials—to understand the profound mysteries of the Kingdom of God, often confounding the "wise" and "prudent" of this world (e.g., [Matthew 11:25](/matthew/11-25 "Matthew 11:25 - Revelation to the Little Children") and [1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chose the Foolish to Shame the Wise")). Through the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sends as the Spirit of truth (e.g., [John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth Will Guide")), the hearts and minds of believers are supernaturally opened to comprehend the Scriptures, transforming them from those who "are not learned" in spiritual matters to those who are taught by God Himself (e.g., [John 6:45](/john/6-45 "John 6:45 - Everyone Taught by God")). Thus, what was an insurmountable barrier in Isaiah's time becomes a pathway to profound understanding, intimate knowledge of God, and eternal life through saving faith in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 7:15

And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

John 7:16

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

Isaiah 29:18

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Jeremiah 5:4

Therefore I said, Surely these [are] poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, [nor] the judgment of their God.

Hosea 4:6

¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Isaiah 28:12

To whom he said, This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest; and this [is] the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Isaiah 28:13

But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.