Isaiah 29:14

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore, behold, I will proceed {H3254} to do a marvellous work {H6381} among this people {H5971}, even a marvellous work {H6381} and a wonder {H6382}: for the wisdom {H2451} of their wise {H2450} men shall perish {H6}, and the understanding {H998} of their prudent {H995} men shall be hid {H5641}.

Complete Jewish Bible

therefore, I will have to keep shocking these people with astounding and amazing things, until the 'wisdom' of their 'wise ones' vanishes, and the 'discernment' of their 'discerning ones' is hidden away."

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

American Standard Version

therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 29:14 unveils a divine decree of judgment against a people whose religious observance was superficial and whose hearts were estranged from God. This verse announces a profoundly unexpected and bewildering act of God—a "marvellous work" that would utterly dismantle the perceived intellectual prowess and strategic acumen of their most esteemed leaders, exposing the utter futility of human wisdom when it operates independently of divine truth and genuine spiritual devotion. It signifies God's active intervention to confound human pride and self-reliance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This potent declaration is embedded within a broader prophetic oracle (Isaiah 29:9-24) primarily directed at Jerusalem, metaphorically referred to as "Ariel," a name that can signify "lion of God" or "altar hearth," hinting at both its strength and its sacrificial destiny. The verses immediately preceding [Isaiah 29:9-12](/isaiah/29-9-12 "Isaiah 29:9-12 - Spiritual Stupor and Sealed Prophecy") depict a nation plunged into spiritual stupor and blindness, where prophetic vision is obscured, and the very word of God becomes like a sealed book, inaccessible and incomprehensible. This spiritual malaise culminates in the stinging indictment of [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Hypocritical Worship Condemned"), which directly sets the stage for our verse: "Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men." Therefore, [Isaiah 29:14](/isaiah/29-14 "Isaiah 29:14 - God Confounds Human Wisdom") is not an isolated statement but God's direct, active, and consequential response to this profound spiritual apathy, hypocrisy, and dangerous reliance on human tradition over divine revelation. The "marvellous work" is thus a divinely orchestrated judgment, perfectly aligned with the preceding spiritual diagnosis.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah's prophetic ministry unfolded during a volatile period in Judah's history (8th century BCE), characterized by the formidable rise of the Assyrian Empire and the constant existential threat of invasion. In response to these geopolitical pressures, the leaders and "wise men" of Judah frequently sought pragmatic political alliances, often with powerful nations like Egypt, as critically depicted in [Isaiah 30:1-7](/isaiah/30-1-7 "Isaiah 30:1-7 - Alliance with Egypt Condemned"). This reliance on human strategy and military might often supplanted genuine trust in the Lord's protective power. Culturally, "wisdom" (Hebrew: *chokmah*) was a highly esteemed societal virtue, typically embodied by scribes, royal counselors, and elders who provided guidance to kings and the populace. However, this wisdom was often worldly, pragmatic, and detached from the covenant faithfulness demanded by God. The verse exposes a society where outward religious conformity coexisted with a deep-seated spiritual rebellion, a recurring theme in the prophetic critiques of ancient Near Eastern religious practices that prioritized ritual over righteousness.
* **Key Themes:** [Isaiah 29:14](/isaiah/29-14 "Isaiah 29:14 - God Confounds Human Wisdom") powerfully articulates several foundational themes within the book of Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the **Sovereignty of God** over all human endeavors, particularly human intellect and strategic planning. It demonstrates His absolute power to overturn human designs and expose their inherent folly when they stand apart from His divine will. Secondly, it highlights the **Futility of Human Wisdom** when it is preferred over or operates in opposition to divine wisdom. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, contrasting the "wisdom of the world" with the "wisdom from above," as eloquently articulated in [James 3:15-17](/james/3-15-17 "James 3:15-17 - Earthly vs. Heavenly Wisdom"). Thirdly, the verse speaks to the theme of **Divine Judgment** upon spiritual hypocrisy and blindness, revealing God's active and decisive response to a people who offer Him mere lip service while their hearts remain distant. Finally, the promise of a "marvellous work" introduces the profound theme of **God's Unexpected Ways**, which frequently defy human logic, expectations, and conventional understanding, whether manifested in judgment or in the unfolding of His redemptive purposes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **pâlâʼ (Hebrew, _pâlâʼ'_):** This primitive root signifies "to separate, distinguish," and by extension, "to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful." When used of God's actions, it describes something extraordinary, miraculous, or utterly beyond human comprehension and explanation. The "marvellous work" here is not merely impressive but astonishing, defying natural or human-derived understanding. It is often employed to describe God's unique, powerful, and often surprising acts, such as the wonders of the Exodus. In this context, it signifies a divine act of judgment that is so utterly unexpected and bewildering that it confounds those who experience it.
* **ʼâbad (Hebrew, _ʼâbad'_):** A primitive root meaning "to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)." In the context of Isaiah 29:14, it denotes the complete destruction, dissolution, or rendering useless of the wisdom of the wise. It implies that their intellectual prowess will not merely be forgotten or become irrelevant, but will be actively brought to nothing, made void, or caused to fail utterly by divine intervention. This signifies a direct, God-orchestrated dismantling of the very foundation of their intellectual pride and self-reliance.
* **çâthar (Hebrew, _çâthar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively." Applied to the understanding of the prudent, it means their insight will be concealed, made inaccessible, or rendered ineffective. This suggests a divine obfuscation, where what was once clear, effective, or a source of pride becomes obscure, useless, and beyond their grasp. It implies a deliberate act of God to blind their understanding, making their once-valued insights impotent in the face of His confounding actions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder:"** This opening clause serves as a solemn divine declaration of intent, with "therefore" (Hebrew: *lākhēn*) clearly indicating a direct consequence of the people's deep-seated hypocrisy and spiritual apathy, as indicted in [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Hypocritical Worship Condemned"). The emphatic "behold" (Hebrew: *hinneh*) functions as an attention-grabbing interjection, drawing immediate focus to the impending, astonishing action of God. The doubling of the phrase "a marvellous work and a wonder" (Hebrew: *pele'*) intensely emphasizes the extraordinary, unprecedented, and utterly bewildering nature of God's intervention. This "work" is not a benevolent miracle in this context, but rather a confounding act of judgment, specifically designed to expose, humble, and dismantle the spiritual complacency and intellectual pride of the people.
* **"for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish,"** This clause elucidates the precise nature of the "marvellous work." The "wisdom" (Hebrew: *chokmâh*) of their "wise men" (Hebrew: *châkâm*) refers to their human intellectual acumen, their strategic insights, their counsel, and their self-perceived sagacity—the very foundation of their societal and personal pride. God declares that this highly esteemed human wisdom will "perish" (Hebrew: *ʼâbad*), meaning it will be utterly destroyed, rendered useless, or brought to nothing. This is a direct, targeted assault on the source of their self-reliance, demonstrating that God's ways and judgments are fundamentally beyond their intellectual grasp and control.
* **"and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid."** This clause functions as a powerful parallel to the preceding statement, employing synonymous terms to underscore the complete nullification of human intellect when it stands against God. "Understanding" (Hebrew: *bîynâh*) signifies their discernment, insight, and their capacity to comprehend or make sense of complex situations. Their "prudent men" (Hebrew: *bîyn*) are those renowned for their discernment and insight. This understanding will be "hid" (Hebrew: *çâthar*), implying it will be concealed, made inaccessible, or rendered utterly ineffective. This suggests a divine blinding or obfuscation, where their once-valued insights become impotent and useless in the face of God's confounding and sovereign actions.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 29:14 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message of divine judgment and the futility of human wisdom. The most striking is **Repetition**, particularly the emphatic doubling of "a marvellous work and a wonder." This repetition serves to intensely underscore the extraordinary, unprecedented, and utterly bewildering nature of God's impending action. It creates a sense of profound awe and impending dread, highlighting that what God is about to do is unique, beyond human comprehension, and designed to confound. **Parallelism** is also prominently featured in the latter half of the verse, where "the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish" is directly paralleled by "and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid." This synonymous parallelism powerfully reinforces the central message: all human intellectual capacity, when arrayed against or preferred over divine truth, will be rendered utterly null and void. Furthermore, a strong element of **Irony** pervades the verse: the very people who pride themselves on their profound wisdom and understanding will be utterly confounded and exposed as foolish by God's "marvellous work," which, paradoxically, involves the very destruction and concealment of their cherished wisdom. This stark irony vividly contrasts divine wisdom with human folly, highlighting the ultimate impotence of human intellect apart from God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 29:14 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine judgment and the utter futility of human wisdom when it operates independently of, or in opposition to, God. It asserts God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating His unparalleled power to dismantle human systems of thought, intellectual pride, and self-reliance that exclude Him. This divine act of confounding human wisdom serves as a crucial precursor to God's greater redemptive plans, which often unfold through unexpected means that defy human logic and conventional understanding. The "marvellous work" of judgment described here is ultimately intended to clear the way for a deeper, authentic revelation of God's true wisdom, a wisdom that is often perceived as foolishness by the world, yet is the very foundation of salvation and true understanding.

* [1 Corinthians 1:19](/1_corinthians/1-19 "1 Corinthians 1:19 - God Confounds Worldly Wisdom")
* [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - God's Unsearchable Judgments")
* [Job 5:12-13](/job/5-12-13 "Job 5:12-13 - God Frustrates the Schemes of the Crafty")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 29:14 serves as a timeless and piercing warning against spiritual complacency, religious hypocrisy, and the perilous trap of self-reliance. For believers today, it issues a profound call to humility, reminding us that authentic wisdom does not originate from human intellect, worldly strategies, or the prevailing philosophies of our age, but flows solely from God Himself. This verse challenges us to meticulously examine the authenticity and depth of our worship, urging us to ensure that our hearts are genuinely and passionately drawn to God, rather than merely offering Him superficial lip service. In a contemporary world that frequently exalts human achievement, intellectual prowess, and technological advancement, this passage powerfully urges us to place our complete trust in God's often unexpected, "marvellous," and sometimes confounding ways. These divine methods may defy our logic and challenge our preconceived notions, but they are always perfect in His sovereign sight. It compels us to diligently seek genuine spiritual understanding through His revealed Word and the illumination of His Spirit, rather than leaning on our own limited understanding or succumbing to the transient wisdom of our culture. Our ultimate security, guidance, and true insight must stem from a deep, heart-felt, and obedient relationship with the Lord, not from our own cleverness, strategic acumen, or the fallible counsel of men.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life am I tempted to rely primarily on my own wisdom, intellectual abilities, or worldly strategies rather than humbly seeking and submitting to God's counsel?**
* **How might my "worship" or religious practice sometimes be reduced to mere lip service, and what concrete steps can I take to cultivate a heart that is truly devoted and authentically engaged with God?**
* **What does it truly mean for me to embrace God's "marvellous work" in my life, especially when it confounds my understanding, challenges my expectations, or disrupts my carefully laid plans?**
* **How does the sobering truth that God can make human wisdom "perish" or "hid" profoundly impact my view of intellectual pursuits, worldly success, and the pursuit of knowledge in general?**

### FAQ
**What is the "marvellous work" God promises to do in Isaiah 29:14?**

Answer: The "marvellous work" (Hebrew: *pele'*) in [Isaiah 29:14](/isaiah/29-14 "Isaiah 29:14 - God Confounds Human Wisdom") refers to a divine act of judgment that is astonishing, confounding, and utterly beyond human comprehension. In this specific context, it is not a benevolent miracle, but rather God's active and decisive intervention to dismantle the self-reliant wisdom and understanding of a people who offered Him only lip service while their hearts were far from Him ([Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Hypocritical Worship Condemned")). This work would cause their perceived wisdom to "perish" and their understanding to be "hid," exposing its utter futility in the face of God's sovereign will and truth. It signifies a divine action that defies human logic and exposes the emptiness of worldly intellectual pride.

**How does Isaiah 29:14 relate to New Testament teachings, particularly concerning wisdom?**

Answer: [Isaiah 29:14](/isaiah/29-14 "Isaiah 29:14 - God Confounds Human Wisdom") finds a significant fulfillment and profound theological resonance in the New Testament, most notably in the Apostle Paul's writings. Paul directly quotes this very verse in [1 Corinthians 1:19](/1_corinthians/1-19 "1 Corinthians 1:19 - God Confounds Worldly Wisdom") to explain how God, through the seemingly foolish message of the cross, actively confounds and nullifies the wisdom of the world. He powerfully argues that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men" ([1 Corinthians 1:25](/1_corinthians/1-25 "1 Corinthians 1:25 - God's Foolishness Wiser Than Man's Wisdom")). This highlights a recurring biblical principle: God frequently chooses to work in ways that defy human logic and expose the emptiness of worldly wisdom, thereby demonstrating that true spiritual understanding and salvation come only through divine revelation and humble faith in Christ, not through human intellect, philosophical systems, or self-effort.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 29:14, with its prophetic declaration of God's "marvellous work" confounding human wisdom, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The astonishing realities of the incarnation, the scandal of the crucifixion, and the triumph of the resurrection of Jesus constitute the supreme "marvellous work" of God, which utterly defies, exposes, and shatters the limitations of human wisdom. For the "wise" of His day—the religious leaders, the scribes, the philosophers, and those steeped in worldly logic—the very idea of a crucified Messiah was an insurmountable stumbling block and sheer foolishness ([1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block and Foolishness")). Yet, it was precisely through this seemingly weak, foolish, and paradoxical act of the cross that God accomplished the greatest salvation for humanity, demonstrating His infinite power and profound wisdom in a way that utterly shattered all human expectations, intellectual constructs, and self-righteous paradigms. The gospel message itself, proclaiming a Savior who willingly died for sinners, is indeed foolishness to those who are perishing in their own wisdom, but to us who are being saved, it is nothing less than the very power of God unto salvation ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")). Thus, Jesus embodies the divine wisdom that causes the wisdom of the world to perish and its understanding to be hidden, revealing that true knowledge of God, genuine understanding, and eternal salvation come not through human intellect or self-effort, but through humble faith in the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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

Habakkuk 1:5

¶ Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for [I] will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe, though it be told [you].

1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Corinthians 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Isaiah 28:21

For the LORD shall rise up as [in] mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as [in] the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

Jeremiah 49:7

¶ Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; [Is] wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

Job 5:13

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

Obadiah 1:8

Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise [men] out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?