Isaiah 29:15

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Woe {H1945} unto them that seek deep {H6009} to hide {H5641} their counsel {H6098} from the LORD {H3068}, and their works {H4639} are in the dark {H4285}, and they say {H559}, Who seeth {H7200} us? and who knoweth {H3045} us?

Woe to those who burrow down deep to hide their plans from ADONAI! They work in the dark and say to themselves, "Nobody sees us, nobody knows us."

Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, โ€œWho sees us, and who will know?โ€

Woe unto them that hide deep their counsel from Jehovah, and whose works are in the dark, and that say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 29:15 (KJV)

The prophet Isaiah declares a powerful woe against those who foolishly believe they can outwit or hide from the Almighty God. This verse exposes the spiritual arrogance and moral blindness of people who meticulously devise plans in secret, thinking their actions are beyond divine scrutiny. It's a stark warning against hypocrisy and rebellion concealed under a veil of darkness.

Context

Isaiah 29 is a chapter rich with prophecy concerning Jerusalem, often referred to as Ariel. The preceding verses lament the spiritual dullness and hypocrisy of the people, describing them as having "ears that are heavy" and "eyes that are shut" (Isaiah 29:10). Their worship is described as merely lip service, with their hearts far from God (Isaiah 29:13). Verse 15 builds upon this foundation, revealing the depth of their spiritual rebellion: not only are they outwardly hypocritical, but they also actively strive to hide their true intentions and deeds from the Lord, believing themselves to be clever enough to escape His notice.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omniscience vs. Human Folly: The core message is the absolute futility of attempting to conceal anything from an all-knowing God. The rhetorical questions, "Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?", reveal a profound spiritual arrogance and a dangerous delusion that one can escape divine scrutiny. The Bible consistently affirms God's omniscience, emphasizing that there is no hiding from the Lord's presence or knowledge.
  • Hypocrisy and Deception: The verse highlights the nature of their "counsel" and "works" being "in the dark." This signifies actions characterized by secrecy, deceit, and often evil intent, as if light would expose their true, corrupt nature. They are not merely mistaken but actively engaged in hiding their rebellion.
  • The Certainty of Judgment: The opening "Woe unto them" is a prophetic declaration of impending judgment and condemnation. It underscores the serious consequences for those who persist in spiritual blindness and rebellion against God, believing their secret sins will remain unpunished.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "seek deep to hide their counsel" (ื”ึทืžึผึทืขึฒืžึดื™ืงึดื™ื ืœึฐื”ึทืกึฐืชึผึดื™ืจ ืžึตื”' ืขึตืฆึธื”, hamma`amiqim lehasthir meYHWH `etsah) is particularly vivid. The word `amoq (ืขึธืžึนืง), meaning "deep," implies a deliberate, profound, and concerted effort to bury their plans and intentions. It's not casual hiding but a cunning attempt to be utterly concealed. Their "works are in the dark" (ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื‘ึทื—ึนืฉืึถืšึฐ ืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตื™ื”ึถื, vayehi vahoshekh ma`aseihem) directly links their actions to darkness, often a biblical metaphor for evil, ignorance, and secrecy.

Practical Application

Isaiah 29:15 serves as a powerful reminder for all generations that God is not mocked, and what is sown in secret will eventually be reaped in the open. For believers, it calls for a life of transparency, integrity, and genuine submission to God's will. We are reminded that His eyes are always upon us (Proverbs 15:3), and true wisdom lies not in attempting to hide from Him, but in walking in the light and allowing Him to guide our counsel and our works. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and motives, ensuring that our private lives align with our public profession of faith.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 8:12

    Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

  • Isaiah 47:10

    For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I [am], and none else beside me.

  • Isaiah 30:1

    ยถ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

  • Psalms 139:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

  • Psalms 139:8

    If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].

  • Psalms 94:7

    Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard [it].

  • Psalms 94:9

    He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
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