Isaiah 29:17

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

Is it not yet a very {H4213} little while {H4592}, and Lebanon {H3844} shall be turned {H7725} into a fruitful field {H3759}, and the fruitful field {H3759} shall be esteemed {H2803} as a forest {H3293}?

Complete Jewish Bible

In but a little while the L'vanon will be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field regarded as a forest.

Berean Standard Bible

In a very short time, will not Lebanon become an orchard, and the orchard seem like a forest?

American Standard Version

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 29:17 unveils a profound prophetic vision of radical transformation, foretelling a time when the desolate, proud, or spiritually barren will be miraculously turned into abundantly fruitful ground, and that which is already fruitful will be elevated to an unprecedented state of glory and abundance. This verse encapsulates God's sovereign power to reverse fortunes, bring forth unexpected spiritual and physical flourishing, and usher in a new era of divine discernment and blessing, signaling a dramatic shift from judgment to glorious restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 29 is a complex prophetic oracle primarily directed against Jerusalem, referred to as "Ariel," a name possibly meaning "lion of God" or "altar hearth." The chapter begins with stern warnings of judgment for the city's spiritual stupor, blindness, and hypocrisy, characterized by outward religious observance without inward devotion, as highlighted in [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - Lip Service vs. Heart Worship"). The people are depicted as spiritually deaf and blind, relying on human wisdom and alliances rather than trusting in the Lord. However, amidst these pronouncements of impending distress and divine discipline, the tone shifts dramatically in verses 17-24. This verse, [Isaiah 29:17](/isaiah/29-17 "Isaiah 29:17 - Prophecy of Transformation"), marks the pivotal turning point from judgment to a glorious future, introducing themes of restoration, spiritual awakening, and a dramatic reversal of fortunes for God's people. It sets the stage for the subsequent promises of restored sight and hearing ([Isaiah 29:18](/isaiah/29-18 "Isaiah 29:18 - The Deaf Shall Hear and the Blind See")), joy for the humble, and the ultimate recognition of God's holiness and justice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in Isaiah 29 likely dates to the late 8th century BCE, during a period of significant Assyrian threat to Judah. Jerusalem, though seemingly secure, faced deep spiritual decay and political instability, leaning on human alliances rather than divine trust. The imagery of "Lebanon" was culturally and symbolically significant in ancient Israel. The majestic cedars of Lebanon were renowned for their grandeur, strength, and beauty, often symbolizing pride, earthly power, and even idolatry in biblical literature (e.g., [Isaiah 10:34](/isaiah/10-34 "Isaiah 10:34 - God's Judgment on the Proud and Lofty")). Its transformation into a "fruitful field" (Hebrew: _karmel_) would have evoked the fertile, cultivated lands of Palestine, particularly the coastal plain known for its vineyards and orchards, symbolizing productivity, blessing, and divine favor. The subsequent elevation of the "fruitful field" to be "esteemed as a forest" (_ya'ar_) suggests an even greater, perhaps overwhelming, abundance and density of growth, signifying an unprecedented level of blessing, spiritual maturity, and divine presence. The prophecy speaks to a people who understood the stark contrast between barrenness and fertility, desolation and flourishing, and who were accustomed to interpreting natural imagery as profound reflections of spiritual realities.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores **Radical Transformation** and **Divine Reversal**, highlighting God's sovereign power to completely alter circumstances, turning the desolate into the fruitful and the ordinary into the extraordinary. This theme is central to Isaiah's message of hope amidst judgment, where God promises to do a "marvelous work and a wonder" ([Isaiah 29:14](/isaiah/29-14 "Isaiah 29:14 - God's Judgment on Human Wisdom")). Secondly, it points to a profound **Spiritual Awakening** and **Restoration**. The physical transformation of the land mirrors a spiritual renewal among God's people, where spiritual blindness and deafness are replaced by true discernment and understanding, as promised in [Isaiah 29:18](/isaiah/29-18 "Isaiah 29:18 - The Deaf Shall Hear and the Blind See")). Thirdly, it emphasizes **God's Faithfulness and Covenant Promises**, assuring a future of blessing and flourishing for those who turn to Him, despite their past failures and spiritual apathy. This hope extends beyond mere physical prosperity to a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord, where the humble rejoice and the violent cease, as described in [Isaiah 29:19-20](/isaiah/29-19-20 "Isaiah 29:19-20 - The Humble Rejoice and the Oppressor Ceases")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **esteemed (Hebrew, _châshab'_):** This primitive root (H2803) properly means "to plait or interpenetrate," leading to meanings like "to weave," "to fabricate," or "to contrive." Figuratively, it implies mental effort: "to think," "regard," "value," or "compute." In this context, the fruitful field will not merely become a forest, but it will be _regarded_ or _valued_ as a forest. This suggests a profound change in perception, status, and inherent worth, an elevation in its significance and a recognition of its newfound majesty.
* **fruitful field (Hebrew, _karmel'_):** Derived from the root for "vineyard," _karmel_ (H3759) refers to a "planted field," "garden," "orchard," or "vineyard." It signifies a fertile, cultivated, and highly productive area, often associated with rich agricultural bounty. Its transformation from being "Lebanon" (potentially symbolic of pride or desolation) to a _karmel_ denotes a shift to spiritual fertility and productivity, a place where God's cultivation yields abundant fruit. The subsequent elevation of this _karmel_ to be esteemed as a "forest" implies an even greater, perhaps overwhelming, abundance and density of growth, surpassing its already fruitful state.
* **turned (Hebrew, _shûwb'_):** This primitive root (H7725) means "to turn back" or "to return," but it also powerfully signifies "to reverse," "to restore," or "to cause to return to a former state," or even "to convert." Here, it conveys a complete and decisive reversal of condition. Lebanon, once a symbol of pride or desolation, will be utterly transformed, "turned" into something entirely different—a fertile field. This highlights God's active, immediate, and transformative intervention, not merely a gradual change but a divine reordering of reality.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Is it not yet a very little while,"**: This rhetorical question serves to emphasize the imminence and certainty of the prophecy. It suggests that the time of waiting for this dramatic, divinely orchestrated transformation is short, indicating God's swift and decisive action. It builds anticipation and assures the audience that the radical change about to be declared is not distant but on the very cusp of manifestation.
* **"and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,"**: This clause describes the first and foundational stage of the transformation. "Lebanon," traditionally associated with majestic but often proud cedars, or even desolate and uncultivated areas, will undergo a complete reversal. It will be "turned" (a strong verb implying divine agency and a complete reversal of its nature) into a "fruitful field" (_karmel_), signifying a profound shift from barrenness, spiritual emptiness, or human pride to a state of rich cultivation, spiritual productivity, and divine blessing.
* **"and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?"**: This second clause describes an even more astonishing and profound elevation. The "fruitful field," which itself represents a positive transformation and a state of blessing, will then be "esteemed" or "regarded" as a "forest" (_ya'ar_). This implies an exponential increase in density, abundance, and perhaps even majesty and wild, untamed growth. It suggests a level of spiritual flourishing, divine presence, and glory that surpasses even the initial state of fruitfulness, indicating an unprecedented outpouring of God's grace and an overwhelming manifestation of His kingdom's vitality.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 29:17 is rich with **Symbolism**, where "Lebanon," "fruitful field," and "forest" are not merely literal landscapes but deeply represent spiritual realities. "Lebanon" often symbolizes human pride, loftiness, or spiritual barrenness, while the "fruitful field" (Karmel) represents fertility, cultivation, and spiritual productivity and blessing. The "forest" (Ya'ar) then signifies an even greater, perhaps overwhelming, abundance, density, and majesty of spiritual growth and divine presence, suggesting a wild, untamed, and supernaturally abundant flourishing. The verse also employs **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the transformation; the idea of a cultivated field becoming a wild forest, or a forest becoming a cultivated field, is a deliberate exaggeration to underscore the miraculous and counter-intuitive nature of God's work. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a powerful example of **Divine Reversal**, a recurring and central theme in Isaiah. God is depicted as overturning the natural order and human expectations, bringing low the proud and exalting the humble, transforming desolation into abundance, and spiritual blindness into profound insight and flourishing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This prophecy in Isaiah 29:17 speaks volumes about God's redemptive power and His unwavering commitment to transforming His people and their circumstances. It underscores the profound theological truth that God is not limited by present realities, human failures, or seemingly insurmountable desolation; He can bring life out of barrenness, honor out of humility, and spiritual abundance where there was once only spiritual emptiness. This radical transformation is not merely an external change but signifies a deep spiritual renewal, where hearts once hardened by pride or blinded by sin are opened to God's truth and grace. It points to a future where God's kingdom will manifest in unprecedented fruitfulness and glory, far surpassing any previous experience. This divine reversal is a testament to God's sovereignty, His boundless grace, and His ultimate plan for restoration, flourishing, and the full manifestation of His righteous reign.

* [Isaiah 32:15](/isaiah/32-15 "Isaiah 32:15 - Spirit Poured Out, Wilderness Becomes Fruitful")
* [Isaiah 35:1-2](/isaiah/35-1-2 "Isaiah 35:1-2 - The Wilderness Blossoms and Rejoices")
* [Joel 2:23-26](/joel/2-23-26 "Joel 2:23-26 - Restoration and Abundance of God's Blessings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 29:17 offers profound encouragement and a powerful call to hope for believers today. It reminds us that no situation, no matter how barren, proud, spiritually desolate, or seemingly impossible, is beyond God's transformative power. Whether in our personal lives, our families, our communities, or the broader spiritual landscape of the world, God is capable of bringing forth unexpected life, abundant fruitfulness, and unparalleled glory. This verse challenges us to look beyond our current circumstances and trust implicitly in God's ability to enact radical, positive change. It encourages us to cultivate hearts receptive to His Spirit, knowing that He desires to transform our spiritual "Lebanons"—areas of pride, stubbornness, or desolation—into "fruitful fields" of righteousness and then to elevate that fruitfulness to an even greater, forest-like abundance of His presence, power, and kingdom impact. It compels us to pray for and actively participate in God's ongoing work of renewal, believing that He can turn spiritual dryness into flourishing, and human pride into humble, vibrant worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Lebanons" (areas of pride, barrenness, or spiritual desolation) in your life or community do you need to surrender completely to God for His transformative work?**
* **How does the promise of radical transformation in this verse strengthen your faith and encourage you when facing seemingly impossible situations?**
* **In what tangible ways can you actively participate in God's work of turning "fruitful fields" into "forests" of spiritual abundance and impact within your sphere of influence?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "Lebanon" in this verse?**

Answer: "Lebanon" in this context is highly symbolic. Historically, it was renowned for its majestic cedars, which could represent strength, grandeur, and sometimes, in a negative sense, human pride or loftiness, as seen in [Isaiah 10:34](/isaiah/10-34 "Isaiah 10:34 - God's Judgment on the Proud"). Its transformation into a "fruitful field" signifies a profound shift from a state of barrenness, spiritual desolation, or human pride to one of fertility, productivity, and divine blessing. It represents God's ability to humble the proud and bring abundant life to the spiritually dead.

**How does the "fruitful field" becoming a "forest" represent a greater transformation?**

Answer: The progression from "Lebanon" to "fruitful field" (Karmel) and then to being "esteemed as a forest" (Ya'ar) illustrates an escalating degree of blessing and abundance. A "fruitful field" is cultivated and productive, representing a good state of spiritual flourishing. However, a "forest" implies an even greater density, wildness, and perhaps an overwhelming, untamed abundance of growth and life. It suggests a level of spiritual maturity, impact, and divine presence that far surpasses mere cultivation, indicating an unprecedented outpouring of God's grace and glory. It's a hyperbole used to convey an extraordinary, almost unimaginable, increase in blessing and spiritual vitality.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 29:17 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His kingdom. The prophecy of radical transformation—turning the desolate into the fruitful and the fruitful into a forest—is perfectly embodied in the spiritual renewal brought about by the Gospel. Jesus, the true [vine](/john/15-1 "John 15:1 - Jesus, the True Vine"), transforms barren hearts, once like the proud and desolate "Lebanon" of humanity's sin and rebellion, into "fruitful fields" through repentance and faith in Him. He takes those who were spiritually blind and deaf, as described earlier in [Isaiah 29:18](/isaiah/29-18 "Isaiah 29:18 - The Deaf Shall Hear and the Blind See"), and by His grace, gives them true spiritual sight and hearing, enabling them to perceive and respond to God's truth. Furthermore, the "fruitful field" being "esteemed as a forest" speaks powerfully to the exponential growth and overwhelming abundance of God's kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. What began as a small seed, like the [mustard seed](/matthew/13-31 "Matthew 13:31 - Parable of the Mustard Seed") in Jesus' parable, grows into a vast spiritual forest, encompassing believers from every nation, tribe, and tongue, as envisioned in [Revelation 7:9](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9 - A Multitude from Every Nation"). This transformation is not merely external but deeply spiritual, as Christ cultivates within believers the [fruit of the Spirit](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit"), leading to a life of ever-increasing abundance, glory, and impact, reflecting the very nature of God Himself.

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

Isaiah 32:15

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Matthew 19:30

But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last [shall be] first.

Psalms 107:33

¶ He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

Isaiah 49:5

And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

Isaiah 49:6

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Micah 3:12

Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

Romans 11:19

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.