Isaiah 29:7

And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.

And the multitude {H1995} of all the nations {H1471} that fight {H6633} against Ariel {H740}, even all that fight {H6638} against her and her munition {H4685}, and that distress {H6693} her, shall be as a dream {H2472} of a night {H3915} vision {H2377}.

Then, all the nations fighting Ari'el, every one at war with her, the ramparts around her, the people that trouble her will fade like a dream, like a vision in the night.

All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel— even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her— will be like a dream, like a vision in the night,

And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

Isaiah 29:7 offers a powerful prophetic image of divine intervention and the ultimate futility of those who oppose God's purposes. The verse states, "And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision." This passage provides a stark contrast to the preceding verses, which describe Jerusalem's spiritual blindness and impending judgment.

Context

Isaiah 29 is part of a series of "burdens" or pronouncements, uniquely focusing on Jerusalem, referred to here as Ariel. The chapter begins by condemning Jerusalem's spiritual dullness and hypocrisy, predicting a time of severe distress and siege. Verses 1-6 graphically describe the city being besieged by foreign nations, brought low, and hearing the cries of its own destruction. However, verse 7 introduces a dramatic shift, promising that the very armies causing this distress will vanish as quickly and completely as a dream. This prophecy most immediately points to the historical threat of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib, whose siege of Jerusalem was miraculously broken (Isaiah 37:36), but it also carries broader prophetic weight for any future enemies of God's people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Protection: Despite the overwhelming power of the nations gathered against Jerusalem, God maintains ultimate control. Their might is temporary and subject to His will.
  • The Illusory Nature of Evil's Triumph: What appears to be an inevitable victory for the enemies of God's people is revealed as fleeting and unsubstantial. Their apparent success is likened to a dream that vanishes upon waking.
  • Hope Amidst Adversity: Even in times of severe judgment and siege, the verse offers a profound message of hope, assuring that God will not allow His chosen city to be utterly consumed by its adversaries.

Linguistic Insights

The name Ariel (Hebrew: ’ărî’ēl) is highly significant. It can mean "lion of God," signifying Jerusalem's strength and divine protection, or "hearth/altar of God," referring to its role as the center of Israelite worship and sacrifice. The phrase "as a dream of a night vision" (Hebrew: chalom laylah) powerfully conveys the ephemeral and unsubstantial nature of the enemies' threat. This imagery emphasizes something that is vivid and terrifying in the moment but entirely unreal and quickly forgotten upon waking, highlighting the sudden and complete disappearance of the hostile forces.

Practical Application

Isaiah 29:7 offers immense comfort and reassurance for believers facing overwhelming challenges today. Just as the nations arrayed against Ariel were ultimately powerless in God's hands, so too will seemingly insurmountable obstacles or oppressive forces in our lives prove to be temporary and without lasting substance when viewed through the lens of God's ultimate plan. This verse encourages us to place our trust in God's unwavering protection and sovereign power, knowing that His deliverance can turn the most terrifying reality into a forgotten dream. It reminds us that no enemy, no matter how strong or numerous, can ultimately thwart God's purposes for His people.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 20:8

    He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

  • Zechariah 12:9

    ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

  • Micah 4:11

    Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

  • Micah 4:12

    But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

  • Revelation 20:8

    And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.

  • Revelation 20:9

    And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

  • Zechariah 12:3

    And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

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