--- title: "Isaiah 29 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible" description: "Read Isaiah 29 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. 2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heavi" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29" --- [ Read](/kjv/isaiah/29)[ Commentary](/study/isaiah/29)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/isaiah/29) Audio 1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city *where* David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.*** 2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel. 3 And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. 4 And thou shalt be brought down, *and* shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.* 5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones *shall be* as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly. 6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire. 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. 8 It shall even be as when an hungry *man* dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, *he is* faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. 9 ¶ Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.* 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.* 11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which *men* deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it *is* sealed:* 12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. 13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, 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: 14 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.* 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? 16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? 17 *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? 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. 19 The meek also shall increase *their* joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.* 20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: 21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. 22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. 23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.* [Isaiah 28](/study/isaiah/28) [Isaiah 30](/study/isaiah/30) ## Commentary To verse 1 **Wo -**(compare the note at [Isaiah 18:1](/kjv/isaiah/18/1)). **To Ariel -**There can be no doubt that Jerusalem is here intended. The declaration that it was the city where David dwelt, as well as the entire scope of the prophecy, proves this. But still, it is not quiet clear why the city is here called “Ariel.” The margin reads, ‘O Ariel, that is, the lion of God.’ The word (אריאל *'ărı̂y'ēl*) is compounded of two words, and is usually supposed to be made up of ארי *'ărı̂y*, “a lion,” and אל *'ēl*, God; and if this interpretation is correct, it is equivalent to a strong, mighty, fierce lion - where the word ‘God’ is used to denote greatness in the same way as the lofty cedars of Lebanon are called cedars of God; that is, lofty cedars. The “lion” is an emblem of strength, and a strong lion is an emblem of a mighty warrior or hero. [2 Samuel 23:20](/kjv/2-samuel/23/20) : ‘He slew two “lion-like” אריאל *'ărı̂y'êl* men of Moab’ [1 Chronicles 11:22](/kjv/1-chronicles/11/22). This use of the word to denote a hero is common in Arabic (see Bachart, “Hieroz.,” i. 3. 1). If this be the sense in which it is used here, then it is applied to Jerusalem under the image of a hero, and particularly as the place which was distinguished under David as the capital of a kingdom that was so celebrated for its triumphs in war. The word ‘Ariel’ is, however, used in another sense in the Scriptures, to denote an “altar” [Ezekiel 43:15-16](/kjv/ezekiel/43/15-16), where in the Hebrew the word is “Ariel.” This name is given to the altar, Bachart supposes (“Hieroz.,” i. 3. 1), because the altar of burnt-offering “devours” as it were the sacrifices as a lion devours its prey. Gesenius, however, has suggested another reason why the word is given to the altar, since he says that the word ארי *'ărı̂y* is the same as one used in Arabic to denote a fire-hearth, and that the altar was so called because it was the place of perpetual burnt-offering. The name “Ariel,” is, doubtless, given in Ezekiel to an altar; and it may be given here to Jerusalem because it was the place of the altar, or of the public worship of God. The Chaldee renders it, ‘Wo to the altar, the altar which was constructed in the city where David dwelt.’ It seems to me that this view better suits the connection, and particularly [Isaiah 29:2](/kjv/isaiah/29/2) (see Note), than to suppose that the name is given to Jerusalem because it was like a lion. If this be the true interpretation, then it is so called because Jerusalem was the place of the burnt-offering, or of the public worship of God; the place where the fire, as on a hearth, continually burned on the altar. **The city where David dwelt -**David took the hill of Zion from the Jebusites, and made it the capital of his kingdom [2 Samuel 5:6-9](/kjv/2-samuel/5/6-9). Lowth renders this, ‘The city which David besieged.’ So the Septuagint: Ἐπολέμησε *Epolemēse*; and so the Vulgate, *Expugnavit*. The word חנה *chânâh* properly means “to encamp, to pitch one’s tent” [Genesis 26:17](/kjv/genesis/26/17), “to station oneself.” It is also used in the sense of encamping “against” anyone, that is, to make war upon or to attack (see [Isaiah 29:3](/kjv/isaiah/29/3), and [Psalms 27:3](/kjv/psalms/27/3); [2 Samuel 12:28](/kjv/2-samuel/12/28)); and Jerome and others have supposed that it has this meaning here in accordance with the interpretation of the Septuagint and the Vulgate. But the more correct idea is probably that in our translation, that David pitched his tent there; that is, that he made it his dwelling-place. **Add ye year to year -**That is, ‘go on year after year, suffer one year to glide on after another in the course which you are pursuing.’ This seems to be used ironically, and to denote that they were going on one year after another in the observance of the feasts; walking the round of external ceremonies as if the fact that David had dwelt there, and that that was the place of the great altar of worship, constituted perfect security. One of the sins charged on them in this chapter was “formality” and “heartlessness” in their devotions [Isaiah 29:13](/kjv/isaiah/29/13), and this seems to be referred to here. **Let them kill sacrifices -**Margin, ‘Cut off the heads.’ The word here rendered ‘kill’ (נקף *nâqaph*) may mean to smite; to hew; to cut down [Isaiah 10:34](/kjv/isaiah/10/34); [Job 19:26](/kjv/job/19/26). But it has also another signification which better accords with this place. It denotes to make a circle, to revolve; to go round a place [Joshua 6:3](/kjv/joshua/6/3), [Joshua 6:11](/kjv/joshua/6/11); to surround [1 Kings 7:24](/kjv/1-kings/7/24); [2 Kings 6:14](/kjv/2-kings/6/14); [Psalms 17:9](/kjv/psalms/17/9); [Psalms 22:17](/kjv/psalms/22/17); [Psalms 88:18](/kjv/psalms/88/18). The word rendered ‘sacrifices’ (חגים *chagiym*) may mean a sacrifice [Exodus 23:18](/kjv/exodus/23/18); [Psalms 118:27](/kjv/psalms/118/27); [Malachi 2:3](/kjv/malachi/2/3), but it more commonly and properly denotes feasts or festivals [Exodus 10:9](/kjv/exodus/10/9); [Exodus 12:14](/kjv/exodus/12/14); [Leviticus 23:39](/kjv/leviticus/23/39); [Deuteronomy 16:10](/kjv/deuteronomy/16/10), [Deuteronomy 16:16](/kjv/deuteronomy/16/16); [1 Kings 8:2](/kjv/1-kings/8/2), [1 Kings 8:65](/kjv/1-kings/8/65); [2 Chronicles 7:8-9](/kjv/2-chronicles/7/8-9); [Nehemiah 8:14](/kjv/nehemiah/8/14); [Hosea 2:11](/kjv/hosea/2/11), [Hosea 2:13](/kjv/hosea/2/13). Here the sense is, ‘let the festivals go round;’ that is, let them revolve as it were in a perpetual, unmeaning circle, until the judgments due to such heartless service shall come upon you. The whole address is evidently ironical, and designed to denote that all their service was an unvarying repetition of heartless forms. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","width":672,"height":448,"caption":"Real Bible Believers"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29","name":"Isaiah 29 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29#primaryimage"},"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Read Isaiah 29 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. 2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heavi","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","name":"Study Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible","name":"barnes notes on the whole bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","name":"Isaiah"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/29","name":"29"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]} ```