Isaiah 29:14
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.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֗ן
H3651
לָכֵ֗ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 15
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
יוֹסִ֛ף
Therefore behold I will proceed
H3254
יוֹסִ֛ף
Therefore behold I will proceed
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
3 of 15
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
הַפְלֵ֣א
even a marvellous work
H6381
הַפְלֵ֣א
even a marvellous work
Strong's:
H6381
Word #:
4 of 15
properly, perhaps to separate, i.e., distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
5 of 15
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
הָֽעָם
among this people
H5971
הָֽעָם
among this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
6 of 15
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּ֖ה
H2088
הַפְלֵ֣א
even a marvellous work
H6381
הַפְלֵ֣א
even a marvellous work
Strong's:
H6381
Word #:
8 of 15
properly, perhaps to separate, i.e., distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be (causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful
וְאָֽבְדָה֙
men shall perish
H6
וְאָֽבְדָה֙
men shall perish
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
10 of 15
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
חֲכָמָ֔יו
of their wise
H2450
חֲכָמָ֔יו
of their wise
Strong's:
H2450
Word #:
12 of 15
wise, (i.e., intelligent, skilful or artful)
Cross References
Habakkuk 1:5Behold 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.Isaiah 28:21For 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 49:7Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.Job 5:13He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.Luke 10:24For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.Obadiah 1:8Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?Isaiah 19:3And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Historical Context
Judah's wise men (court advisors, scribes) advocated Egyptian alliances, relying on political calculation rather than prophetic word. Their 'wisdom' led to disaster. Later, Jewish scholars expected a conquering Messiah and political restoration, missing Jesus. Greek philosophers dismissed resurrection as foolishness (Acts 17:32). God's marvelous work—salvation through a crucified Messiah—confounded both.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the gospel itself function as the 'marvelous work' that confounds human wisdom?
- Why must God 'hide' understanding from the self-sufficient wise to reveal it to humble dependents?
- Where are you tempted to trust your own wisdom rather than submitting to God's 'foolish' ways?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder (לָכֵן הִנְנִי יוֹסִף לְהַפְלִיא אֶת־הָעָם־הַזֶּה הַפְלֵא וָפֶלֶא, lakhen hineni yosif lehafli et-ha'am-hazeh hafle vafele)—God will יוֹסִף (yosif, continue, add to, proceed) to do הַפְלֵא וָפֶלֶא (hafle vafele, a wonder and a wonder), an emphatic doubling. The verb פלא (pala) means to be wonderful, surpassing, extraordinary. For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid (וְאָבְדָה חָכְמַת חֲכָמָיו וּבִינַת נְבֹנָיו תִּסְתַּתָּר, ve'avedah chakhmat chakhamaw uvinat nevonayw tistattar).
Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 1:19 when explaining how the cross confounds human wisdom. God's 'marvelous work' involves inverting human categories: making the wise foolish, hiding understanding from the prudent, revealing truth to babes (Matthew 11:25). The gospel itself is this wonder—rejected by Jewish scholars and Greek philosophers but embraced by fishermen and tax collectors. Human wisdom cannot access divine revelation; God must grant it.