Isaiah 29:15

Authorized King James Version

PDF

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?

Original Language Analysis

ה֛וֹי Woe H1945
ה֛וֹי Woe
Strong's: H1945
Word #: 1 of 13
oh!
הַמַּעֲמִיקִ֥ים unto them that seek deep H6009
הַמַּעֲמִיקִ֥ים unto them that seek deep
Strong's: H6009
Word #: 2 of 13
to be (causatively, make) deep (literally or figuratively)
מֵֽיהוָ֖ה from the LORD H3068
מֵֽיהוָ֖ה from the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לַסְתִּ֣ר to hide H5641
לַסְתִּ֣ר to hide
Strong's: H5641
Word #: 4 of 13
to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively
עֵצָ֑ה their counsel H6098
עֵצָ֑ה their counsel
Strong's: H6098
Word #: 5 of 13
advice; by implication, plan; also prudence
וְהָיָ֤ה H1961
וְהָיָ֤ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 6 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְמַחְשָׁךְ֙ are in the dark H4285
בְמַחְשָׁךְ֙ are in the dark
Strong's: H4285
Word #: 7 of 13
darkness; concretely, a dark place
מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם and their works H4639
מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם and their works
Strong's: H4639
Word #: 8 of 13
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ and they say H559
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ and they say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 9 of 13
to say (used with great latitude)
מִ֥י H4310
מִ֥י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 10 of 13
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
רֹאֵ֖נוּ Who seeth H7200
רֹאֵ֖נוּ Who seeth
Strong's: H7200
Word #: 11 of 13
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
וּמִ֥י H4310
וּמִ֥י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 12 of 13
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יֹדְעֵֽנוּ׃ us and who knoweth H3045
יֹדְעֵֽנוּ׃ us and who knoweth
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 13 of 13
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

Analysis & Commentary

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD (הוֹי הַמַּעֲמִיקִים מֵיהוָה לַסְתִּר עֵצָה, hoy hama'amikim meYHWH lastir etsah)—they הַמַּעֲמִיקִים (hama'amikim, seek deep, burrow down) to לַסְתִּר (lastir, hide, conceal) their עֵצָה (etsah, counsel, plans). And their works are in the dark (וְהָיָה בְמַחְשָׁךְ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, vehayah vemachshakh ma'aseyhem)—in מַחְשָׁךְ (machshakh, darkness, obscurity) their deeds occur. And they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? (וַיֹּאמְרוּ מִי רֹאֵנוּ וּמִי יוֹדְעֵנוּ, vayomeru mi ro'enu umi yode'enu)—denying divine omniscience.

The sixth woe in Isaiah's collection targets those who think they can conceal plots from the omniscient God. Politicians conspiring Egyptian alliances, merchants using false balances, religious leaders manipulating for gain—all assume darkness hides their schemes. The rhetorical questions ('Who sees? Who knows?') express practical atheism: functional denial of God's all-seeing presence. Psalm 94:7-11 addresses this same delusion: 'They say, The LORD shall not see... He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?'

Historical Context

Judah's leaders negotiated secret alliances with Egypt against Assyria, deceiving themselves that they could hide political machinations from God. Isaiah repeatedly condemned these Egyptian overtures (chapters 30-31). The pattern persists: the wicked assume privacy in sin, forgetting Hebrews 4:13—'all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.'

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

People