Isaiah 29:3
And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
Original Language Analysis
וְחָנִ֥יתִי
And I will camp
H2583
וְחָנִ֥יתִי
And I will camp
Strong's:
H2583
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s
עָלָ֑יִךְ
H5921
עָלָ֑יִךְ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְצַרְתִּ֤י
and will lay siege
H6696
וְצַרְתִּ֤י
and will lay siege
Strong's:
H6696
Word #:
4 of 9
to cramp, i.e., confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)
עָלַ֙יִךְ֙
H5921
עָלַ֙יִךְ֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וַהֲקִֽימֹתִ֥י
and I will raise
H6965
וַהֲקִֽימֹתִ֥י
and I will raise
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
7 of 9
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern sieges involved surrounding a city, cutting off supplies, building earthen ramps to scale walls, and constructing siege towers. The Assyrians, and later Babylonians, were masters of siege warfare. Isaiah's military language would be devastatingly clear to his audience—God would use these very empires as His instruments.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it reveal about God's character that He would besiege His own people?
- How do we reconcile God's love with His willingness to bring severe discipline?
- When has God 'laid siege' to areas of your life that resisted His authority?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And I will camp against thee round about (וְחָנִיתִי כַדּוּר עָלָיִךְ, vechaniti khadur alayikh)—the verb חנה (chanah, to encamp) appears throughout the conquest narratives when Israel besieged Canaanite cities. Now Yahweh Himself becomes the besieger. The phrase and will lay siege against thee with a mount (וְצַרְתִּי עָלַיִךְ מֻצָּב, vetsarti alayikh mutsav) uses military terminology: siege ramps, fortifications raised against city walls. And I will raise forts against thee (וַהֲקִימֹתִי עָלַיִךְ מְצֻרֹת, vahaqimothi alayikh metsurot) completes the siege imagery.
The shocking reversal is complete: the God who fought for Israel at Jericho now deploys siege tactics against His own city. He becomes the commanding general of the opposing army. This is not Satan attacking; this is Yahweh executing covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:49-52). The divine Warrior who protected Jerusalem now orchestrates its humiliation.