Isaiah Chapter 29 · Verse 4

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

וְשָׁפַלְתְּ֙ And thou shalt be brought down H8213
וְשָׁפַלְתְּ֙ And thou shalt be brought down
Strong's: H8213
Word #: 1 of 13
to depress or sink (especially figuratively, to humiliate, intransitive or transitive)
מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ out of the ground H776
מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ out of the ground
Strong's: H776
Word #: 2 of 13
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
תְּדַבֵּ֔רִי and shalt speak H1696
תְּדַבֵּ֔רִי and shalt speak
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 3 of 13
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
וּמֵעָפָ֖ר out of the dust H6083
וּמֵעָפָ֖ר out of the dust
Strong's: H6083
Word #: 4 of 13
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
תִּשַּׁ֣ח shall be low H7817
תִּשַּׁ֣ח shall be low
Strong's: H7817
Word #: 5 of 13
to sink or depress (reflexive or causative)
אִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ and thy speech H565
אִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ and thy speech
Strong's: H565
Word #: 6 of 13
an utterance
וְֽ֠הָיָה H1961
וְֽ֠הָיָה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 7 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כְּא֤וֹב shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit H178
כְּא֤וֹב shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit
Strong's: H178
Word #: 8 of 13
properly, a mumble, i.e., a water-skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar)
מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ out of the ground H776
מֵאֶ֙רֶץ֙ out of the ground
Strong's: H776
Word #: 9 of 13
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
קוֹלֵ֔ךְ and thy voice H6963
קוֹלֵ֔ךְ and thy voice
Strong's: H6963
Word #: 10 of 13
a voice or sound
וּמֵעָפָ֖ר out of the dust H6083
וּמֵעָפָ֖ר out of the dust
Strong's: H6083
Word #: 11 of 13
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
אִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ and thy speech H565
אִמְרָתֵ֥ךְ and thy speech
Strong's: H565
Word #: 12 of 13
an utterance
תְּצַפְצֵֽף׃ shall whisper H6850
תְּצַפְצֵֽף׃ shall whisper
Strong's: H6850
Word #: 13 of 13
to coo or chirp (as a bird)

Analysis & Commentary

And thou shalt be brought down (וְשָׁפַלְתְּ, veshafalt)—the verb שפל (shafal) means to be humbled, abased, brought low. Jerusalem's proud elevation, both geographically and spiritually, will be reversed. And shalt speak out of the ground (מֵאֶרֶץ תְּדַבֵּרִי, me'erets tedaberi)—like a ghost speaking from Sheol, the city's voice will come from the dust of ruins. And thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground compares Jerusalem to a necromancer's spirit-voice, a whisper from the realm of the dead.

The imagery is mortuary and eerie. Jerusalem, once elevated on Zion's heights, will be flattened so thoroughly that her speech emerges from dirt and rubble. The phrase and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust (וּמֵעָפָר אִמְרָתֵךְ תְּצַפְצֵף, ume'afar imratekh tetsfatsef) uses the verb צפף (tsafaf), meaning to chirp or peep like a bird—a pathetic, feeble sound. The once-mighty city reduced to ghostly whispers.

Historical Context

The destruction of cities in ancient warfare involved razing walls, burning buildings, and leaving sites in ruins. Defeated peoples were often depicted as humiliated, brought low. Isaiah's necromantic imagery was particularly shocking because consulting familiar spirits (אוֹב, ov) was forbidden in Israel (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:11). Jerusalem would be so destroyed she'd seem dead.

Questions for Reflection