Isaiah 29:7
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֗ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֗ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
חֲז֣וֹן
vision
H2377
חֲז֣וֹן
vision
Strong's:
H2377
Word #:
3 of 15
a sight (mentally), i.e., a dream, revelation, or oracle
לַ֔יְלָה
of a night
H3915
לַ֔יְלָה
of a night
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
4 of 15
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
הֲמוֹן֙
And the multitude
H1995
הֲמוֹן֙
And the multitude
Strong's:
H1995
Word #:
5 of 15
a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם
of all the nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם
of all the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
7 of 15
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲרִיאֵ֑ל
against Ariel
H740
אֲרִיאֵ֑ל
against Ariel
Strong's:
H740
Word #:
10 of 15
ariel, a symbolical name for jerusalem, also the name of an israelite
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וּמְצֹ֣דָתָ֔הּ
against her and her munition
H4685
וּמְצֹ֣דָתָ֔הּ
against her and her munition
Strong's:
H4685
Word #:
13 of 15
a fastness or (beseiging) tower
Cross References
Job 20:8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.Zechariah 12:9And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.Isaiah 17:14And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.Psalms 73:20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Historical Context
Sennacherib invaded Judah with a massive army, conquering 46 fortified cities (per his own annals) and trapping Hezekiah in Jerusalem 'like a bird in a cage.' Yet Jerusalem wasn't captured. The Assyrian army's sudden destruction meant this overwhelming military reality evaporated like a dream—precisely as Isaiah prophesied.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'overwhelming realities' in your life might God reveal as mere 'dreams' when He intervenes?
- How does this metaphor challenge our tendency to view human power as ultimate?
- When have you experienced an intimidating circumstance dissolve 'like a dream' through prayer?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel (וְהָיָה כַּחֲלוֹם חֲזוֹן לַיְלָה הֲמוֹן כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם הַצֹּבְאִים עַל־אֲרִיאֵל, vehayah kachalom chazon laylah hamon kol-hagoyim hatsobim al-Ariel)—the attacking nations will become as a dream of a night vision. The phrase employs two words for visionary experience: חֲלוֹם (chalom, dream) and חָזוֹן (chazon, vision). Even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her (וְכָל־צֹבֶיהָ וּמְצֹדָתָהּ וְהַמְּצִיקִים לָהּ, vekhol-tsoveha umtsodatah vehametsiqim lah)—the comprehensive listing (all who war, all siegeworks, all who press her) emphasizes totality.
The dream metaphor is devastating: Sennacherib's vast army—real, threatening, deadly—will vanish like a nightmare dissolves at dawn. History's mightiest military force becomes insubstantial as nocturnal hallucination. What seemed overwhelmingly real proves ephemeral when God acts. The besiegers' power is exposed as illusory against Yahweh's sovereignty.