The Meaning of Isaiah 29:5 Explained

Isaiah 29:5

KJV: Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

YLT: And as small dust hath been The multitude of those scattering thee, And as chaff passing on the multitude of the terrible, And it hath been at an instant -- suddenly.

Darby: And the multitude of thine enemies shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away; and it shall be in an instant, suddenly.

ASV: But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be in an instant suddenly.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Moreover the multitude  of thy strangers  shall be like small  dust,  and the multitude  of the terrible ones  [shall be] as chaff  that passeth away:  yea, it shall be at an instant  suddenly. 

What does Isaiah 29:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God would powerfully blow away the enemy, who would be as numerous and insignificant as dust and chaff, even though the enemy built great ramparts and siege towers to storm Jerusalem. His deliverance, like that of a storm, would be very quick (cf. Isaiah 37:36). God would judge those whom He had sent to judge His people. God will do a similar thing at the end of the Tribulation (cf. Zechariah 14:1-3).

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 29

1  God's heavy judgment upon Jerusalem
7  The insatiableness of her enemies
9  The senselessness
13  And deep hypocrisy of the people
17  A promise of sanctification to the godly

What do the individual words in Isaiah 29:5 mean?

Moreover shall be like dust fine the multitude of your foes and Like chaff that passes away of the terrible ones and Yes it shall be in an instant suddenly
וְהָיָ֛ה כְּאָבָ֥ק דַּ֖ק הֲמ֣וֹן זָרָ֑יִךְ וּכְמֹ֤ץ עֹבֵר֙ עָֽרִיצִ֔ים וְהָיָ֖ה לְפֶ֥תַע פִּתְאֹֽם

וְהָיָ֛ה  Moreover  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּאָבָ֥ק  like  dust 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָבָק  
Sense: dust.
דַּ֖ק  fine 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: דַּק  
Sense: thin, small, fine, gaunt.
הֲמ֣וֹן  the  multitude 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הָמֹון 
Sense: (Qal) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound.
זָרָ֑יִךְ  of  your  foes 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: זוּר 
Sense: to be strange, be a stranger.
וּכְמֹ֤ץ  and  Like  chaff 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹץ  
Sense: chaff.
עֹבֵר֙  that  passes  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
עָֽרִיצִ֔ים  of  the  terrible  ones 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָרִיץ  
Sense: awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty.
וְהָיָ֖ה  and  Yes  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְפֶ֥תַע  in  an  instant 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb
Root: פֶּתַע  
Sense: suddenness, in an instant.
פִּתְאֹֽם  suddenly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פִּתְאֹם  
Sense: suddenly, surprisingly subst.