Isaiah 29:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's revelation is now like a sealed book—even a learned person cannot read it because its meaning is locked away.
The Context of Isaiah 29:11
Isaiah explains that God's word, though available, is sealed shut to Jerusalem's leaders.
What Does Isaiah 29:11 Mean?
The sealed scroll represents inaccessible knowledge. A learned person—someone with the literacy and education to understand—holds the book but cannot open it. The barrier is not ignorance but God's judgment that seals the understanding. This reflects the hardening of hearts: they have access to Scripture but cannot perceive its meaning.
The image is drawn from actual sealed documents in the ancient world, which required authority to open. So God's revelation now requires an unlocking that only He can provide. Without His opening, the most educated mind remains in darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 29:11
What does Isaiah 29:11 mean?
God's revelation is now like a sealed book—even a learned person cannot read it because its meaning is locked away.
What is the context of Isaiah 29:11?
Isaiah explains that God's word, though available, is sealed shut to Jerusalem's leaders.