Isaiah 29:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In a short time, the land's condition will be completely reversed—wastelands will flourish and fruitful fields will lie overgrown.
The Context of Isaiah 29:17
Isaiah envisions a complete reversal and transformation of the land itself in the wake of God's judgment.
What Does Isaiah 29:17 Mean?
After the judgment and siege, the land itself will experience radical transformation. Lebanon, known for mighty cedars, will become a fruitful field (cultivated and productive). What was fruitful will revert to forest—the reversal of civilization itself. This paradox conveys both renewal and desolation.
The transformation of the landscape mirrors the transformation of history. God's judgment will be so complete that the face of the land changes. Whether read as restoration (waste becoming fruitful again) or devastation (the cultivated field abandoned to wilderness), the verse promises that God's work will remake the world itself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 29:17
What does Isaiah 29:17 mean?
In a short time, the land's condition will be completely reversed—wastelands will flourish and fruitful fields will lie overgrown.
What is the context of Isaiah 29:17?
Isaiah envisions a complete reversal and transformation of the land itself in the wake of God's judgment.