1 Behold, a king will reign righteously And princes will rule justly. 2 Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land. 3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen. 4 The mind of the hasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly. Isaiah 32:1–4 (NASB95)

1 For look, a righteous king will reign, and rulers will lead with judgment. 2 And the person will keep hiding his words, and he will be hidden as if from rushing water, and he will appear in Zion like a rushing river, esteemed in a thirsting land. 3 And they will no longer trust humans, but rather they will set their ears to listen. 4 And the heart of the weak will be proper to listen, and the faltering tongues will quickly learn to speak peace. Isaiah 32:1–4 (LES2)

5 No longer will the fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous. 6 For a fool speaks nonsense, And his heart inclines toward wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the LORD, To keep the hungry person unsatisfied And to withhold drink from the thirsty. 7 As for a rogue, his weapons are evil; He devises wicked schemes To destroy the afflicted with slander, Even though the needy one speaks what is right. 8 But the noble man devises noble plans; And by noble plans he stands. Isaiah 32:5–8 (NASB95)

5 And they will no longer tell the foolish to rule, and your assistants will no longer say, “Be quiet!” 6 For the fool will speak foolish things, and his heart will think pointless things, to accomplish lawless things and to speak error against the Lord, to scatter hungering souls; and he will cause the souls that thirst to be empty. 7 For the counsel of evil people will plan lawless things, to ruin low people by unjust words and to scatter lowly people’s words in judgment. 8 But pious people have planned intelligent things, and this counsel will remain. Isaiah 32:5–8 (LES2)

9 Rise up, you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters. 10 Within a year and a few days You will be troubled, O complacent daughters; For the vintage is ended, And the fruit gathering will not come. 11 Tremble, you women who are at ease; Be troubled, you complacent daughters; Strip, undress and put sackcloth on your waist, 12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, 13 For the land of my people in which thorns and briars shall come up; Yea, for all the joyful houses and for the jubilant city. 14 Because the palace has been abandoned, the populated city forsaken. Hill and watch-tower have become caves forever, A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks; 15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fertile field, And the fertile field is considered as a forest. Isaiah 32:9–15 (NASB95)

9 Rise up, wealthy women, and listen to my voice; you daughters with hope, hear my words! 10 Make remembrance of this year’s day, in pain with hope; the harvest has been consumed; it has ceased; it will not come any longer. 11 Be astounded; grieve, you confident women; strip; become exposed; gird your loins 12 and strike yourselves on your breasts because of a yearning for a field and the produce of the vine. 13 The land of my people will come up thorns and grass, and from every house cheer will be taken away. Wealthy city, 14 abandoned houses will give up a city’s wealth and houses of desire; and the villages will be caverns until eternity, cheer for wild donkeys, a pasture for shepherds, 15 until a wind comes upon you from on high; and Carmel will be deserted, and Carmel will be considered a forest. Isaiah 32:9–15 (LES2) 

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness And righteousness will abide in the fertile field. 17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. 18 Then my people will live in a peaceful habitation, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places; 19 And it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low. 20 How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let out freely the ox and the donkey. Isaiah 32:16–20 (NASB95)

16 And fair judgment will rest in the desert, and righteousness will settle in Carmel. 17 And the deeds of righteousness will be peace, and righteousness will control rest, and they will be secure until eternity. 18 And his people will dwell in a city of peace, and they will dwell confidently, and they will rest with wealth. 19 And the hail, if it comes down, will not come upon you, and those who dwell in the forests will be secure, as in the plain. 20 Blessed are those who sow on all the water where ox and donkey tread. Isaiah 32:16–20 (LES2)

Verse 17 is the most interesting verse from a New Testament point of view. Most Bible students are quite familiar with the MT’s version. The LXX words it differently, which may account for Paul’s wording in Romans 5:1. Paraphrasing the LXX, I would render the verse:

The deeds of righteousness will be peace, and righteousness will determine if a person experiences rest in his or her soul. Those who receive God’s righteousness will be secure forever. 

Compare this to the following passage in Romans.

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1–2 (NKJV) 

It is important for us to remember that Paul derived his New Covenant theology from the LXX. Studying it instead of the MT gives us more insight into Paul’s thinking and the NT in general.

Verse 18 says that God’s people will live in a “city of peace,” which must be the heavenly Jerusalem. The natural city has not experienced peace in a very long time.

1 The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus 2 It will blossom profusely And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty of our God. 3 Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. 4 Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.” Isaiah 35:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Rejoice, thirsty deserted land! Let a deserted land be cheerful, and let it blossom like a lily. 2 And the desolate places of the Jordan will blossom and rejoice. The glory of Lebanon was given to it, and the honor of Carmel. And my people will see the glory of the Lord and the exaltation of God. 3 Be strong, hands at ease and feeble knees! 4 Give comfort, fainthearted in mind! Be strong; do not be frightened! Look, our God is repaying judgment, and he will repay! He himself will come and save us! Isaiah 35:1–4 (LES2)

As is common, the verb tenses differ between the MT and LXX. The LXX uses an imperative in verse 1, making it our responsibility to rejoice. I will not comment on other relatively minor differences.

The important idea is that God himself will come to save “you” in the MT and “us” in the LXX. The seemingly minor variance perhaps has a much deeper meaning. If we accept that the LXX is the more reliable version and the MT is a Jewish corruption designed to lead people away from Christ, then this difference makes perfect sense. The unbelieving Jews acknowledged that salvation through Christ is only for those who believe – “you.” The LXX opens it to all, both Jew and Gentile, who believe the gospel message – “us.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. 7 The scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes. Isaiah 35:5–7 (NASB95)

5 Then blind people’s eyes will be opened, and dumb people’s ears will hear. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the stammerer’s tongue will be clear, because water has broken forth in the desert, and a ravine in a thirsting land. 7 And the waterless place will turn into marshes, and there will be a spring of water in the thirsty land; there birds’ cheerfulness will be a dwelling of reed and marshes. Isaiah 35:5–7 (LES2)

8 A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. 9 No lion will be there, Nor will any vicious beast go up on it; These will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there, 10 And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:8–10 (NASB95)

8 A pure path will be there, and it will be called a holy path, and certainly no impure person will pass by there, nor will there be an impure path there, but those who are scattered abroad will walk on it; they will certainly not be misguided. 9 And there will be no lion there, and certainly none of the evil beasts will come up to it or be found there, but rather a people will walk in it that are redeemed 10 and gathered because of the Lord; and they will return and come into Zion with cheerfulness, and eternal cheerfulness will be over their head. There will be praise and rejoicing, and cheerfulness will overtake them; pangs and sorrow and groaning have fled away! Isaiah 35:8–10 (LES2)

Jesus said that he is the Way. (John 14:6) The early Christian movement was called the Way (Acts 9:2). Jesus called people to take the narrow way, which leads to life. (Matthew 7:14) Those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior will experience everlasting joy and life.

We are promised that he will never misguide us. (John 16:13) We will be protected from the devil. (Luke 10:18-19)

8 Now go, write it on a tablet before them And inscribe it on a scroll, That it may serve in the time to come As a witness forever. 9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD; 10 Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions. 11 “Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 30:8–11 (NASB95)

8 Now then, sit and write these things on a tablet and in a scroll, because these things will be for days of time and as long as into eternity. 9 Because it is a resistant people, lying sons who are unwilling to listen to the law of God, 10 who say to the prophets, “Do not report that to us,” and to those who see the visions, “Do not speak that to us, but rather speak to us and report to us a different deception; 11 and turn us back from this way; remove this path from us, and remove the oracle of Israel from us.” Isaiah 30:8–11 (LES2)

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them, 13 Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, 14 Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, So ruthlessly shattered That a sherd will not be found among its pieces To take fire from a hearth Or to scoop water from a cistern.” Isaiah 30:12–14 (NASB95)

12 Because of this, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you resisted these words and hoped on a lie, and because you grumbled and began trusting on this word; 13 because of this, this sin will be for you like a wall that falls suddenly when a secure city is captured, whose fall comes suddenly; 14 and its fall will be like the breaking of a clay vessel, tiny pieces from a jar, so that there cannot be found among them a shard in which you will carry fire and whistle a little water. Isaiah 30:12–14 (LES2) 

15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, 16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. 17 One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill. Isaiah 30:15–17 (NASB95)

15 This is what the lord Lord says, the Holy One of Israel: “When you turn back, you groan; then you will be delivered, and you will know where you were; when you put trust in the things without avail, your strength came to no avail, and you were unwilling to listen. 16 Instead you said, ‘We will flee on horses!’ Because of this, you will flee! And ‘We will be upon swift riders!’ Because of this, those pursuing you will be swift! 17 At the voice of a single person, a thousand will flee, and at the voice of five, many will flee, until you are left like a pole on a mountain and like one who carries a standard on a hill. Isaiah 30:15–17 (LES2)

This passage contains a huge departure from the truth by the MT in verse 15. The LXX essentially says that Israel will be delivered when she repents from trusting in vain things and disobeying God. The well-known verse – “In repentance and rest you will be saved. In quietness and trust is your strength” – does not exist in the LXX. Instead, we have, “When you turn back, you groan, then you will be delivered, and you will know where you were, when you put your trust in [useless things]…and..were unwilling to listen.”

Verses 16 and 17 show agreement.

18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. 19 O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. 20 Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. 21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:18–21 (NASB95)

18 And again God will remain to have pity on you, and because of this, he will be exalted to show mercy to you, because the Lord your God is a judge. Blessed are those who remain for him. 19 Because a holy people will reside in Zion, and Jerusalem has wept with weeping, “Have mercy on me!” he will show mercy to you for the sound of your crying. When he saw it, he listened to you. 20 And the Lord will give you the bread of oppression and scant water, and those who mislead you will not approach you any longer, because your eyes will look at those who mislead you, 21 and your ears will hear the words of those who mislead you from behind, those who say, “This is the way, let us go on it, whether right or left.” Isaiah 30:18–21 (LES2)

Verse 18 shows a lot of agreement. My opinion is because the LXX is a positive message for Israel, which the Masoretes did not see a need to change. 

“Blessed are those who remain [Greek – meno: abide, continue in] him,” which is found in the LXX is similar to what Jesus told his disciples.

4 Abide [Greek – meno]  in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4 (NKJV)

Perhaps this passage should be understood to apply to the “Israel of God,” those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ. This could be the proper understanding of the “holy people” who will reside in Zion mentioned in verse 19. 

Verses 20-21 in the MT agree with the LXX. God will eventually deliver Israel from deception. It must be noted, however, that those who will be saved in Israel will always only be a remnant, just as is the case with the rest of the people in the world. (Romans 9:29) The “all Israel” of Romans 11:26 is the church of our Lord Jesus Christ, composed of Jews and Gentiles, through whom God will be glorified throughout eternity, (Ephesians 3:21)

22 And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, “Be gone!” 23 Then He will give you rain for the seed which you will sow in the ground, and bread from the yield of the ground, and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture. 24 Also the oxen and the donkeys which work the ground will eat salted fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. Isaiah 30:22–24 (NASB95)

22 And you will defile the silver-plated and gold-plated idols; you will make them into tiny pieces, and you will scatter them like the water of a woman who is sitting apart, and you will thrust them out like dung. 23 Then there will be rain for the seed of your land, and the bread of the produce of your land will be an abundance and rich. And on that day your livestock will be fed at a fertile and spacious place. 24 Your bulls and cattle that work the land will eat straw prepared with winnowed barley. Isaiah 30:22–24 (LES2)

25 On every lofty mountain and on every high hill there will be streams running with water on the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, on the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He has inflicted. Isaiah 30:25–26 (NASB95)

25 And on every lofty mountain and on every high hill, there will be running water on that day, when many will perish, when towers will fall. 26 And the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold on the day when the Lord heals the injury of his people, and he will heal the pain of your wound. Isaiah 30:25–26 (LES2)

27 Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place; Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke; His lips are filled with indignation And His tongue is like a consuming fire; 28 His breath is like an overflowing torrent, Which reaches to the neck, To shake the nations back and forth in a sieve, And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin. Isaiah 30:27–28 (NASB95)

27 Look, the name of the Lord comes over time, burning wrath. The oracle of his lips is with glory; the oracle is full of anger, and the angry wrath will devour like fire. 28 And his breath, like sweeping water in a ravine, will come up to the neck and will split to trouble nations at pointless wandering; and wandering will pursue them, and it will take hold of them to their face. Isaiah 30:27–28 (LES2)

29 You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival, And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute, To go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. 30 And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard, And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger, And in the flame of a consuming fire In cloudburst, downpour and hailstones. Isaiah 30:29–30 (NASB95)

29 Surely it is not the case that it is necessary for you to always be cheerful and enter into my holy places always as if observing a feast, and enter into the mountain of the Lord with the flute, as if rejoicing toward the God of Israel? 30 And the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard, even to display the wrath of his arm with wrath and anger and a devouring flame. He will thunder with violence even like water and hail carried down together with force. Isaiah 30:29–30 (LES2)

31 For at the voice of the LORD Assyria will be terrified, When He strikes with the rod. 32 And every blow of the rod of punishment, Which the LORD will lay on him, Will be with the music of tambourines and lyres; And in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight them. 33 For Topheth has long been ready, Indeed, it has been prepared for the king. He has made it deep and large, A pyre of fire with plenty of wood; The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire. Isaiah 30:31–33 (NASB95)

31 For through the Lord’s voice the Assyrians will be defeated by the blow with which he strikes them. 32 And for him it will be all around, whence was their hope of aid, that he himself trusted; they will make war on him with tambourines and lyres, by way of a change. 33 For before some days you must repay. Surely it is not the case that also it was prepared for you to rule a deep ravine, piled timber, fire, and much wood? The wrath of the Lord is like a ravine burning with brimstone. Isaiah 30:31–33 (LES2)

Verse 32 is confusing in both the MT and LXX. The most interesting thing, to me, is the end of verse 32 in the LXX – “by way of a change or transition.” The MT translates this, “He will fight them.”

Verse 33 continues the confusion. The MT says, “For Topheth has long been ready, Indeed it has been prepared for the king.” The LXX says, “For before some days you must repay. Surely it is not the case that also it was prepared for you to rule a deep ravine…” I really do not know what to make of this. Brenton’s LXX translation renders the verse to mean that even though ?Assyria? thought it was her destiny to rule, that nation will encounter God’s wrath.

1 Woe, O Ariel, Ariel the city where David once camped! Add year to year, observe your feasts on schedule. 2 I will bring distress to Ariel, And she will be a city of lamenting and mourning; And she will be like an Ariel to me. 3 I will camp against you encircling you, And I will set siegeworks against you, And I will raise up battle towers against you. 4 Then you will be brought low; From the earth you will speak, And from the dust where you are prostrate Your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, And your speech will whisper from the dust. Isaiah 29:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Woe to you, city of Ariel, against which David waged war! Gather produce year after year! Eat, for you will eat with Moab. 2 For I will squeeze Ariel, and its strength and wealth will be mine. 3 And like David, I will surround you; and I will place an entrenched camp around you, and I will put towers around you. 4 And your words will be brought low into the earth, and into the earth your words will sink, and your voice will be like those who call from the earth, and your voice will be weak, down toward the ground. Isaiah 29:1–4 (LES2)

The word “Ariel” means “like a lion.”

I suppose a connection can be made between “camped” and “waged war,” but God’s war against rebellious Israel through the agency of Babylon seems to be a focus of this prophecy. Therefore, I prefer the LXX’s rendering.

The rest of verse 1 is a warning that, even though life seems to go on as usual, judgment in surely coming. The idea of bringing distress and squeezing is close enough. Jerusalem was noted for its strength and wealth, which the LXX says will become God’s. The MT says nothing like that.

Verse 3 is close enough. Verse 4, however is different. The MT says that “you will be brought low,” but the LXX says Jerusalem’s “words will be brought low into the earth.”

5 But the multitude of your enemies will become like fine dust, And the multitude of the ruthless ones like the chaff which blows away; And it will happen instantly, suddenly. 6 From the LORD of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire. 7 And the multitude of all the nations who wage war against Ariel, Even all who wage war against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, Will be like a dream, a vision of the night. 8 It will be as when a hungry man dreams— And behold, he is eating; But when he awakens, his hunger is not satisfied, Or as when a thirsty man dreams— And behold, he is drinking, But when he awakens, behold, he is faint And his thirst is not quenched. Thus the multitude of all the nations will be Who wage war against Mount Zion. Isaiah 29:5–8 (NASB95) 

5 And the wealth of the impious will be like a cloud of dust from a wall, and the multitude of those who oppress you like dust carried along; and it will happen as a moment, suddenly 6 from the Lord Sabaoth, for there will be an examination with thunder and quaking and a great sound, a rushing storm and a consuming flame of fire. 7 And the wealth of all the nations will be like one who dreams during the sleep of night, every nation that waged war against Jerusalem and all those who are waging war against Jerusalem and all those who gathered together against it and afflicted it. 8 And like those who drink and eat in their sleep, and when they awake the dream is to no avail, the way the one who is thirsty dreams as if he were drinking and when he awakes, he is still thirsty, and his soul hoped in vain, so will be the wealth of all the nations, every one that waged war against the mountain of Zion. Isaiah 29:5–8 (LES2) 

I am not sure what to make of the LXX’s “wealth” of the ungodly. Perhaps it was an idiomatic saying or perhaps it was an error by a scribe. The Greek word for wealth is plutos and the one for multitude is plethos. It seems in this case that the MT makes more sense by using the word “multitude.” 

In verse 6, the MT and LXX are close. The Hebrew word translated “punished” can also mean “visited.” The Greek word in the LXX for “examined” can also imply a visitation. Both agree that this “visitation” will be very unusual containing natural terrors.

In verse 7, the MT continues using the word Ariel for Jerusalem, but the LXX calls the city by its actual name. The rest of this passage emphasizes the surreal nature of the siege against Jerusalem to the minds of the inhabitants. 

Interestingly, this passage says that “all the nations” will wage war against the city.

9 Be delayed and wait, Blind yourselves and be blind; They become drunk, but not with wine, They stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers. Isaiah 29:9–10 (NASB95) 

9 Be feeble and out of your senses! Be intoxicated not from sikera or from wine. 10 Because the Lord has made you drunk with a wind of bewilderment; and he will close the eyes of them and their prophets and their rulers, those who see the secrets. Isaiah 29:9–10 (LES2) 

11 The entire vision will be to you like the words of a sealed book, which when they give it to the one who is literate, saying, “Please read this,” he will say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I cannot read.” 13 Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, Isaiah 29:11–13 (NASB95) 

11 And all these sayings to you will be like the words of the sealed scroll, which if they give it to a person who understands letters and say, “Read these things!” he will say, “I am unable to read it, for it has been sealed.” 12 And this scroll will be given into the hands of a person who does not understand letters, and he will say to him, “Read this!” and he will say, “I do not understand letters.” 13 And the Lord said, “This people approaches me with their mouth, and with their lips they honor me, but their heart remains far from me. And they are pious to me pointlessly, teaching human rules and instructions. Isaiah 29:11–13 (LES2)

Verses 11 and 12 show much agreement. Verse 13 is quoted by Jesus in the New Testament in Matthew 15:8-9 and Mark 7:6-7. Although Mark’s quote is abbreviated, both quotes agree more with the LXX. The quote from Matthew is below.

8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Matthew 15:8–9 (NKJV)

The same hypocrisy that Jesus condemned also existed in Isaiah’s time. The same judgment followed in both cases – the destruction of Jerusalem.

The Jews had parted ways with God, as was clearly revealed when their leaders rejected and murdered their Messiah (Acts 2:23), our Lord Jesus. One cannot hold on to the Father while at the same time rejecting his Son. (1 John 2:23) Rabbinic Jews who reject Christ no longer worship the true God.

14 Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.” Isaiah 29:14 (NASB95) 

14 Because of this, Look! I will continue to change this people, and I will change them, and I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will hide the intelligence of the intelligent.” Isaiah 29:14 (LES2)

The MT says God will once again “deal marvelously,” but the LXX says God will “change” them. This is the Greek word metatithemi, which means to “transfer or transpose”. It is the same word used to describe what God did to Enoch when he transferred or relocated him from earth to heaven. (Genesis 5:24) The LXX, therefore, could be translated to say that God will relocate his people to Babylon. 

The next part of the verse was quoted by Paul.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 1 Corinthians 1:18–19 (NKJV)

Although two of the verbs are different in Paul’s quote of the LXX, the meaning is the same. He was paraphrasing from memory, it seems. The LXX and Paul’s quote agree, also, in having God be the agent of destroying and hiding the wisdom and understanding of the disobedient and unbelieving Jews. This agrees with other scriptures which indicates that God imposes spiritual blindness upon some, rendering them incapable of responding properly to his Spirit and Word (Romans 9:18). My understanding of this is that God simply leaves the reprobate to their own devices. Only those whom God actively draws to himself are capable of faith. (John 6:44)

15 Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD, And whose deeds are done in a dark place, And they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?” 16 You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? Isaiah 29:15–16 (NASB95) 

15 Woe to those who make a plan deeply, and their deeds will be in darkness, and they will say, “Who has seen us, and who will know us or what we are doing?” 16 Will you not be reckoned as the clay of the potter? Surely the shape will not say to the one who shapes it, “You did not shape me.” Or the thing made to the one who makes it, “You did not make me intelligently.” Isaiah 29:15–16 (LES2) 

17 Is it not yet just a little while Before Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field, And the fertile field will be considered as a forest? 18 On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. 19 The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:17–19 (NASB95)

17 It is no longer a little while and Lebanon will be changed as Mount Carmel, and Carmel will be considered a forest. 18 And on that day deaf people will hear the words of a scroll, and the eyes of blind people will see in the darkness and in the fog, 19 and poor people will rejoice with cheer because of the Lord, and those people who are despairing will be filled with cheer. Isaiah 29:17–19 (LES2) 

This passage in both the MT and LXX points to Jesus. Our Lord paraphrased verses 18-19 and Isaiah 35:4-6.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:2–6 (NKJV)

20 For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be finished, Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off; 21 Who cause a person to be indicted by a word, And ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate, And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments. Isaiah 29:20–21 (NASB95)

20 A lawless person has come to an end and an arrogant person has perished, and those acting lawlessly in vice have been utterly destroyed, 21 even those who make people sin in word. And they will set up an obstacle for all those who reprove in the gates because they have turned the righteous aside unjustly. Isaiah 29:20–21 (LES2)

22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale; 23 But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, They will sanctify My name; Indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob And will stand in awe of the God of Israel. 24 “Those who err in mind will know the truth, And those who criticize will accept instruction. Isaiah 29:22–24 (NASB95)

22 Because of this, this is what the Lord says about the house of Jacob, which he set apart from Abraham: “Not now will Jacob be ashamed, and not now will his face change. 23 Rather, when their children see my deeds, they will sanctify my name because of me, and they will sanctify the holy one of Jacob, and they will fear the God of Israel.” 24 And those who wander by the wind will know understanding, and those who grumble will learn to listen, and the faltering tongues will learn to speak peace. Isaiah 29:22–24 (LES2)