Isaiah 29:7

New Century Version

Then all the nations that fight against Jerusalem will be like a dream; all the nations that attack her will be like a vision in the night.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
All the many nationsgoing out to battle against Ariel—all the attackers, the siege works against her,and those who oppress her—will then be like a dream, a vision in the night.

Hebrew Names Version
The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ari'el, even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

King James Version
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.

English Standard Version
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.

New American Standard Bible
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.

Amplified Bible
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel (Jerusalem), Even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, Will be like a dream, a vision of the night.

World English Bible
The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against the altar, shalbe as a dreame or vision by night: euen all they that make the warre against it, and strong holdes against it, and lay siege vnto it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that 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.

Berean Standard Bible
All the many nations going out to battle against Ariel-even all who war against her, laying siege and attacking her-will be like a dream, like a vision in the night,

Contemporary English Version
Every brutal nation that attacks Jerusalem and makes it suffer will disappear like a dream when night is over.

Complete Jewish Bible
Then, all the nations fighting Ari'el, every one at war with her, the ramparts around her, the people that trouble her will fade like a dream, like a vision in the night.

Darby Translation
And the multitude of all the nations that war against Ariel, even all that war against her and her fortifications, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.

Easy-to-Read Version
Many nations will fight against Ariel. It will be a nightmare. Armies will surround Ariel and punish her.

George Lamsa Translation
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Zion, even all the armies and multitudes that distress her, shall be as a vision in the night.

Good News Translation
then all the armies of the nations attacking the city of God's altar, all their weapons and equipment—everything—will vanish like a dream, like something imagined in the night.

Lexham English Bible
And the multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, all those who fight against her and her stronghold, and those who inflict her shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.

Literal Translation
And the multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, even all battling her and compressing her and her stronghold, shall be like a dream of a night vision.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But now the multitude of all the people, that went out agaynst Ariel: the whole hooste, the stronge holdes, and sege: is like a dreame which apeareth in the night.

American Standard Version
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

Bible in Basic English
And all the nations making war on Ariel, and all those who are fighting against her and shutting her in with their towers, will be like a dream, like a vision of the night.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the multitude of all the nations that war against Ariel, even all that war against her, and the bulwarks about her, and they that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

King James Version (1611)
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, euen all that fight against her and her munition, and that distresse her, shalbe as a dreame of a night vision.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the multitude of all nations that fight against Ariel, shalbe as a dreame seene by night: euen so shall they be that make warre against it, and strong holdes to ouercome it, and that lay any siege vnto it.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the wealth of all the nations together, as many as have fought against Ariel, and all they that war against Jerusalem, and all who are gathered against her, and they that distress her, shall be as one that dreams in sleep by night.

English Revised Version
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her strong hold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the multitude of alle folkis that fouyten ayens Ariel schal be as the dreem of a nyytis visioun; and alle men that fouyten, and bisegiden, and hadden the maistrie ayens it.

Update Bible Version
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

New English Translation
It will be like a dream, a night vision. There will be a horde from all the nations that fight against Ariel, those who attack her and her stronghold and besiege her.

New King James Version
The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, Even all who fight against her and her fortress, And distress her, Shall be as a dream of a night vision.

New Living Translation
All the nations fighting against Jerusalem will vanish like a dream! Those who are attacking her walls will vanish like a vision in the night.

New Life Bible
And the many nations that fight against Ariel, all who fight against her and her strong-place and bring trouble to her, will be like a dream. They will be like a special dream of the night.

New Revised Standard
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it shall be like the dream of a night vision, With the multitude of all the nations who have been making war against Ariel, - Even with all who have been making war against her and her stronghold and who have been laying siege to her;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the multitude of all nations that have fought against Ariel, shall be as the dream of a vision by night, and all that have fought, and besieged and prevailed against it.

Revised Standard Version
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.

Young's Literal Translation
And as a dream, a vision of night, hath been The multitude of all the nations Who are warring against Ariel, And all its warriors, and its bulwark, Even of those distressing her.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
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.

Contextual Overview

¹ How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem, the city where David camped. Your festivals have continued year after year. ² I will attack Jerusalem, and that city will be filled with sadness and crying. It will be like an altar to me. ³ I will put armies all around you, Jerusalem; I will surround you with towers and with devices to attack you. ⁴ You will be pulled down and will speak from the ground; I will hear your voice rising from the ground. It will sound like the voice of a ghost; your words will come like a whisper from the dirt. ⁵ Your many enemies will become like fine dust; the many cruel people will be like chaff that is blown away. Everything will happen very quickly. ⁶ The Lord All-Powerful will come with thunder, earthquakes, and great noises, with storms, strong winds, and a fire that destroys. ⁷ Then all the nations that fight against Jerusalem will be like a dream; all the nations that attack her will be like a vision in the night. ⁸ They will be like a hungry man who dreams he is eating, but when he awakens, he is still hungry. They will be like a thirsty man who dreams he is drinking, but when he awakens, he is still weak and thirsty. It will be the same way with all the nations who fight against Mount Zion.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the multitude: Isaiah 37:36, Isaiah 41:11, Isaiah 41:12, Jeremiah 25:31-33, Jeremiah 51:42-44, Nahum 1:3-12, Zechariah 12:3-5, Zechariah 14:1-3, Zechariah 14:12-15, Revelation 20:8, Revelation 20:9

that distress: Isaiah 29:2

as a dream: Job 20:8, Psalms 73:20

Reciprocal: Psalms 90:5 - as a sleep Isaiah 10:12 - I will Ezekiel 43:15 - the altar Obadiah 1:16 - and they shall be Nahum 1:15 - he

Cross-References

Genesis 29:9
While Jacob was talking with the shepherds, Rachel came with her father's sheep, because it was her job to care for the sheep.

Genesis 29:10
When Jacob saw Laban's daughter Rachel and Laban's sheep, he went to the well and rolled the stone from its mouth and watered Laban's sheep. Now Laban was the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's mother.

Ephesians 5:16
Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel,.... The Roman army, which consisted of men of all nations, that fought against Jerusalem; the city in which was the altar, as the Targum paraphrases it:

even all that fight against her, and her munition, and that distress her; that besieged it, and endeavoured to demolish its walls, towns, and fortifications, as they did:

shall be as a dream of a night vision: meaning either that the Roman empire should quickly fall, and pass away, and come to nothing, like a dream in the night, as it soon began to decay after the destruction of Jerusalem, and also the Pagan religion in it; or that the Roman army would be disappointed at the taking of the city, expecting to find much riches, and a great spoil, and should not; and so be like a man that dreams, and fancies he is in the possession of what he craves, but, when he awakes, finds he has got nothing. This is more largely exemplified in the following verse Isaiah 29:8.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And the multitude of all the nations - The Assyrians, and their allied hosts.

And her munition - Her fortresses, castles, places of strength 2 Samuel 5:7; Ecclesiastes 9:14; Ezekiel 19:9.

Shall be as a dream of a night vision - In a dream we seem to see the objects of which we think as really as when awake, and hence, they are called visions, and visions of the night Genesis 46:2; Job 4:13; Job 7:14; Daniel 2:28; Daniel 4:5; Daniel 7:1, Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:13, Daniel 7:15. The specific idea here is not that of the “suddenness” with which objects seen in a dream appear and then vanish, but it is that which occurs in Isaiah 29:8, of one who dreams of eating and drinking, but who awakes, and is hungry and thirsty still. So it was with the Assyrian. He had set his heart on the wealth of Jerusalem. He had earnestly desired to possess that city - as a hungry man desires to satisfy the cravings of his appetite. But it would be like the vision of the night; and on that fatal morning on which he should awake from his fond dream Isaiah 37:36, he would find all his hopes dissipated, and the longcherished desire of his soul unsatisfied still.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 29:7. As a dream — This is the beginning of the comparison, which is pursued and applied in the next verse. Sennacherib and his mighty army are not compared to a dream because of their sudden disappearance; but the disappointment of their eager hopes is compared to what happens to a hungry and thirsty man, when he awakes from a dream in which fancy had presented to him meat and drink in abundance, and finds it nothing but a vain illusion. The comparison is elegant and beautiful in the highest degree, well wrought up, and perfectly suited to the end proposed. The image is extremely natural, but not obvious: it appeals to our inward feelings, not to our outward senses; and is applied to an event in its concomitant circumstances exactly similar, but in its nature totally different. See De S. Poes. Hebr. Praelect. xii. For beauty and ingenuity it may fairly come in competition with one of the most elegant of Virgil, greatly improved from Homer, Iliad xxii. 199, where he has applied to a different purpose, but not so happily, the same image of the ineffectual working of imagination in a dream: -

Ac veluti in somnis, oculos ubi languida pressit

Nocte quies, necquicquam avidos extendere cursus

Velle videmur, et in mediis conatibus aegri

Succidimus; non lingua valet, non corpore notae

Sufficiunt vires, nec vox, nec verba sequuntur.

AEn., xii. 908.

"And as, when slumber seals the closing sight,

The sick wild fancy labours in the night;

Some dreadful visionary foe we shun

With airy strides, but strive in vain to run;

In vain our baffled limbs their powers essay;

We faint, we struggle, sink, and fall away;

Drain'd of our strength, we neither fight nor fly,

And on the tongue the struggling accents die."

PITT.

Lucretius expresses the very same image with Isaiah: -

Ut bibere in somnis sitiens quum quaerit, et humor

Non datur, ardorem in membris qui stinguere possit;

Sed laticum simulacra petit, frustraque laborat,

In medioque sitit torrenti flumine potans.

iv. 1091.

As a thirsty man desires to drink in his sleep,

And has no fluid to allay the heat within,

But vainly labours to catch the image of rivers,

And is parched up while fancying that he is

drinking at a full stream. Bishop Stock's translation of the prophet's text is both elegant and just: -

"As when a hungry man dreameth; and, lo! he is eating:

And he awaketh; and his appetite is unsatisfied.

And as a thirsty man dreameth; and, lo! he is drinking:

And he awaketh; and, lo! he is faint,

And his appetite craveth."

Lucretius almost copies the original.

All that fight against her and her munition - "And all their armies and their towers"] For צביה ומצדתה tsobeyha umetsodathah, I read, with the Chaldee, צבאם ומצדתם tsebaam umetsodatham.