Isaiah 29:11

9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

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:

12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.”
KJV
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:
WEB
All vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is educated, saying, “Read this, please;” and he says, “I can’t, for it is sealed;”
ASV
And all vision 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:
DARBY
And the whole vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which they give to one that can read, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed.
BLB
And the vision of all has become to you⁺ like the words of a book that is sealed, which they give to the one knowing a book, saying, “Read this now! “And he says, I am not able, for it [is]” sealed.
ÅB
Og slik er synet av alt dette blitt dere slik som ordene i en forseglet bok; gir en den til en som skjønner skrift, og sier: Les dette! så sier han: Jeg kan ikke, for den er forseglet.
OTB
Hele dette synet vil være for dere som ordene i en forseglet bok. Når den gis til en som kan lese, og det sies: “Les dette, vær så snill,” vil han si, “Jeg kan ikke, for den er forseglet.”
B1930
Og således er synet av alt dette blitt eder likesom ordene i en forseglet bok; gir en den til en som skjønner skrift, og sier: Les dette! så sier han: Jeg kan ikke, for den er forseglet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 13:11

    He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 12:4

    But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 8:16

    Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 12:9

    And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 11:25

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 5:1–9

    And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 16:17

    And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 6:1

    And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

    Read in context