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Isaiah 29:12

10 For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.

11 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.”

Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”

13 Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

14 Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

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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
Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”
KJV
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
WEB
and the book is delivered to one who is not educated, saying, “Read this, please;” and he says, “I can’t read.”
ASV
and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned.
DARBY
And they give the book to him that cannot read, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot read.
BLB
And the book is given to one who does not know a book, saying, “Read this now! And he says, “I do not know a book.”
ÅB
Eller en rekker boken til en som ikke skjønner skrift, med de ord: Les dette! så sier han: Jeg skjønner ikke skrift.
OTB
Eller hvis den gis til en som ikke kan lese, og det sies: “Les dette, vær så snill,” vil han si, “Jeg vet ikke hvordan man leser.”
B1930
Eller en rekker boken til en som ikke skjønner skrift, med de ord: Les dette! så sier han: Jeg skjønner ikke skrift.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 7:15–16

    The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 29:18

    On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

    Read in context

  • Hosea 4:6

    My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 28:12–13

    to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 5:4

    Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

    Read in context