Isaiah 29:9

Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem following a warning about hostile nations who will approach Mount Zion and awaken empty-handed.

The words — The Hebrew הִתְמַהְמְהוּ (hit.mah.me.Hu) means "delay" or "stop," and שָׁכְרוּ (sha.khe.Ru) literally means "become drunk."

The thread — The motif of drunkenness without wine and staggering appears in Isaiah 51:21 and Isaiah 19:14, where spiritual confusion replaces physical intoxication.

Why it lands — The text demands readers recognize that divine judgment produces a paralysis of perception and purpose that mirrors intoxication.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הִתְמַהְמְה֣וּhit.mah.me.Hudelay וּתְמָ֔הוּu./te.Ma.huand/ be astounded הִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּhish.ta.'ash.'Ublind yourselves וָשֹׁ֑עוּva./Sho.'uand/ be blind שָֽׁכְר֣וּsha.khe.Rupeople have become drunk וְלֹא־ve./lo'-and/ not יַ֔יִןYa.yinwine נָע֖וּna.'Upeople have staggered וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not שֵׁכָֽר׃she.Kharstrong drink

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Isaiah 51:21 Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one, drunken, but not with wine.
Isaiah 19:14 The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.
Isaiah 33:13 You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge My might.”
Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Revelation 17:6 I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
Isaiah 28:7 These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
Isaiah 1:2 Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
Isaiah 22:12 On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.
Isaiah 29:10 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.
Isaiah 51:17 Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.