King James Version

What Does Isaiah 29:8 Mean?

Isaiah 29:8 in the King James Version says “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as wh... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 29 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

Isaiah 29:8 · KJV


Context

6

Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

7

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.

8

It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

9

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

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. rulers: Heb. heads


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty (וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲלֹם הָרָעֵב וְהִנֵּה אוֹכֵל וְהֵקִיץ וְרֵיקָה נַפְשׁוֹ, vehayah ka'asher yachalom hara'ev vehineh okhel veheyqits vereyqah nafsho). Isaiah intensifies the dream metaphor with visceral hunger imagery. The ravenous man dreams of feasting but wakes to his soul is empty (רֵיקָה נַפְשׁוֹ, reyqah nafsho)—his נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, soul/appetite) remains void. Or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite (וְהִנֵּה עָיֵף וְנַפְשׁוֹ שׁוֹקֵקָה, vehineh ayef venafso shoqeqah)—he's עָיֵף (ayef, exhausted) and his soul שׁוֹקֵק (shoqeq, craves/longs).

So shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion—the armies came to plunder, to satisfy their imperial appetite for conquest and treasure. Instead, they wake to devastating loss, their hunger for Jerusalem's wealth utterly unsatisfied. Their confident expectations of victory prove as illusory as a starving man's dream-feast.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Sennacherib's campaign aimed to enrich Assyria through tribute and plunder. His annals boast of taking 'thirty talents of gold, eight hundred talents of silver' from Hezekiah. Yet he failed to capture Jerusalem itself or depose Hezekiah—his primary goals unfulfilled. The dreamed feast of total conquest turned to the empty awakening of military catastrophe.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do God's enemies' confident expectations prove as empty as dream-food?
  2. What does this teach about the futility of opposing God's purposes?
  3. When have your own plans, made without God's direction, proven as unsatisfying as a dream-meal?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
וְהָיָ֡ה1 of 28
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר2 of 28

or as when

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יַחֲלֹ֤ם3 of 28

dreameth

H2492

properly, to bind firmly, i.e., (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream

הָרָעֵ֜ב4 of 28

It shall even be as when an hungry

H7457

hungry (more or less intensely)

וְהִנֵּ֣ה5 of 28
H2009

lo!

אוֹכֵ֗ל6 of 28

and behold he eateth

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וְהֵקִיץ֙7 of 28

but he awaketh

H6974

to awake (literally or figuratively)

וְרֵיקָ֣ה8 of 28

is empty

H7386

empty; figuratively, worthless

וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ9 of 28

and his soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר10 of 28

or as when

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יַחֲלֹ֤ם11 of 28

dreameth

H2492

properly, to bind firmly, i.e., (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream

הַצָּמֵא֙12 of 28

a thirsty man

H6771

thirsty (literally or figuratively)

וְהִנֵּ֣ה13 of 28
H2009

lo!

שֹׁתֶ֔ה14 of 28

and behold he drinketh

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

וְהֵקִיץ֙15 of 28

but he awaketh

H6974

to awake (literally or figuratively)

וְהִנֵּ֣ה16 of 28
H2009

lo!

עָיֵ֔ף17 of 28

and behold he is faint

H5889

languid

וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ18 of 28

and his soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

שׁוֹקֵקָ֑ה19 of 28

hath appetite

H8264

to course (like a beast of prey); by implication, to seek greedily

כֵּ֣ן20 of 28
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

יִֽהְיֶ֗ה21 of 28
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

הֲמוֹן֙22 of 28

so shall the multitude

H1995

a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth

כָּל23 of 28
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַגּוֹיִ֔ם24 of 28

of all the nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

הַצֹּבְאִ֖ים25 of 28

be that fight

H6633

to mass (an army or servants)

עַל26 of 28
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַ֥ר27 of 28

against mount

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

צִיּֽוֹן׃28 of 28

Zion

H6726

tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 29:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 29:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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