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Isaiah 29:12

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

And when the book is given to someone who cannot read, saying, 'Please read this,' he says, 'I cannot read.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse shows how people make excuses to avoid God's truth - whether they claim to be too educated or not educated enough.

📚 Historical Context

In the book of Isaiah, written during the 8th century BC, the prophet is addressing the people of Judah amid threats from the Assyrian empire, warning them of God's judgment for their spiritual hypocrisy and reliance on human alliances. This verse depicts a scene where an unlearned person is given a book but cannot read it, symbolizing the broader spiritual blindness of the nation that prevents them from understanding God's messages. Isaiah uses this imagery to highlight how the people's outward religiosity masks their inner inability to grasp divine truth.

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