And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about armies disappearing like smoke; it highlights the disappointment of the attackers. Like someone dreaming of a feast and waking up hungry, their hopes for victory and plunder will vanish into thin air, leaving them with nothing but emptiness.
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is addressing Jerusalem, which he calls "Ariel" (meaning "lion of God" or possibly "altar of God"). He's denouncing the city's reliance on its defenses and foreign alliances rather than on God, and warns of an impending invasion. This verse specifically describes the fate of the enemy armies that will attack Jerusalem, promising they will be utterly defeated and their might will vanish as if it were a mere nighttime illusion.
Isaiah calls Jerusalem 'Ariel,' which sounds like 'lion of God.' But what does this name reveal about the city, especially when nations attack it?
The name 'Ariel' (meaning 'Lion of God') is loaded with meaning. For Jerusalem, it was meant to signify God's powerful presence and protection. Yet, in this passage, God ironically uses the name to describe the city's vulnerability when it turns away from Him.
When nations attack 'Ariel,' they're not just attacking a city; they're attacking something God intended to be a symbol of His strength. But when that strength is rejected by unfaithfulness, the name becomes a stark reminder of God's judgment, not His defense. The city, once a symbol of divine might, becomes a target of divine wrath.
Why does Isaiah compare the vast, attacking armies to 'a dream, a vision of the night'?
This verse uses a powerful simile to describe the ultimate fate of those who wage war against God's people, especially when God is judging His own people.
The attacking nations, though seemingly mighty and terrifying, are ultimately as insubstantial and temporary as a dream. They may cause distress and fear, but their power to achieve their aims against God's will is illusory.
Think about how dreams work: they can feel incredibly real in the moment, filled with vivid imagery and intense emotions. But when you wake up, they vanish, leaving no lasting reality. Similarly, the Assyrian army, or any force opposing God's purposes, will ultimately disappear without achieving its destructive goals, leaving behind only disappointment and emptiness. This imagery underscores that human power, when set against God, is ultimately futile.
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Understand the original words
'Ariel · Hebrew Noun (Proper)
A poetic name for Jerusalem, often interpreted as 'Lion of God,' emphasizing its status as the city of David and the dwelling place of God's altar.
This prophecy directly addresses the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege under King Hezekiah. The imagery of enemies vanishing like a dream emphasizes God's powerful protection of His chosen city against overwhelming odds.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. The city is miraculously spared due to divine intervention, but surrounding towns are devastated.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, destroys the First Temple, and exiles much of the population, marking the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia overthrows the Babylonian Empire, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
The Jews revolt against the Seleucid Empire's oppressive rule and religious persecution, leading to a period of Jewish independence.
c. 70 AD
Roman Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army crushes the First Jewish Revolt, destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, and disperses the Jewish people.
This passage describes the downfall of Babylon, comparing the enemies' efforts to dreams that vanish, mirroring how the nations' attacks against Jerusalem are rendered ineffective.
Psalm 76:5-6This Psalm speaks of the mighty attackers of Zion being overcome, comparing them to a deep sleep, which aligns with the dream-like vanishing of the nations described in Isaiah.
Job 20:8This verse describes the wicked perishing like a dream that vanishes, emphasizing the transient and ultimately powerless nature of those who oppose God's people, similar to the nations fighting against Ariel.
Matthew 2:12In this passage, the wise men are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, highlighting how dreams can convey divine warnings and reveal the futility of human plans, much like the nations' plans against Jerusalem are shown to be like a fleeting dream.
cambridgeIsaiah 29:7: "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."
7 . her munition ] perhaps her citadel (R.V. “stronghold”). a dream of a night vision ] R.V. a dream, a vision of the night . 7, 8 . The figure of the dream is applied in two ways; first, objectively, to the vanishing of the enemy; second, subjectively, to his disappointment.
barnesIsaiah 29:7: "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."
And the multitude of all the nations - The Assyrians, and their allied hosts. And her munition - Her fortresses, castles, places of strength 2 Samuel 5:7; Ecclesiastes 9:14; Ezekiel 19:9. Shall be as a dream of a night vision - In a dream we seem to see the objects of which we think as really as when awake,…
This verse isn't just about armies disappearing like smoke; it highlights the disappointment of the attackers. Like someone dreaming of a feast and waking up hungry, their hopes for victory and plunder will vanish into thin air, leaving them with nothing but emptiness.
The prophet Isaiah is addressing Jerusalem, which he calls "Ariel" (meaning "lion of God" or possibly "altar of God"). He's denouncing the city's reliance on its defenses and foreign alliances rather than on God, and warns of an impending invasion. This verse specifically describes the fate of the enemy armies that will attack Jerusalem, promising they will be utterly defeated and their might will vanish as if it were a mere nighttime illusion.
The prophet Isaiah is addressing Jerusalem, which he calls "Ariel" (meaning "lion of God" or possibly "altar of God"). He's denouncing the city's reliance on its defenses and foreign alliances rather than on God, and warns of an impending invasion. This verse specifically describes the fate of the enemy armies that will attack Jerusalem, promising they will be utterly defeated and their might will vanish as if it were a mere nighttime illusion.
"And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night." — This verse isn't just about armies disappearing like smoke; it highlights the disappointment of the attackers. Like someone dreaming of a feast and waking up hungry, their hopes for victory and plu…
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Last reviewed October 2026