Isaiah 1:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They will be shamed by the groves they have chosen for worship. They not only paid homage to the statues but also served the trees in the woods. These words do not appear in the Alexandrian or Vatican manuscripts; therefore, they are not included in the Church-Slavonic texts. However, in some Greek manuscripts, the term for statues has been replaced with the word for gardens.

Prior to the coming of the Lord, they were punished through enemy invasions, the burning of their cities, and the destruction of their homes. By God's allowance, the Persians, Medes, Moabites, Idumeans, and neighboring nations inflicted these calamities upon them. However, when they acted wickedly towards Christ Himself, the tribulations they faced were no less severe than those of former times. They were besieged by Roman forces, which devastated all of Judea, as there was no one to rescue them from such dire misfortunes. Therefore, it is said, They shall be ashamed of their idols that they personally cherished; and they shall be embarrassed by their gardens that they themselves sought. Having groves and oak forests, they placed idols beside the grandest trees, constructed altars, and called these false gods their saviors. They placed their trust in the work of their own hands, believing they could triumph over their enemies with ease. Yet when adversaries came forth and inflicted the typical harms of warfare, Israel found itself bereft of aid from their idols, leading the Israelites to feel shame for their idols. They witnessed their idols being consumed alongside their gardens, groves, shrines, and altars. Misled by their misplaced hope, they realized too late that their gods had suffered, and they struggled to comprehend the true message conveyed by the prophet: ‘And where are thy gods, which thou hast made thee, that they may rise up and deliver thee in the time of thy affliction’ (Jeremiah 2:28).

Similarly, every person enslaved by forbidden desires, treating them as gods, places these idols within a corrupt temple—namely, their heart—where they cling to such thoughts, harboring images of what they covet. The affluent individual, whose heart aligns with his wealth, serves the idol of greed; the glutton, who yields to the desire for excess, elevates his belly to a position of divinity. Cursed is the man who creates an idol and unites with it, an abomination to the Lord (Deuteronomy 27:15). Yet those who heed Jacob's counsel to discard foreign gods and change their garments, ascending to Bethel, the house of God, to build an altar to the Lord, are blessed (cf. Gen. 35:2, 3). Therefore, let us renounce the foreign idols, change our garments, and shed the old self. Let us cast away the sinful desires that have permeated our ears (cf. Gen. 35:4), meaning the former teachings we once reveled in. This is in response to the declaration, "They shall be ashamed of their idols, which they themselves desired." The objection was never about desire itself when it comes to those idols previously mentioned, for we have indulged in our passions and worshiped them. They shall also feel shame over their gardens, which they themselves crave. The term garden (khpoj) carries dual meanings. In Genesis, as translated by Aquila, we read, "And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden" (Gen. 2:8). Conversely, the land of Egypt is derisively referred to as a hepe garden (khpoj) of zelay (cf. Deut. 11:10). Additionally, Ahab's desire to transform the inheritance of the Israelite Nebuchadnezzar into a hepe garden of potions (cf. 3 Kings 21:2) showcases yet another negative reference to a garden. Ecclesiastes speaks of the garden favorably, declaring, "I will make me hepherds and gardens (khpouj kai paradisouj)" (Ecclesiastes 2:5). However, blessed is the garden that contained the tomb which accepted the temporal fate of death in the body of the Lord! Here, the garden serves as a symbol, bringing shame to those governed by lust. It seems that the Prophet now refers to groves, which were planted by the deceived in honor of idols. These groves symbolize sinful inclinations and outward appearances used to disguise our desires. For instance, one may appear virtuous while being consumed by pleasure, or someone enslaved by greed may strive to project an image of generosity. In these matters, those who are lustful will find themselves shamed when the intents of the heart are laid bare.