John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 29:20

"For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth, and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off;" — Isaiah 29:20 (ASV)

For the violent man is brought to nought. He states more clearly what we have already mentioned in the previous verse, namely, that the restoration of the Church consists in this: that the Lord raises up those who are cast down and has compassion on the poor. But that purification of the Church, of which we have already spoken, is first necessary; for as long as the Lord does not execute his judgment against the wicked, and the bad are mixed with the good, so that they even hold the highest place in the Church, everything is soiled and corrupted, God is not worshipped or feared, and even godliness is trampled underfoot. Therefore, when the ungodly are removed or subdued, the Church is restored to its splendor, and the godly, freed from distresses and calamities, leap for joy.

First, he calls them עריצים (gnărītzīm), “violent.” There are various interpretations of this word; but I think that the Prophet distinguishes between those who are openly wicked and have no shame, and those who have some appearance of goodness and yet are not better than others, for they mock God in their hearts. But perhaps by the two adjectives, “violent” and “scorners,” he describes the same persons; because, like robbers among people, they seize, oppress, treat with cruelty, and commit every kind of outrage, and yet are not withheld by any fear of God, because they regard religion as a fable.

And they who hastened early to iniquity. Under this category he includes other crimes. He does not speak of the Chaldeans or Assyrians, but of those who wished to be counted among the godly and boasted of being the seed of Abraham.