Isaiah 28
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 727 BC – 701 BC · Divided kingdom · Judah alone · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
29 verses · 729 words · ~4 min read · ~5 min listen
The Captivity of Ephraim
1Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraimʼs drunkards,
to the fading flower of his glorious splendor,
set on the summit above the fertile valley,
the pride of those overcome by wine.
2Behold, the Lord has one
who is strong and mighty.
Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest,
like a driving rain or flooding downpour,
he will smash that crown to the ground.
3The majestic crown of Ephraimʼs drunkards
will be trampled underfoot.
4The fading flower of his beautiful splendor,
set on the summit above the fertile valley,
will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest:
Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.
5On that day the Lord of Hosts will be a crown of glory,
a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,
6a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.
7These also stagger from wine
and stumble from strong drink:
Priests and prophets reel from strong drink
and are befuddled by wine.
They stumble because of strong drink,
muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
8For all their tables are covered with vomit;
there is not a place without filth.
9Whom is He trying to teach?
To whom is He explaining His message?
To infants just weaned from milk?
To babies removed from the breast?
10For they hear:
“Order on order, order on order,
line on line, line on line;
a little here, a little there.”
11Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues,
He will speak to this people 12to whom He has said:
“This is the place of rest, let the weary rest;
this is the place of repose.”
But they would not listen.
13Then the word of the Lord to them will become:
“Order on order, order on order,
line on line, line on line;
a little here, a little there,”
so that they will go stumbling backward
and will be injured, ensnared, and captured.
A Cornerstone in Zion
14Therefore hear the word of the Lord, O scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death;
we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol.
When the overwhelming scourge passes through
it will not touch us,
because we have made lies our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.”
16So this is what the Lord God says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
the one who believes will never be shaken.
17I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the level.
Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies,
and water will flood your hiding place.
18Your covenant with death will be dissolved,
and your agreement with Sheol will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge passes through,
you will be trampled by it.
19As often as it passes through,
it will carry you away;
it will sweep through morning after morning,
by day and by night.”
The understanding of this message
will bring sheer terror.
20Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on,
and the blanket too small to wrap around you.
21For the Lord will rise up as at Mount Perazim.
He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon,
to do His work, His strange work,
and to perform His task, His disturbing task.
22So now, do not mock,
or your shackles will become heavier.
Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Hosts
a decree of destruction against the whole land.
Listen and Hear
23Listen and hear my voice.
Pay attention and hear what I say.
24Does the plowman plow for planting every day?
Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil?
25When he has leveled its surface,
does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots,
and rye within its border.
26For his God instructs
and teaches him properly.
27Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin.
But caraway is beaten out with a stick,
and cumin with a rod.
28Grain for bread must be ground,
but it is not endlessly threshed.
Though the wheels of the cart roll over it,
the horses do not crush it.
29This also comes from the Lord of Hosts,
who is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in wisdom.
Footnotes (6)
- a v1 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 3
- b v10 Or For He says; or For it is; literally For
- c v10 Or Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; Hebrew sav lasav sav lasav kav lakav kav lakav (possibly meaningless sounds to demonstrate an inability to understand); also in verse 13
- d v11 Cited in 1 Corinthians 14:21
- e v15 Or false gods
- f v16 LXX will never be put to shame; cited in Romans 9:33,Romans 10:11,and 1 Peter 2:6
Study notes on this chapter · 2
QuotationLinked by the New Testament
By people of strange tongues
Isaiah warns that Israel, who would not listen to plain prophecy, would hear God through foreign-speaking invaders, and still not listen. Paul cites it in his discussion of tongues and prophecy in Corinth. How he applies it to tongues is debated.
When: Isaiah, c. 700 BC; 1 Corinthians, c. AD 55.
Original passageIsaiah 28:11–12
Where the New Testament applies it1 Corinthians 14:20–25
Ways people read this (3)
- Tongues without interpretation are a sign of judgment on unbelievers, as foreign speech was for Israel.
- Paul is adapting the text as an analogy to make a point about clarity in worship, and is not offering a full interpretation of Isaiah.
- Interpreters differ on whether tongues in Corinth are known languages or ecstatic speech.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
Prophecy & fulfillmentLinked by the New Testament
A precious cornerstone laid in Zion
God lays a tested stone as a sure foundation, and 'whoever believes will not be in haste'. Paul and Peter apply this to Christ.
When: Isaiah, c. 700 BC; cited by Paul c. AD 57 and by Peter c. AD 62–64.
Original passageIsaiah 28:16
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.