Isaiah 28:8-18

8 All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
9 “Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that[a] ; a little here, a little there.”
11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there— so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood[b] our hiding place.”
16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it.

Isaiah 28:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 28

In this chapter the ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, are threatened with divine judgments, because of their sins and iniquities mentioned. The ten tribes, under the name of Ephraim, for their pride and drunkenness, Isa 28:1 the means of their destruction, the Assyrian monarch, compared to a hail storm, and a flood of mighty waters, Isa 28:2 which destruction, for their sins, is repeated, and represented as sudden and swift; when they would be like a fading flower and hasty fruit, Isa 28:3,4 and then, as for the two tribes, though they had a glorious prince at the head of them, who had a spirit of wisdom and judgment for government, and of valour and courage for war, Isa 28:5,6 yet the generality of the people, led on by the example of priest and prophet, went into the same sensual gratifications as they of the ten tribes did, Isa 28:7,8 and became sottish and unteachable, and were like children just taken from the breast, and to be used as such, Isa 28:9-11 and though the doctrine proposed to be taught them was such as, if received, would be of the greatest advantage to them, for their comfort and refreshment, yet it was refused by them with the utmost contempt; which was to be their ruin, Isa 28:12,13, wherefore the rulers of Jerusalem are threatened with the judgments of God, which should come upon them night and day, the report of which would be a vexation to them; and from which they should not be screened by their covenant with death and hell, or by their shelters and coverings with lies and falsehood, in which they placed their confidence, Isa 28:14,15 Isa 28:17-22 in the midst of which account, for the comfort of the Lord's people, stands a glorious prophecy, concerning the sure foundation laid in Zion, on which all that are built are safe and happy, Isa 28:16 and the certainty of these judgments is illustrated by the method which the ploughman takes in sowing his corn, and threshing it out; for which he has instruction and direction from the Lord of hosts, Isa 28:23-29.

Cross References 29

  • 1. Jeremiah 48:26
  • 2. ver 26; Psalms 32:8; Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 50:4; Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31:34; Jeremiah 32:33
  • 3. Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 53:1
  • 4. Psalms 131:2
  • 5. Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2
  • 6. ver 13
  • 7. S Genesis 11:7; Isaiah 33:19; Jeremiah 5:15
  • 8. Ezekiel 3:5; 1 Corinthians 14:21*
  • 9. S Exodus 14:14; S Joshua 1:13; S Job 11:18; S Isaiah 11:10; Matthew 11:28-29
  • 10. ver 10
  • 11. Matthew 21:44
  • 12. S Isaiah 8:15
  • 13. Isaiah 1:10
  • 14. 2 Chronicles 36:16
  • 15. S Job 5:23; Isaiah 8:19
  • 16. ver 2,18; Isaiah 8:7-8; Isaiah 10:26; Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:28; Daniel 11:22
  • 17. S Isaiah 9:15
  • 18. S Judges 9:35; Isaiah 29:15; Jeremiah 23:24
  • 19. S Isaiah 14:32
  • 20. Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 8:14-15; Da 2:34-35,45; Zechariah 12:3; Matthew 21:42; S Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20
  • 21. Jeremiah 51:26; 1 Corinthians 3:11; 2 Timothy 2:19
  • 22. Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 45:17; Isaiah 50:7; Isaiah 54:4; Romans 9:33*; Romans 10:11*; 1 Peter 2:6*
  • 23. S Psalms 11:7; S Isaiah 5:16
  • 24. S 2 Kings 21:13
  • 25. S Joshua 10:11
  • 26. S Isaiah 8:7
  • 27. S Isaiah 7:7
  • 28. S ver 15
  • 29. S Isaiah 5:5; Isaiah 63:18; Daniel 8:13

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew "/ sav lasav sav lasav" / "kav lakav kav lakav" (probably meaningless sounds mimicking the prophet’s words); also in verse 13
  • [b]. Or "false gods"
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