Isaiah 28:12

12 To whom he said, This is the rest, give rest to him who is tired; and by this you may get new strength; but they would not give ear.

Isaiah 28:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 28:12

To whom he said
Either the Lord himself, or the prophet Isaiah; or rather the Lord by him, and other prophets; so the Targum,

``to whom the prophets said;''
that is, the true prophets of the Lord said to the people, or to the priests and other prophets; or Christ and his apostles, as follows: This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest: and
this [is] the refreshing:
that is, by teaching the word of God, the true knowledge of him, and the sound doctrines of the Gospel, and the duties of religion; this would be the best way of casing and refreshing the minds and consciences of the people, burdened with a sense of sin, or distressed and disconsolate through afflictions and calamities upon them, and be the most effectual method of continuing them in ease and peace in their own land, and of preserving them from captivity, and other judgments threatened with; see ( Matthew 11:28 ) : yet they would not hear;
having no regard to the Lord and his prophets; nor any compassion to their countrymen, afflicted and distressed in mind or body; nor to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles.

Isaiah 28:12 In-Context

10 For it is one rule after another; one line after another; here a little, there a little.
11 No, but with broken talk, and with a strange tongue, he will give his word to this people:
12 To whom he said, This is the rest, give rest to him who is tired; and by this you may get new strength; but they would not give ear.
13 For this cause the word of the Lord will be to them rule after rule, line after line, here a little, there a little; so that they may go on their way, and falling back may be broken, and taken in the net.
14 Give ear then to the word of the Lord, you men of pride, the rulers of this people in Jerusalem:
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.