Isaiah 28 13

Isaiah 28:13 kjv

But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Isaiah 28:13 nkjv

But the word of the LORD was to them, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little," That they might go and fall backward, and be broken And snared and caught.

Isaiah 28:13 niv

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.

Isaiah 28:13 esv

And the word of the LORD will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Isaiah 28:13 nlt

So the LORD will spell out his message for them again,
one line at a time,
one line at a time,
a little here,
and a little there,
so that they will stumble and fall.
They will be injured, trapped, and captured.

Isaiah 28 verses

Isaiah 28 13 Meaning

Isaiah 28:13 details God's solemn decree against the scoffing leaders of Judah and Ephraim. Despite God's patient and clear, though seemingly simplistic, instruction (given "precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little"), these leaders mocked His teaching as babbling fit for infants. This verse declares that the very method of instruction they disdained will become the means of their judgment. Their rejection of the simple, steady stream of divine truth will lead directly to their utter downfall: they will stumble backward, be broken, trapped, and ultimately captured by their enemies, a just recompense for their spiritual stubbornness and scorn. It underscores the profound consequences of despising God's word and warnings.

Isaiah 28 13 Context

Isaiah 28, commonly known as "The Woes Against Ephraim and Jerusalem," begins by addressing the impending judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel (represented by Ephraim, specifically its capital Samaria) for their pride, spiritual drunkenness, and disregard for God. In the middle of the chapter, the focus shifts to Judah and Jerusalem's leadership, who exhibit similar spiritual arrogance.

Verses 9 and 10 of Isaiah 28 are crucial for understanding verse 13. The self-sufficient leaders of Judah, scornfully dismissing Isaiah's prophecies and straightforward divine instruction, sarcastically mimicked the prophet: "Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk, those just taken from the breasts? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little!" They mocked God's clear, repetitive teaching as simplistic, infantile babble.

Verse 11 declared that because they refused to listen to God's clear words, He would speak to them through foreign lips and another tongue (likely referring to the Assyrians), which would be far more painful. Verse 12 reveals God's patient offer of rest and refreshing, which they explicitly refused. Thus, Isaiah 28:13 becomes God's grim retort: the very repetitive, simple teaching they scorned will become the divine instrument for their stumble, breakage, ensnarement, and capture by their enemies. Their mockery is turned back upon them, demonstrating God's justice. The leaders’ rejection of the clear word led to their ultimate downfall.

Isaiah 28 13 Word analysis

• But: This word (Hebrew: vav, וְ, typically "and") here introduces a direct contrast and a divine response to the scoffing described in the preceding verses. It marks a decisive shift from the scorners' derision to God's decree.
• the word of the Lord: (Hebrew: דְּבַר יְהוָה - dvar YHWH). This refers to the revealed instruction, teaching, or message originating directly from God. It carries ultimate authority and divine origin, the very truth the leaders scorned.
• was unto them: Implies that this word was readily available and specifically directed toward them. God had indeed provided the necessary instruction.
• precept upon precept, precept upon precept: (Hebrew: צַו לָצָו צַו לָצָו - tzav la'tzav tzav la'tzav). The Hebrew tzav (צַו) means "command," "order," or "precept." The repetition emphasizes incremental, continuous, and systematic instruction, often simple moral or religious commands. The mockers used this phrase sarcastically in Isa 28:10, highlighting their disdain for God's plain teaching. Here, it is God's divine irony turning their mockery back upon them as a descriptor of His method that, when rejected, leads to judgment.
• line upon line, line upon line: (Hebrew: קַו לָקָו קַו לָקָו - kav la'kav kav la'kav). The Hebrew kav (קַו) means "line," "cord," "rule," or "measure." Similar to "precept," it denotes methodical, orderly instruction, perhaps principles or rules of conduct, building foundational knowledge gradually. This parallelism reinforces the idea of step-by-step teaching that was patient and clear.
• here a little, and there a little: (Hebrew: זְעֵיר שָׁם זְעֵיר שָׁם - z'eir sham z'eir sham). The Hebrew z'eir (זְעֵיר) means "a little," "a small amount," or "in a short while." Sham (שָׁם) means "there." This phrase signifies that the divine instruction was not overwhelming but delivered in small, manageable portions, patiently distributed over time and place. It highlights the divine forbearance and accessibility of truth, in contrast to their haughty dismissal.
• that they might go: (Hebrew: לְמַעַן - l'ma'an, "in order that," "so that," or "with the result that"). This word denotes the divinely determined outcome or purpose. Because of their refusal to heed the instruction, God's dealing with them will result in this judgment. It's not that God desired their downfall, but their persistent rejection caused God's righteous judgment to lead to this outcome. Their wilful blindness and scorn make their destruction inevitable.
• and fall backward: (Hebrew: וְכָשְׁלוּ אָחוֹר - ve'khashlu akhor). Kashal means "to stumble" or "fall." Akhor means "backward" or "behind." This implies a loss of direction, progress, and stability; a regressive collapse or spiritual ruin.
• and be broken: (Hebrew: וְנִשְׁבָּרוּ - ve'nishbaru). Shavar means "to break," "shatter," or "smash." This speaks of complete destruction, ruin, and shattering of their power, identity, and security.
• and snared: (Hebrew: וְנוֹקְשׁוּ - ve'nokshu). Yakosh means "to lay a snare" or "to be ensnared." This depicts them being trapped, caught unawares, like prey in a hunter's trap, implying deception or unexpected calamity.
• and taken: (Hebrew: וְנִלְכָּדוּ - ve'nilkhadu). Lakhad means "to seize," "capture," or "to take." This is the final stage, implying utter defeat and subjugation by their enemies, signifying exile or destruction.

• "But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little": This entire phrase presents a divine counter-argument to the scoffing of the leaders. It highlights God's consistent, patient, and accessible method of revelation, which was simple enough for all to understand. The repetition underscores the deliberate nature of God's teaching, but it is the same repetitive, straightforward nature that the mockers derided. God patiently lays down clear instructions, whether moral codes, prophecies, or laws, building upon previous truth.
• "that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken": This sequence reveals the severe, multi-faceted nature of the judgment that awaited them. It's a progression of downfall, from a loss of stability (falling backward) to complete destruction (broken), then being inescapably caught (snared), and finally seized (taken) by their adversaries. This chilling sequence is the direct consequence of their scornful rejection of the patient, clear revelation from the Lord. Their chosen path of irreverence and stubbornness led them straight into this devastating judgment, fulfilling a tragic irony: the very "simple" teaching they mocked became the tool of their intricate and complete destruction.

Isaiah 28 13 Bonus section

The language of "precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little" echoes the very method children are taught, often called 'baby talk' (Hebrew la'eg, also hinting at stammering or mocking speech in Isa 28:11). This deepens the insult of the leaders toward God's instruction, treating it as rudimentary and beneath them, despite its profound eternal significance. Yet, it also underscores God's patient pedagogy, condescending to speak in ways comprehensible to His people, even when they behaved like stubborn children. Their inability or unwillingness to learn foundational spiritual truths rendered them spiritually immature and vulnerable. This passage implies that if a people consistently rejects the clear, foundational truths God reveals, then even more complex truths will remain inaccessible, and their path will inevitably lead to destruction. It highlights the principle that foundational obedience and humility are crucial for spiritual growth and protection.

Isaiah 28 13 Commentary

Isaiah 28:13 unveils the stark reality of God's retributive justice, responding to the arrogance of Judah's leaders who mocked His word as simplistic, "precept upon precept." The profound irony is that God affirms He did indeed speak to them in that very manner – patiently, clearly, line by line, incrementally – but this steadfast divine pedagogy, intended for guidance and peace, now becomes the mechanism of their downfall. Because they refused to humbly receive His clear teachings and rejected His offered rest, the continuous flow of divine truth transforms into a spiritual snare. Their contemptuous words now describe the precise methodology through which divine judgment will be administered. The repeated phrase becomes the bitter fruit of their own mockery. The result is a series of escalating consequences: they stumble into apostasy, their society is broken apart, they are caught unaware in their transgressions, and ultimately, they face inevitable capture by their enemies. This verse highlights that ignoring and mocking God's persistent and plain warnings leads not just to error, but to a divinely orchestrated disaster that fulfills the very terms of their scorn. It stands as a timeless warning that God's gentle, patient instruction, if rejected, inevitably becomes the cause or context for severe judgment.