Isaiah 28 27

Isaiah 28:27 kjv

For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

Isaiah 28:27 nkjv

For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, Nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin; But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, And the cummin with a rod.

Isaiah 28:27 niv

Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick.

Isaiah 28:27 esv

Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod.

Isaiah 28:27 nlt

A heavy sledge is never used to thresh black cumin;
rather, it is beaten with a light stick.
A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin;
instead, it is beaten lightly with a flail.

Isaiah 28 verses

Isaiah 28 27 meaning

Isaiah 28:27 employs a powerful agricultural analogy to convey God's wise, proportionate, and precisely measured judgment and discipline. The verse explains that a farmer uses different methods for threshing various crops, carefully selecting gentle tools like sticks and rods for delicate seeds such as dill (nigella) and cumin. These seeds, if subjected to heavy threshing sledges or cart wheels, would be crushed and ruined. This illustrates that the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, applies discipline and judgment that is always appropriate to the specific situation or individual, never excessive or wantonly destructive, but always purposed for refinement, purification, and the extraction of what is valuable.

Isaiah 28 27 Context

Isaiah chapter 28 primarily rebukes the spiritual complacency and moral depravity of the leaders in both Ephraim (northern kingdom) and Judah, particularly the "scoffers" in Jerusalem (Is 28:14, 22). These leaders were characterized by their drunkenness, arrogance, and their dismissive attitude towards God's prophetic warnings, rejecting simple truths. The verses immediately preceding, Isaiah 28:23-26, abruptly shift from prophecies of judgment to a "parable of the farmer." This section is an instruction or teaching (didactic poem) meant to highlight God's profound wisdom and meticulous planning, even in everyday tasks. If a farmer possesses the divine instruction (Is 28:26) to manage his crops wisely, avoiding crushing the delicate seeds while properly tilling for other grains, then how much more intelligently and purposefully does God, the ultimate instructor, manage the discipline and judgment of His people? Verse 27, therefore, falls within this demonstration of divine wisdom, contrasting the shortsightedness of the scoffers with God's measured and precise hand.

Isaiah 28 27 Word analysis

• For the dill (כִּֽי־קֶ֥צַח / ki-qetsach): "קֶצַח" (qetsach) specifically denotes nigella or black cumin, a delicate, small, aromatic seed used as a spice. "Ki" functions here as "indeed" or "surely," underscoring the following truth about appropriate treatment, pointing to a distinct kind of seed.

• is not threshed (לֹ֣א יְדֻ֔שׁשׁ / lo yedushash): The particle "lōʾ" provides an absolute negation, emphasizing that this method is intentionally avoided. "יְדֻשׁשׁ" (yedushash) means to tread or thresh heavily, typically with an instrument that would crush rather than separate, symbolizing God's selective restraint from overwhelming force.

• with a threshing sledge, (בַּחֲרֻצ֣וֹת / ba-charutsot): "חָרוּץ" (charuts) refers to a heavy, sharp threshing implement, often fitted with sharp stones or iron, used to break tough stalks and separate grain. Its use here highlights the type of severe, destructive action that is avoided for delicate seeds.

• nor is a cart wheel (וְאוֹפַ֣ן עֲגָלָ֗ה / ve-ofan agalah): This translates directly as "and a wheel of a cart." Like the threshing sledge, a cart wheel is a heavy instrument. Its rolling motion would crush small, delicate seeds, further illustrating the careful discrimination in applying processing methods.

• rolled over cumin; (יְסֻבַּ֕ב עַל־כַּמֹּֽן / yesubab al-kammon): "כַּמֹּן" (kammon) is cumin, another small, delicate seed, valued as a spice. "יְסֻבַּ֕ב" (yesubab) signifies "is revolved" or "is rolled," depicting the crushing action of a wheel. This reinforces the principle of tailored and non-destructive action.

• but dill (כִּ֣י קֶ֔צַח / ki qetsach): The repeated mention of "qetsach" and the conjunctive "ki" ("but" or "surely") marks a transition, emphasizing the specific, proper treatment after stating what is not done.

• is beaten out with a stick, (בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה יֵחָבֵ֑ט / ba-matteh yechavet): "מַטֶּה" (matteh) means a stick or staff, a simple, handheld tool. "יֵחָבֵט" (yechavet) means "is beaten" or "struck," denoting a gentle, controlled force sufficient to release the seed without causing damage, emblematic of precise, preservative discipline.

• and cumin with a rod. (וְכַמֹּ֥ן בַּשָּׁבֶ֖ט / ve-kammon ba-shavet): "שָׁבֶט" (shavet), similar to "matteh," refers to a rod or staff, indicating a lighter, more discerning instrument than the heavy sledge. The parallel usage reinforces the principle of appropriate, mild, and non-destructive action for these specific seeds.

• "dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin": This initial clause emphasizes God's restraint and measured judgment by stating what He will not do. It highlights that God refrains from employing disproportionately severe and destructive methods where gentler means are required, reflecting His perfect understanding and unwillingness to crush His creation unnecessarily.

• "but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod.": This second clause completes the thought by specifying the actual gentle, precise methods God employs. It vividly portrays His customized and preserving discipline, using the exact tools needed to extract what is valuable and refine, without annihilating. God's purpose is always purification, not destruction, for those amenable to His working.

Isaiah 28 27 Bonus section

• The particular names "qetsach" (nigella/black cumin) and "kammon" (cumin) signify common and valuable spice seeds in ancient Near Eastern diets. Their careful processing was vital for their daily use and enjoyment, connecting God's intricate wisdom to practical, sustaining aspects of life.
• This specific analogy serves as a direct, yet subtle, reproof to the undiscerning leaders in Jerusalem described earlier in Isaiah 28. Their coarse and scornful disregard for God's instructions contrasts sharply with the intricate wisdom God implants even in the common farmer, much less practices Himself.
• The entire passage (Is 28:23-29) functions as a didactic piece, instructing God's people on His wise governance through accessible, everyday illustrations. It moves the listener from simple agricultural common sense to profound theological truths about divine order and intervention.
• While this verse highlights gentler forms of discipline, the broader context of Isaiah 28 also alludes to tougher forms of "threshing" that God applies to hardened hearts or rebellious nations, emphasizing that God's judgment is tailored – both gentle and strong, as fitting.
• The imagery of "beating out" signifies a process of separation and extraction. It underscores that God's discipline aims to separate what is truly good and precious (the seed) from its encasements or impurities, leading to a usable, purer outcome rather than total annihilation.

Isaiah 28 27 Commentary

Isaiah 28:27 succinctly reveals God's divine wisdom and justice, paralleling the skilled discernment of a farmer with the Lord's approach to His people. It reassures us that God's discipline is not arbitrary or indiscriminately harsh. He precisely matches His methods to the nature of the "seed" – individuals or situations – to ensure refinement rather than destruction. Delicate seeds like dill and cumin are treated gently with sticks and rods to preserve them, much as God employs measured and corrective discipline designed to purify His beloved, rather than overwhelm them. This illustrates that God meticulously oversees the process, separating the valuable (spiritual fruit, purity) from the less desired elements (sin, dross), always aiming for growth and restoration, showcasing His perfect knowledge and love. This discerning discipline also critiques those who lack such wisdom, urging understanding of God's ways.