Isaiah 28 7

Isaiah 28:7 kjv

But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Isaiah 28:7 nkjv

But they also have erred through wine, And through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, They are swallowed up by wine, They are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

Isaiah 28:7 niv

And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions.

Isaiah 28:7 esv

These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment.

Isaiah 28:7 nlt

Now, however, Israel is led by drunks
who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol.
The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol
and lose themselves in wine.
They reel when they see visions
and stagger as they render decisions.

Isaiah 28 verses

Isaiah 28 7 meaning

Isaiah 28:7 describes the spiritual and moral decay among the leadership of Judah, specifically highlighting the priests and prophets. Despite being divinely appointed to guide the people, they have succumbed to intoxication, leading to severe error in their judgment and inability to receive or convey God's revelation. Their drunkenness causes them to reel spiritually, become utterly confused, and fail in their critical duties of prophetic vision and righteous arbitration for the nation.

Isaiah 28 7 Context

Isaiah 28 begins with a severe pronouncement of "Woe" against Ephraim, the Northern Kingdom, particularly their "proud crown" (Samaria), symbolizing their arrogance and revelry that led to spiritual stupor and impending destruction. Verse 7, however, marks a critical pivot where Isaiah turns his prophetic gaze to Judah and its leadership. The shocking realization is that Judah's religious and political leaders—the very priests and prophets responsible for upholding God's law and revealing His will—are exhibiting the same self-indulgent behaviors, especially drunkenness, as those condemned in the Northern Kingdom. This highlights a pervasive spiritual problem extending across both nations. The immediate context of verses 8-13 further reveals that this intoxication prevents them from understanding God's plain, simple instruction, leading to their mocking of the prophet's words. Historically, both kingdoms had experienced periods of material prosperity leading to complacency and moral laxity, despite numerous prophetic warnings. The prophet implicitly critiques the corruption within the established religious system, contrasting their revelry with the expected sanctity and discernment required for their roles.

Isaiah 28 7 Word analysis

• But they also: This conjunction signals a critical shift. It connects the condemnation of Ephraim (Isa 28:1-6) to Judah's leaders, emphasizing that Judah, despite its privileged covenant relationship and spiritual duties, is no exception to the judgment. It highlights a universal failing among Israel's leadership.
• erred (שָׁגוּ, shagu): This Hebrew root denotes wandering, reeling, going astray, or being deluded. It suggests not merely a physical stagger from drunkenness, but a deeper spiritual and moral error in judgment and conduct. The term implies an unconscious lapse or deception.
• through wine (בְיַיִן, bəyayin): Yayin is the common Hebrew word for fermented grape wine. It is identified as the direct cause of their initial error.
• and through strong drink (וּבַשֵּׁכָר, uvashēkhār): Shēkhār refers to an intoxicating beverage, often stronger than wine, potentially made from grains, dates, or other fruits. Its inclusion amplifies the degree of their intoxication and its negative effects.
• are out of the way (תָּעוּ, taʿu): This word implies wandering aimlessly, being lost, straying from the right path, or being in error. It parallels shagu but adds a dimension of confusion and inability to discern direction. It highlights their disorientation both physically and morally.
• the priest (כֹּהֵן, kōhēn): A representative of the people before God, responsible for teaching the Law (Torah) and performing sacrificial rites. Their corruption means the very source of spiritual instruction is tainted.
• and the prophet (וְנָבִיא, vənāviʾ): God's spokesperson, who receives divine revelation (vision) and proclaims it to the people. Their spiritual clarity is paramount; their intoxication utterly compromises this role.
• have erred through strong drink (שָׁגוּ בַשֵּׁכָר, shagu vashēkhār): A repetition and intensification, specifically attributing the error of the religious leaders directly to strong drink, underscoring its profound negative impact on their professional duties.
• they are swallowed up of wine (נִבְלְעוּ מִן־הַיַּיִן, nivleʿu min-hayayin): Niblaʿu (from root בלע, balaʿ) means to be swallowed up, absorbed, engulfed, or consumed. This graphic imagery indicates complete incapacitation and utter domination by alcohol, rendering them useless and entirely subject to its influence.
• they are out of the way through strong drink (תָּעוּ מִן־הַשֵּׁכָר, taʿu min-hashēkhār): Another emphatic repetition, solidifying the idea that their moral and spiritual disorientation stems directly from intoxication.
• they err in vision (שָׁגוּ בָרֹאֶה, shagu varōʾeh / alternatively, a reading of baḥāzôn, meaning in prophetic vision): ḥāzôn refers to prophetic revelation, the divine insight that prophets receive. To "err in vision" means their ability to discern or receive God's word accurately is severely compromised or corrupted. This is a profound failure for a prophet.
• they stumble in judgment (כָּשְׁלוּ בַּפְּלִילָה, kāshlu baflaʾliʾlâ): Kashlu means to stumble or totter. Pəlîlâ (judgment, arbitration, judicial decision) relates to the role of priests and sometimes prophets in resolving disputes and administering justice according to God's law. Their stumbling in judgment signifies their inability to apply God's truth fairly and wisely, leading to injustice.

• they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way: This initial pairing establishes the dual agents of their spiritual and moral failure—wine and strong drink—and their corresponding effects: going astray (erring) and being disoriented (out of the way). It points to a deep-seated problem.
• the priest and the prophet: These words are key, specifically targeting the two crucial leadership roles in Israel responsible for God's revealed truth and guidance. Their failure has profound national implications.
• have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink: The piling up of these phrases emphasizes the depth and extent of their problem. The phrase "swallowed up" is particularly strong, indicating a complete loss of self-control and identity to their vice. It paints a picture of being consumed.
• they err in vision, they stumble in judgment: This phrase succinctly states the catastrophic consequences of their intoxication: the corruption of their ability to receive divine revelation and their incapacity to render righteous decisions. It underscores the complete compromise of their divine mandates.

Isaiah 28 7 Bonus section

The strong imagery used in Isa 28:7 is not merely descriptive but serves as a polemic against the superficial religious practices that might have incorporated drunken revelry, perhaps borrowed from pagan fertility cults or simply indulgent social customs. The text underscores that true worship and discernment of God require sobriety and purity, not confusion induced by alcohol. The passage also forms part of Isaiah's larger "Woe oracles," where the prophet progressively exposes the corruption that has permeated society from the lowest levels to the highest spiritual offices, showing how moral decay universally leads to divine judgment. The contrast between the drunken, confused leaders and the perfectly clear, unchanging word of God that they fail to transmit sets the stage for the coming "stumbling block" and "cornerstone" message in Isa 28:16. The ultimate issue isn't just intoxication but the resulting inability to hear and obey God, making them incapable of distinguishing between truth and error.

Isaiah 28 7 Commentary

Isaiah 28:7 stands as a powerful indictment against spiritual leadership that compromises its sacred calling through carnal indulgence. The prophet exposes the hypocrisy and failure of Judah's priests and prophets, who, meant to be paragons of truth and spiritual clarity, are instead debased by wine and strong drink. This physical intoxication translates directly into spiritual blindness: their capacity for ḥāzôn (prophetic vision or revelation) is corrupted, and their ability to render pəlîlâ (righteous judgment or legal arbitration) is compromised. This not only disgraces their office but also deprives the people of authentic divine guidance, leaving them without moral compass or just governance. The repeated words like "erred," "out of the way," and "swallowed up" create a stark image of spiritual disarray, revealing that intoxication renders even the most divinely appointed roles useless, leading to widespread spiritual darkness and societal decay. It serves as an eternal warning against allowing personal vices to impede spiritual duties.