Isaiah 5 28

Isaiah 5:28 kjv

Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:

Isaiah 5:28 nkjv

Whose arrows are sharp, And all their bows bent; Their horses' hooves will seem like flint, And their wheels like a whirlwind.

Isaiah 5:28 niv

Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses' hooves seem like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.

Isaiah 5:28 esv

their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind.

Isaiah 5:28 nlt

Their arrows will be sharp
and their bows ready for battle.
Sparks will fly from their horses' hooves,
and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind.

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 28 Meaning

Isaiah 5:28 graphically portrays the attributes of the foreign army God will summon to execute judgment upon Judah. It describes them as an utterly prepared, formidable, and relentless military force, equipped with sharpened weapons and swift, powerful vehicles. The imagery conveys their unstoppable speed, destructive power, and unwavering resolve, likening their movement to the enduring hardness of flint and the chaotic, overwhelming force of a whirlwind.

Isaiah 5 28 Context

Isaiah 5:28 is part of a prophetic "Song of the Vineyard" (Isa 5:1-7) that describes Judah as God's beloved but fruitless vineyard, followed by a series of six "woes" (Isa 5:8-23) denouncing specific sins of the nation: greed, drunkenness, rebellion against God's word, self-conceit, corruption in justice, and moral perversion. Verses 24-30 describe the impending divine judgment in response to these sins. God, in His sovereignty, is depicted as summoning a formidable foreign power, referred to metaphorically as a swift, powerful, and utterly prepared army. This section culminates the prophecy of judgment, emphasizing the inexorable nature of the coming destruction, likely referring to the Assyrian (and later Babylonian) invasions that threatened and eventually overwhelmed Judah and Israel due to their disobedience and idolatry. The historical context is 8th-century BC Judah, a time of significant Assyrian dominance and expansion.

Isaiah 5 28 Word analysis

• Their arrows (חִצָּיו, chitṣav): Refers to the offensive projectiles. In biblical thought, arrows can symbolize warfare (Gen 49:23-24), God's judgment (Ps 7:13, Zec 9:14), or a sudden, piercing strike. The possessive "their" emphasizes this enemy's readiness.
• are sharp (שְׁנוּנִים, sh'nunim): Implies readiness for lethal impact, effectiveness, and cutting precision. They are not blunt or dull, indicating a highly professional and prepared military.
• and all their bows (וְקַשְּׁתֹתָיו, v'qashtotav): Refers to the primary weapon used for launching arrows, often made of composite materials for greater power. "All their bows" emphasizes their collective and extensive armaments.
• bent (דְּרוּכוֹת, d'rûkot): This signifies that the bows are taut, drawn, and ready to loose arrows immediately. It speaks to their readiness for instantaneous combat and aggressive action. The image conveys an army fully mobilized and prepared to engage without delay.
• their horses' hooves (פַּרְסוֹת סוּסָיו, parsoṯ sūsaw): Denotes the cavalry, which was often the elite and fastest component of ancient armies, used for rapid assaults, pursuit, and creating terror. "Hooves" focus on their powerful stride.
• seem like flint (כַצָּר, katztzar): Flint is a hard, durable stone known for generating sparks and resisting wear. This powerful simile suggests their hooves are exceptionally tough, causing no hindrance to their relentless advance over any terrain. It also implies crushing power and the generation of 'sparks' of destruction, akin to fire.
• and their wheels (וְגַלְגַּלָּיו, v'galgallaw): Refers to the wheels of war chariots, which were critical for swift, impactful charges and maneuverability on the battlefield. Chariots were ancient "tanks" symbolizing speed, power, and overwhelming force.
• like a whirlwind (כַסּוּפָה, kassûphāh): A natural phenomenon characterized by intense rotational motion, destructive power, and overwhelming speed. This simile emphasizes the unstoppable, chaotic, and terrifying approach of the army, creating dust, noise, and inescapable doom. It also ties into biblical imagery of God's power and judgment (e.g., whirlwind delivering judgment, Job 38:1, Jer 4:13).

Words-group Analysis:

• "Their arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent": This opening phrase highlights the immediate offensive capability of the invading force. They are not merely armed, but their weapons are optimally prepared and primed for instant use, signifying extreme readiness and lethal intent. It reflects a highly disciplined and effective military.
• "their horses' hooves seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind": This phrase dramatically describes the ground-based components of the army—cavalry and chariots—emphasizing their relentless speed, unyielding force, and the destructive chaos they embody. "Flint" signifies durability, unwavering advance, and possibly sparking devastation, while "whirlwind" powerfully conveys uncontrollable momentum, terror, and total engulfment. Together, these similes paint a picture of an utterly unstoppable and terrifying juggernaut of destruction.

Isaiah 5 28 Bonus section

The imagery in Isaiah 5:28 foreshadows or finds echoes in descriptions of "the day of the Lord" across the prophetic literature, where overwhelming, divinely appointed forces bring about judgment or purification (e.g., Joel 2, Zeph 1). This verse particularly underscores the concept of divine retribution, where the consequences of sin are directly manifested through external means. The enemy is depicted with a lack of weariness, indicating an unceasing, indefatigable force, implying the complete nature of the judgment (Isa 5:27). This section immediately precedes a chilling description of Judah's lamentation and the deep darkness that will cover the land (Isa 5:29-30), confirming the effectiveness and severity of the invasion foretold by the description in verse 28.

Isaiah 5 28 Commentary

Isaiah 5:28 serves as a vivid climax to Isaiah's declaration of judgment upon Judah. After detailing the nation's spiritual and moral decay through the "Song of the Vineyard" and the "woes," the prophet now describes the terrifying instrument of divine wrath. The description is less about a specific army and more about the attributes of an army God would use: sharp, ready, fast, powerful, and overwhelming. The precise military details—sharpened arrows, drawn bows, hardened hooves, whirlwind-like wheels—are not mere descriptive flourish but signify God's complete control and empowerment of this enemy. They are presented as irresistible precisely because they are mobilized and directed by God Himself (Isa 5:26). There is no escape, no slowing them down; they are the physical manifestation of an angered Lord delivering righteous judgment against a people who had utterly abandoned their covenant responsibilities and divine wisdom. It underscores the severity of God's holiness and His ultimate intolerance for sustained sin and rebellion.