Bible Study Isaiah 28
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Isaiah 28 · WEB

Woe to Ephraim's Crown of Pride

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Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!
2Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.
3The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot.
4The fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley, shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer; which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it.
5In that day, Yahweh of Armies will be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people;
6and for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.
8For all tables are completely full of vomit and filthiness. There is no place that is clean.
9Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?
10For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.
11But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language,
12to whom he said, "This is the rest. Give rest to him who is weary," and "this is the refreshing." Yet they would not hear.
13So Yahweh's word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.
14Therefore hear Yahweh's word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:
15"Because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.'"
16Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
17I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
18Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trodden down by it.
19As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message."
20For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap yourself in.
21For Yahweh will rise up as in Mount Perazim. He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.
22Now therefore don't be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, on the whole earth.
23Give ear, and hear my voice. Listen, and hear my speech.
24Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods?
25When he has leveled its surface, doesn't he plant the dill, scatter the cumin, put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt as its border?
26For his God instructs him in right judgment, and teaches him.
27For the dill is not threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a staff, and the cumin with a rod.
28Bread grain is ground; for he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don't grind it.
29This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
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Summary

Isaiah 28 opens a new section of six "woe" oracles (chapters 28–33) by pronouncing judgment on Ephraim, the northern kingdom of Israel, whose leaders and priests are drunk and whose glorious capital Samaria will be crushed by Assyria. Isaiah then turns to condemn Jerusalem's leaders for making a foolish "covenant with death" — trusting in Egypt and deceitful alliances rather than in God. Against that backdrop, God promises a sure foundation: a precious cornerstone laid in Zion for all who truly believe. The chapter closes with a wisdom parable about farming, showing that God disciplines his people with measured purpose, not senseless destruction.

Themes

  • Pride and the danger of spiritual and moral intoxication
  • False security — trusting in human alliances and deception over God
  • The sure foundation: God's cornerstone in Zion as the only true refuge
  • God's measured and purposeful discipline — judgment paired with wisdom
  • Judgment on religious and political leaders who lead others into error

Key verses

  • Isa 28:12 — “To whom he said, 'This is the rest. Give rest to him who is weary,' and 'this is the refreshing.' Yet they would not hear.”
  • Isa 28:16 — “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.”
  • Isa 28:17 — “I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line.”
  • Isa 28:5 — “In that day, Yahweh of Armies will be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people.”

Context & background

Isaiah 28 begins a new block of woe oracles (chapters 28–33) delivered during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah (late 8th century BC). The opening woe targets Ephraim — the dominant tribe of the northern kingdom of Israel — whose capital was Samaria (in modern northern Israel/West Bank). Samaria fell to the Assyrian Empire under Sargon II in 722 BC, confirming Isaiah's prophecy. The condemnation of Jerusalem's leaders for a "covenant with death" likely refers to negotiations with Egypt (modern Egypt) against Assyria, a policy Isaiah repeatedly opposed as faithless. The famous cornerstone prophecy of verse 16 is quoted in the New Testament (Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6) as pointing to Christ, the ultimate foundation of God's purposes.

Cross-references

  • 1 Corinthians 14:21 — Paul cites Isaiah 28:11 ("stammering lips and another tongue") in his discussion of speaking in tongues
  • 1 Peter 2:6 — Peter likewise cites the cornerstone verse as fulfilled in Jesus
  • Isaiah 30:1–3 — Another condemnation of Judah's alliance with Egypt as a covenant that brings shame
  • Isaiah 7:9 — "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established" — the same call to faith over political scheming
  • Romans 9:33 — Paul quotes Isaiah 28:16, applying the cornerstone to Christ and faith

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    What does God say he is laying in Zion in verse 16?

  2. Observe

    Whom does Isaiah pronounce the opening woe against in verse 1?

  3. Interpret

    What does the cornerstone in Zion (v. 16) communicate about the security God offers?

  4. Interpret

    Why does Isaiah liken God's judgment to a farmer's careful threshing (vv. 23-29)?

  5. Apply

    Where might one be building a "refuge of lies" instead of trusting God?

  6. Apply

    How does "he who believes shall not act hastily" (v. 16) shape responses to pressure?

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