Focused Passage

Isaiah 28:1-6

The Woe Against Proud Leaders and the Tested Cornerstone

Isaiah 28 moves from a woe against drunken Ephraim, to a rebuke of Judah’s mocking leaders, to the LORD’s promise of a sure foundation stone in Zion, and finally to a wisdom parable showing that God’s judgment is measured, purposeful, and perfectly governed.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.

2 Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

3 The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.

4 The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.

5 On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,

6 a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Woe ה֗וֹי H1945 Interjection to the majestic גֵּאוּת֙ H1348 Noun - feminine singular construct crown עֲטֶ֤רֶת H5850 Noun - feminine singular construct of Ephraim’s אֶפְרַ֔יִם H669 Noun - proper - masculine singular drunkards שִׁכֹּרֵ֣י H7910 Adjective - masculine plural construct to the fading נֹבֵ֖ל H5034 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular flower וְצִ֥יץ H6731 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular of his glorious צְבִ֣י H6643 Noun - masculine singular construct splendor תִפְאַרְתּ֑וֹ H8597 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular set אֲשֶׁ֛ר H834 Pronoun - relative on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the summit רֹ֥אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct above the fertile שְׁמָנִ֖ים H8081 Noun - masculine plural valley גֵּֽיא־ H1516 Noun - common singular construct [the pride] of those overcome הֲל֥וּמֵי H1986 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct by wine יָֽיִן׃ H3196 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 3
Verse 2

Original words

Behold הִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Interjection the Lord [has one ] לַֽאדֹנָ֔י H136 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular [who is] strong חָזָ֤ק H2389 Adjective - masculine singular and mighty וְאַמִּץ֙ H533 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular vvv כְּזֶ֥רֶם H2230 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Like a hailstorm בָּרָ֖ד H1259 Noun - masculine singular or destructive קָ֑טֶב H6986 Noun - masculine singular tempest שַׂ֣עַר H8178 Noun - masculine singular construct like a driving rain כְּ֠זֶרֶם H2230 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מַ֣יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural or flooding downpour כַּבִּירִ֥ים H3524 Adjective - masculine plural . . . שֹׁטְפִ֛ים H7857 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural he will smash [that crown] הִנִּ֥יחַ H5117 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . בְּיָֽד׃ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular to the ground לָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

The majestic גֵּא֖וּת H1348 Noun - feminine singular construct crown עֲטֶ֥רֶת H5850 Noun - feminine singular construct of Ephraim’s אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ H669 Noun - proper - masculine singular drunkards שִׁכּוֹרֵ֥י H7910 Adjective - masculine plural construct will be trampled underfoot תֵּֽרָמַ֑סְנָה H7429 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural . . . בְּרַגְלַ֖יִם H7272 Preposition-b | Noun - fd
Verse 4

Original words

The fading נֹבֵל֙ H5034 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular flower צִיצַ֤ת H6733 Noun - feminine singular construct of his beautiful צְבִ֣י H6643 Noun - masculine singular construct splendor תִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹ H8597 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular [set] אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the summit רֹ֖אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct above the fertile שְׁמָנִ֑ים H8081 Noun - masculine plural valley גֵּ֣יא H1516 Noun - common singular construct will be וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular like a ripe fig כְּבִכּוּרָהּ֙ H1063 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular before בְּטֶ֣רֶם H2962 Preposition-b | Adverb the summer harvest קַ֔יִץ H7019 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative Whoever יִרְאֶ֤ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular sees it הָֽרֹאֶה֙ H7200 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular - אוֹתָ֔הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular will take it בְּעוֹדָ֥הּ H5750 Preposition-b | Adverb | third person feminine singular in his hand בְּכַפּ֖וֹ H3709 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular [and] swallow it יִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃ס H1104 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 5

Original words

On that הַה֗וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֔וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural will be יִֽהְיֶה֙ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a crown לַעֲטֶ֣רֶת H5850 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct of glory צְבִ֔י H6643 Noun - masculine singular a diadem וְלִצְפִירַ֖ת H6843 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct of splendor תִּפְאָרָ֑ה H8597 Noun - feminine singular to the remnant לִשְׁאָ֖ר H7605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of His people עַמּֽוֹ׃ H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

a spirit וּלְר֖וּחַ H7307 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct of justice מִשְׁפָּ֑ט H4941 Noun - masculine singular to him who sits לַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ H3427 Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular in עַל־ H5921 Preposition judgment הַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט H4941 Article | Noun - masculine singular and a strength וְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔ה H1369 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular to those who repel מְשִׁיבֵ֥י H7725 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct the onslaught מִלְחָמָ֖ה H4421 Noun - feminine singular at the gate שָֽׁעְרָה׃ס H8179 Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.