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

1Woe 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.

2Behold, 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.

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

4The 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.

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

6a 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

Woeה֗וֹיH1945Interjectionto the majesticגֵּאוּת֙H1348Noun - feminine singular constructcrownעֲטֶ֤רֶתH5850Noun - feminine singular constructof Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֔יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singulardrunkardsשִׁכֹּרֵ֣יH7910Adjective - masculine plural constructto the fadingנֹבֵ֖לH5034Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularflowerוְצִ֥יץH6731Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularof his gloriousצְבִ֣יH6643Noun - masculine singular constructsplendorתִפְאַרְתּ֑וֹH8597Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularsetאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Pronoun - relativeonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe summitרֹ֥אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singular constructabove the fertileשְׁמָנִ֖יםH8081Noun - masculine pluralvalleyגֵּֽיא־H1516Noun - common singular construct[the pride] of those overcomeהֲל֥וּמֵיH1986Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural constructby wineיָֽיִן׃H3196Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

Beholdהִנֵּ֨הH2009Interjectionthe Lord [has one ]לַֽאדֹנָ֔יH136Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular[who is] strongחָזָ֤קH2389Adjective - masculine singularand mightyוְאַמִּץ֙H533Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singularvvvכְּזֶ֥רֶםH2230Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructLike a hailstormבָּרָ֖דH1259Noun - masculine singularor destructiveקָ֑טֶבH6986Noun - masculine singulartempestשַׂ֣עַרH8178Noun - masculine singular constructlike a driving rainכְּ֠זֶרֶםH2230Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .מַ֣יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralor flooding downpourכַּבִּירִ֥יםH3524Adjective - masculine plural. . .שֹׁטְפִ֛יםH7857Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralhe will smash [that crown]הִנִּ֥יחַH5117Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .בְּיָֽד׃H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularto the groundלָאָ֖רֶץH776Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

The majesticגֵּא֖וּתH1348Noun - feminine singular constructcrownעֲטֶ֥רֶתH5850Noun - feminine singular constructof Ephraim’sאֶפְרָֽיִם׃H669Noun - proper - masculine singulardrunkardsשִׁכּוֹרֵ֥יH7910Adjective - masculine plural constructwill be trampled underfootתֵּֽרָמַ֑סְנָהH7429Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural. . .בְּרַגְלַ֖יִםH7272Preposition-b | Noun - fd
Verse 4

Original words

The fadingנֹבֵל֙H5034Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularflowerצִיצַ֤תH6733Noun - feminine singular constructof his beautifulצְבִ֣יH6643Noun - masculine singular constructsplendorתִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹH8597Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular[set]אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe summitרֹ֖אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singular constructabove the fertileשְׁמָנִ֑יםH8081Noun - masculine pluralvalleyגֵּ֣יאH1516Noun - common singular constructwill beוְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularlike a ripe figכְּבִכּוּרָהּ֙H1063Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singularbeforeבְּטֶ֣רֶםH2962Preposition-b | Adverbthe summer harvestקַ֔יִץH7019Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativeWhoeverיִרְאֶ֤הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularsees itהָֽרֹאֶה֙H7200Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular-אוֹתָ֔הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singularwill take itבְּעוֹדָ֥הּH5750Preposition-b | Adverb | third person feminine singularin his handבְּכַפּ֖וֹH3709Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular[and] swallow itיִבְלָעֶֽנָּה׃סH1104Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Verse 5

Original words

On thatהַה֗וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֔וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralwill beיִֽהְיֶה֙H1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara crownלַעֲטֶ֣רֶתH5850Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructof gloryצְבִ֔יH6643Noun - masculine singulara diademוְלִצְפִירַ֖תH6843Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructof splendorתִּפְאָרָ֑הH8597Noun - feminine singularto the remnantלִשְׁאָ֖רH7605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof His peopleעַמּֽוֹ׃H5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

a spiritוּלְר֖וּחַH7307Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common singular constructof justiceמִשְׁפָּ֑טH4941Noun - masculine singularto him who sitsלַיּוֹשֵׁב֙H3427Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularinעַל־H5921Prepositionjudgmentהַמִּשְׁפָּ֔טH4941Article | Noun - masculine singularand a strengthוְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔הH1369Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularto those who repelמְשִׁיבֵ֥יH7725Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural constructthe onslaughtמִלְחָמָ֖הH4421Noun - feminine singularat the gateשָֽׁעְרָה׃סH8179Noun - 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.