Isaiah 28
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
One of those pretended prophets spoken of on the preceding chapter, having contrasted and opposed Jeremiah, receives an awful declaration that, as a proof to the people of his having spoken without commission, he should die in the then current year; which accordingly came to pass its the seventh month, vv. 1-17.
Open source ↗(Isa. 28:1-29) crown of pride--Hebrew for "proud crown of the drunkards," &c. [HORSLEY], namely, Samaria, the capital of Ephraim, or Israel. "Drunkards," literally (Isa 28:7-8; Isa 5:11, Isa 5:22; Amo 4:1; Amo 6:1-6) and metaphorically, like drunkards, rushing on to their own destruction. beauty . . . flower--"whose glorious beauty or ornament is a fading flower." Carrying on the image of "drunkards"; it was the custom at feasts to wreathe the brow with flowers; so Samaria, "which is (not as English Version, 'which are') upon the head of the fertile valley," that is, situated on a hill surrounded with the rich valleys as a garland (Kg1 16:24); but the garland is "fading," as garlands often do, because Ephraim is now close to ruin (compare Isa 16:8); fulfilled 721 B.C. (Kg2 17:6, Kg2 17:24).
Open source ↗Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim,.... Or, "of the drunkards of Ephraim": or, "O crown of pride, O drunkards of Ephraim (l)"; who are both called upon, and a woe denounced against them. Ephraim is put for the ten tribes, who were drunk either in a literal sense, for to the sin of drunkenness were they addicted, Hos 7:5, Amo 6:6. The Jews say (m), that wine of Prugiatha (which perhaps was a place noted for good wine), and the waters of Diomasit (baths), cut off the ten tribes from Israel; which both Jarchi and Kimchi, on the place, make mention of; that is, as Buxtorf (n) interprets it, pleasures and delights destroyed the ten tribes. The inhabitants of Samaria, and the places adjacent, especially were addicted to this vice; these places abounding with excellent wines. Sichem, which were in these parts, is thought to be called, from the drunkenness of its inhabitants, Sychar, Joh 4:5 this is a sin very uncomely in any, but especially in professors of religion, as these were, and ought to be declaimed against: or they were drunkards in a metaphorical sense, either with idolatry, the two calves being set up in Dan and Bethel, which belonged to the ten tribes; just as the kings of the earth are said to be drunk with the wine of antichrist's fornication, or the idolatry of the church of Rome, Rev 17:2 or with pride and haughtiness, being elated with the fruitfulness of their country, their great affluence and riches, and numbers of people; in all which they were superior to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and in which they piqued themselves, and are therefore called "the crown of pride"; and especially their king may be meant, who was lifted up with pride that he ruled over such a country and people; or rather the city of Samaria, the metropolis of the…
Open source ↗Isaiah, like Micah, commences with the fall of the proud and intoxicated Samaria. "Woe to the proud crown of the drunken of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of its splendid ornament, which is upon the head of the luxuriant valley of those slain with wine." The allusion is to Samaria, which is called (1.) "the pride-crown of the drunken of Ephraim," i.e., the crown of which the intoxicated and blinded Ephraimites were proud (Isa 29:9; Isa 19:14), and (2.) "the fading flower" (on the expression itself, compare Isa 1:30; Isa 40:7-8) "of the ornament of his splendour," i.e., the flower now fading, which had once been the ornament with which they made a show. This flower stood "upon the head of the valley of fatnesses of those slain with wine" (cf., Isa 16:8), i.e., of the valley so exuberant with fruitfulness, belonging to the Ephraimites, who were thoroughly enslaved by wine. Samaria stood upon a beautiful swelling hill, which commanded the whole country round in a most regal way (Amo 4:1; Amo 6:1), in the centre of a large basin, of about two hours' journey in diameter, shut in by a gigantic circle of still loftier mountains (Amo 3:9). The situation was commanding; the hill terraced up to the very top; and the surrounding country splendid and fruitful (Ritter, Erdkunde, xvi. 660, 661). The expression used by the prophet is intentionally bombastic. He heaps genitives upon genitives, as in Isa 10:12; Isa 21:17. The words are linked together in pairs. Shemânı̄m (fatnesses) has the absolute form, although it is annexed to the following word, the logical relation overruling the syntactical usage (compare Isa 32:13; Ch1 9:13). The sesquipedalia verba are intended to produce the impression of excessive worldly luxuriance and pleasure, upon which the woe is pronounced. The epit…
Open source ↗Here, I. The prophet warns the kingdom of the ten tribes of the judgments that were coming upon them for their sins, which were soon after executed by the king of Assyria, who laid their country waste, and carried the people into captivity. Ephraim had his name from fruitfulness, their soil being very fertile and the products of it abundant and the best of the kind; they had a great many fat valleys (Isa 28:1, Isa 28:4), and Samaria, which was situated on a hill, was, as it were, on the head of the fat valleys. Their country was rich and pleasant, and as the garden of the Lord: it was the glory of Canaan, as that was the glory of all lands; their harvest and vintage were the glorious beauty on the head of their valleys, which were covered over with corn and vines. Now observe, 1. What an ill use they made of their plenty. What God gave them to serve him with they perverted, and abused, by making it the food and fuel of their lusts. (1.) They were puffed up with pride by it. The goodness with which God crowned their years, which should have been to him a crown of praise, was to them a crown of pride. Those that are rich in the world are apt to be high-minded, Ti1 6:17. Their king, who wore the crown, was proud that he ruled over so rich a country; Samaria, their royal city, was notorious for pride. Perhaps it was usual at their festivals, or revels, to wear garlands made up of flowers and ears of corn, which they wore in honour of their fruitful country. Pride was a sin that generally prevailed among them, and therefore the prophet, in his name who resists the proud, boldly proclaims a woe to the crown of pride. If those who wear crowns be proud of them, let them not think to escape this woe. What men are proud of, be it ever so mean, is to them as a crown; he that is pr…
Open source ↗28:1–33:24 This section is connected by a series of six threats of judgment or woes (cp. 5:8-23). Apart from the initial address to Samaria in 28:1-13, the remainder of the section is addressed to Judah, especially because of their inclination to trust Egypt to rescue them from Assyria (30:2). 28:1-29 The glory of Samaria, capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, is here contrasted with the glory of the Lord. This section represents the first of the six woes (What sorrow . . .). 28:1 The drunks of Israel epitomized pride, spiritual complacency, and scorn for God and his commands. • Unlike Jerusalem, Samaria was in a fertile valley.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
הוֹי (hôwy, H1945) — oh! עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown גֵּאוּת (gêʼûwth, H1348) — {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament} שִׁכּוֹר (shikkôwr, H7910) — intoxicated, as astate or a habit אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory צְבִי (tsᵉbîy, H6643) — splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful) תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) נָבֵל (nâbêl, H5034) — to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally)… צִיץ (tsîyts, H6731) — properly, glistening, i.e. a burnished plate; also a flower (as bright-colored); a wing… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… שֶׁמֶן (shemen, H8081) — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness גַּיְא (gayʼ, H1516) — a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) הָלַם (hâlam, H1986) — to strike down; by implication, to hammer, stamp, conquer, disband יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
Open source ↗אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) חָזָק (châzâq, H2389) — strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent) אַמִּיץ (ʼammîyts, H533) — strong or (abstractly) strength זֶרֶם (zerem, H2230) — a gush of water בָּרָד (bârâd, H1259) — hail קֶטֶב (qeṭeb, H6986) — ruin שַׂעַר (saʻar, H8178) — a tempest; also a terror כַּבִּיר (kabbîyr, H3524) — vast, whether in extent (figuratively, of power, mighty; of time, aged), or in number,… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen שָׁטַף (shâṭaph, H7857) — to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer יָנַח (yânach, H3240) — to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown גֵּאוּת (gêʼûwth, H1348) — {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament} שִׁכּוֹר (shikkôwr, H7910) — intoxicated, as astate or a habit אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory רָמַס (râmaç, H7429) — to tread upon (as a potter, in walking or abusively) רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
Open source ↗צְבִי (tsᵉbîy, H6643) — splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful) תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… שֶׁמֶן (shemen, H8081) — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness גַּיְא (gayʼ, H1516) — a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) נָבֵל (nâbêl, H5034) — to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally)… צִיצָה (tsîytsâh, H6733) — a flower בִּכּוּר (bikkûwr, H1061) — the first-fruits of the crop קַיִץ (qayits, H7019) — harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… בָּלַע (bâlaʻ, H1104) — to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown צְבִי (tsᵉbîy, H6643) — splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful) צְפִירָה (tsᵉphîyrâh, H6843) — a crown (as encircling the head); also a turn of affairs (i.e. mishap) תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) שְׁאָר (shᵉʼâr, H7605) — a remainder עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… גְּבוּרָה (gᵉbûwrâh, H1369) — force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate
Open source ↗אֵלֶּה (ʼêl-leh, H428) — these or those שָׁגָה (shâgâh, H7686) — to stray (causatively, mislead), usually (figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally)… יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication שֵׁכָר (shêkâr, H7941) — an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor תָּעָה (tâʻâh, H8582) — to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… נָבִיא (nâbîyʼ, H5030) — a prophet or (generally) inspired man בָּלַע (bâlaʻ, H1104) — to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy מִן (min, H4480) — properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses רֹאֶה (rôʼeh, H7203) — a seer (as often rendered); but also (abstractly) a vision פּוּק (pûwq, H6328) — to waver פְּלִילִיָּה (pᵉlîylîyâh, H6417) — judicature
Open source ↗שֻׁלְחָן (shulchân, H7979) — a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) קֵא (qêʼ, H6892) — vomit צוֹאָה (tsôwʼâh, H6675) — excrement; generally, dirt; figuratively, pollution מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);…
Open source ↗יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… דֵּעָה (dêʻâh, H1844) — knowledge בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand שְׁמוּעָה (shᵉmûwʻâh, H8052) — something heard, i.e. an announcement גָּמַל (gâmal, H1580) — to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to… חָלָב (châlâb, H2461) — milk (as the richness of kine) עַתִּיק (ʻattîyq, H6267) — removed, i.e. weaned; also antique שַׁד (shad, H7699) — the breast of a woman or animal (as bulging)
Open source ↗צַו (tsav, H6673) — an injunction קַו (qav, H6957) — a cord (as connecting), especially formeasuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a… זְעֵיר (zᵉʻêyr, H2191) — small
Open source ↗לָעֵג (lâʻêg, H3934) — a buffoon; also a foreigner שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… אַחֵר (ʼachêr, H312) — properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc. לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מְנוּחָה (mᵉnûwchâh, H4496) — repose or (adverbially) peacefully; figuratively, consolation (specifically, matrimony);… עָיֵף (ʻâyêph, H5889) — languid נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… מַרְגֵּעָה (margêʻâh, H4774) — rest אָבָה (ʼâbâh, H14) — to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צַו (tsav, H6673) — an injunction קַו (qav, H6957) — a cord (as connecting), especially formeasuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a… זְעֵיר (zᵉʻêyr, H2191) — small יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) כָּשַׁל (kâshal, H3782) — to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication,… אָחוֹר (ʼâchôwr, H268) — the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to burst (literally or figuratively) יָקֹשׁ (yâqôsh, H3369) — to ensnare (literally or figuratively) לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by…
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God לָצוֹן (lâtsôwn, H3944) — derision אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) מָשַׁל (mâshal, H4910) — to rule עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The princes are inflamed with wine on the day of our king; so he joins hands with those who mock him.
These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments.
“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”
Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Ephraim practices prostitution there, and Israel is defiled.
You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.