Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 28:13
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
13. But the word of the Lord was ] Render: And ( so) the word of Jehovah shall be all that they had scoffingly said about Isaiah’s message ( Isa 28:10), a monotonous, intolerable, yet unavoidable, succession of judgments (cf. Isa 28:19).
that they might backward ] that they may go and stumble backwards (cf. ch. Isa 6:11-12). and be broken taken ] as in ch. Isa 8:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But the word of the Lord was unto them – Or, rather, but the word of Yahweh shall be unto them. This refers to the mode in which God said He would instruct them in a foreign land. They had complained Isa 28:9-10 that his instructions had been like a short lesson constantly repeated, as we instruct children. God here says that it should be as they said it was – they would be carried away to a distant land, and long abide among strangers; they would have ample time there to acquire instruction, and all that they would receive would be lesson after lesson of the same kind – line upon line, one judgment following another, until the lesson of their disobedience had been fully inculcated, and they had been brought to true repentance.
Here a little, and there a little – So they had said Isa 28:10 the lessons of God were to them by the prophets. So God says his lessons shall be to them by judgment. It shall not come in one sudden and overpowering burst of indignation, but it shall be, as it were, dealt out to them in small portions that it may not be soon exhausted.
That they might go … – That they may go into captivity, and stumble, and be broken by the judgments of God. God will so deal out the lessons of his judgment and wrath, that as a people they shall be broken up, and made prisoners, and be borne to a distant land.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The sense of the words thus rendered may be this, They spake of Gods word with scorn and contempt, repeating the prophets words in a scoffing manner, and with a stammering and ridiculous tone, saying, Precept upon precept, &c.; as if they had said, It seems the prophet takes us to be mere children, that need to be taught our first rudiments, and that but slowly. That these were scornful men. and mockers is affirmed, Isa 28:14,22; and as scoffers frequently catch the words out of other mens mouths, and use them in way of derision, so it may be thought they did with the prophets words. But the words may be, and by divers learned men are, rendered a little otherwise;
And the word of the Lord shall be unto them precept upon precept, &c. As this method hath been used by them, and was altogether necessary for them; so it still is, and for the future shall be. As they were children in understanding, they shall still continue to be such; they shall be ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth; as they formerly would not, so now they shall not, profit by the word; and their sin shall be their punishment. And this seems to suit with the following clause, which notes the dreadful design and effect of that judicial blindness,
that they may or might go and fall backward, & c.
That they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken: according to the former, which is our translation, this clause notes only the event or consequent of their sin; according to the latter, it notes the judgment of God designed and inflicted for it; that Gods word being so horribly abused by them, might be an occasion at which they might stumble and fall, and that backward, which is the worst and most dangerous way of falling; and so be broken to pieces, or by which they might be snared and taken.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Butrather, “Therefore,”namely, because “they would not hear” (Isa28:12).
that they might gothedesigned result to those who, from a defect of the will,so far from profiting by God’s mode of instructing, “preceptupon precept,” c., made it into a stumbling-block (Hos 6:5Hos 8:12; Mat 13:14).
go, and fallimageappropriately from “drunkards” (Isa 28:7;Isa 28:8, which they were) who intrying to “go forward fall backward.“
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept,…. Was despised and derided by them; they took the prophet’s words out of his mouth, and in a scoffing manner repeated them; which, in the Hebrew text, is in a rhyming form, and were sung and drawled out by them, “Tsau lotsau, Tsau lotsau, Kau lakau, Kau lakau”: this is all he can say to us, and we have from him:
precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; or the words may be rendered, “and the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept”, c. as it had been, so it still was; the same method was continued to be taken with them, and they still treated as children; and it is suggested that they should remain so, and not be men in understanding; and that they should be ever learning like children, and never come to the knowledge of the truth. Moreover, the words may be rendered, “though the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept”, c. though it was delivered in so plain and easy a manner to them, and such methods of instruction were used gradually and gently, to instil knowledge into them, yet so stupid were they as not to receive it, and so perverse and stubborn as wilfully to reject it; hence they were given up to judicial blindness and hardness, Ro 11:8:
that they might go and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken: go on in their own sinful ways, backslide from God, and be broken by his judgments; and be ensnared and taken in the net of the Babylonians, and be carried by them into captivity; see Eze 12:13 compare with this Mt 21:44 or rather fall into the hands of the Romans, and be taken and dispersed by them among the nations.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13. The word of the Lord shall therefore be to them. Although the Prophet repeats the same words, yet the meaning is somewhat different; for, having formerly spoken of voluntary stupidity, he now threatens the punishment of it, namely, that God will strike them with such bewilderment, that they shall be totally deprived of the benefit of saving doctrine, and shall perceive in it nothing but an empty sound. In short, he concludes, from what goes before, that since they had not profited by the word of God, the Jews shall be justly punished for their ingratitude; not that the word shall be taken from them, but that they shall be deprived of sound judgment and understanding, and shall be blind amidst the clearest light. Thus God blinds and hardens the reprobate more and more on account of their disobedience.
Paul quotes this passage (1Co 14:21) when he reproves the Corinthians for foolish affectation, in consequence of their being so much under the influence of ambition, that they regarded with the highest admiration those who spoke in a foreign tongue, as the common people are accustomed to stare at everything that is unknown and uncommon. This passage in the writings of Paul has been misunderstood, because these words of the Prophet have not been duly weighed. Now, Paul applies these words most appropriately to his object; for he shews that the Corinthians are under the influence of a foolish and absurd admiration, and that they improperly aspire to those things from which they can derive no advantage; in short, that they are “like children, not in malice, but in knowledge and understanding;” that thus they voluntarily draw down on themselves the curse which the Prophet here threatens; and that the word of God becomes to them precept on precept, and they receive no more instruction from it than if a person were to bawl out to them in an unknown tongue. It is the height of madness to bring upon themselves, by idle affectation, that blindness and stupidity which the Lord threatens against obstinate and rebellious men. Paul therefore explains and renders more intelligible this statement made by the Prophet, for he shews that they who abuse the doctrine of salvation do not deserve to make progress in it in any way whatever.
We have seen a passage closely resembling it in which the Prophet compared his doctrine to “sealed letters.” (Isa 8:16) Afterwards we shall find that the Prophet compares it to a book that is “shut.” (Isa 29:11.) This takes place when, on account of the ingratitude of men, God takes from them judgment and sound understanding; so that, “seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear,” and thus are most justly punished. (Isa 6:9; Mar 4:12.) This ought to be carefully observed; for frequently we think that all is well with us, and are highly delighted with ourselves, because we continue to enjoy the word. (226) But of what avail will it be to us, if it do not enlighten our understanding and regulate our hearts? We thus draw down upon ourselves a heavier judgment, and therefore we need a twofold grace; first, that God would shine on us by his word; and secondly, that he would open our understandings and dispose our hearts to obedience, otherwise we shall derive no more aid from the brilliancy of the gospel than blind men derive from the brightness of the sun. By this punishment, therefore, we are reminded that we must not abuse the word of God, but must look directly to the object which the Lord holds out to us in the word.
They shall fall backward, and be broken and snared. At length he describes the destruction of those who are blind to this brightness of the word; for nothing remains for them but to be thrown down headlong, because they have departed from the right path, and therefore they must stumble and fall. He means that the fall will not be slight, for they shall be bruised by it. By the word snared he employs another metaphor, namely, that for all unbelievers “snares” are prepared, by which they shall be entangled and drawn to destruction. We had a similar sentiment on a former occasion, (Isa 8:15,) and expressed in nearly the same words; (227) for there the Prophet speaks on the same subject, the blinding of the people, who by their obstinacy had provoked the wrath of God. He shews that they who go astray, in opposition to the word of God, are always very near destruction. Either they shall meet with stumbling blocks on which they shall “stumble,” or with snares by which they shall be “ensnared.” In short, it will be impossible that evil shall not befall those who do not keep the path which God has pointed out; for either they shall openly “fall and be bruised,” or through concealed traps they shall fall into a “snare.”
(226) Bogus footnote
(227) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) That they might go, and fall backward . . .The words are an echo of those in Isa. 8:14-15. The preaching which might have led to rest and refreshing would become to those who scorned it a stumbling stone on which they would fall, a net in which they, who boasted of their freedom, would be entangled.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Word unto them precept God’s method of training this people is described, namely, by the most patient, ploddingly-repeated, lessons.
That Two things are meant by this word. 1. The consequences to the people for their disloyalty to Jehovah, namely, ruin to them as a nation. 2. Intention to maintain the majesty of the divine law of righteousness. Scoffing men are long and patiently endured, to the end that, if they will not hear, their guilt shall be punished, their example shall be a warning, and the divine honour shall be maintained.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
These are very awful verses, and enough to make the ears of everyone that heareth them to tingle. And what must the end be of scorners, mockers of God’s word, and despisers of his threatenings?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Ver. 13. But the word of God was unto them precept upon precept, &c., ] i.e., A derision, as Isa 28:10 therefore henceforth; hearing they shall hear and not understand: Sic Sanniones Deus punit.
That they may go, and fall backward.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
was = became. Giving back to the scoffers their own words (from Isa 28:10) in the form of a threatening.
might = may.
fall backward, &c. Note the Figure of speech Synonymia, by which the similar words are heaped together to impress on them the solemnity and certainty of the judgment.
taken = caught.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
precept upon precept: Isa 28:10, Jer 23:36-38, Hos 6:5, Hos 8:12
that: Isa 6:9, Isa 6:10, Isa 8:14, Isa 8:15, Psa 69:22, Mat 13:14, Mat 21:44, Rom 11:9, 2Co 2:16, 1Pe 2:7, 1Pe 2:8, 2Pe 3:16
Reciprocal: Psa 9:16 – wicked Psa 70:2 – be turned Psa 119:165 – nothing shall offend them Isa 8:9 – and ye Isa 29:12 – I am not Jer 15:6 – thou art Eze 33:31 – show much love Mat 13:24 – put Luk 14:18 – all 2Ti 2:26 – out Heb 5:12 – teach
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 28:13. But the word of the Lord was unto them, &c. The sense of the passage thus rendered, may be, that they spake of Gods word with scorn and contempt, repeating the prophets words, (which are as peculiar in sound, as they are strong and expressive in sense, , , , , tzav latzav, tzav latzav, kav lakav, kav lakav,) in a scoffing manner, and with a ridiculous tone of voice; as if they had said, It seems the prophet takes us to be mere children, that need to be taught the very rudiments of knowledge, and that but slowly. Precept upon precept, line upon line, &c. That these were scornful men and mockers, is affirmed Isa 28:14; Isa 28:22; and, as scoffers frequently catch the words out of other mens mouths, and use them in the way of derision; so it may be thought they did with the prophets words. But the clause may be rendered a little otherwise, as indeed it is by divers learned men, thus: And the word of the Lord shall be unto them, precept upon precept, &c.; as this method has been used, and was altogether necessary for them, so it still is, and for the future shall be. As they were children in understanding, they shall continue to be such; they shall be ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the truth; as they formerly would not, so now they shall not profit by the word, and their sin shall be their punishment. That they may, or might go, and fall backward This will be the event, or consequence of their sin: they will fall backward, which is the worst and most dangerous way of falling; and so be broken to pieces.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28:13 But the word of the {o} LORD was to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(o) Because they will not receive the word of God, when it is offered, it comes of their own malice, if after their hearts are so hardened, that they care not for it, as before, Isa 6:9 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord would continue to teach them bit by bit, and a little here and a little there, through hardship. The result would be retrogression, brokenness, entrapment, and captivity.
". . . in order for maturity to be reached, the child must be allowed to suffer the consequences of its actions. For the parent to intervene constantly and to nullify the results is to give the child a wholly misshapen understanding of life." [Note: Ibid., p. 513.]