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Selected Verse: Isaiah 28:14 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 28:14	Strong Concordance	Wherefore hear [08085] the word [01697] of the LORD [03068], ye scornful [03944] men [0582], that rule [04910] this people [05971] which is in Jerusalem [03389].
	King James	Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
scornful--(See on Isa 28:9).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

scornful--(See on Isa 28:9).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Wherefore ... - This verse commences a direct address to the scoffing and scornful nation, which is continued to the close of Isa 28:22. It is addressed particularly to the rulers in Jerusalem, as being the leaders in crime, and as being eminently deserving of the wrath of God. Ye scornful men - Ye who despise and reproach God and his message; who fancy yourselves to be secure, and mock at the threatened judgments of the Almighty.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The prophet now directly attacks the great men of Jerusalem, and holds up a Messianic prophecy before their eyes, which turns its dark side to them, as chapter 7 did to Ahaz. "Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful lords, rulers of this people which is in Jerusalem! For ye say, We have made a covenant with death, and with Hades have we come to an agreement. The swelling scourge, when it cometh hither, will do us no harm; for we have made a lie our shelter, and in deceit have we hidden ourselves. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I am He who hath laid in Zion a stone, a stone of trial, a precious corner-stone of well-founded founding; whoever believes will not have to move. And I make justice the line, and righteousness the level; and hail sweeps away the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place is washed away by waters." With lâkhēn (therefore) the announcement of punishment is once more suspended; and in Isa 28:16 it is resumed again, the exposition of the sin being inserted between, before the punishment is declared. Their sin is lâtsōn, and this free-thinking scorn rests upon a proud and insolent self-confidence, which imagines that there is no necessity to fear death and hell; and this self-confidence has for its secret reserve the alliance to be secretly entered into with Egypt against Assyria. What the prophet makes them say here, they do not indeed say exactly in this form; but this is the essential substance of the carnally devised thoughts and words of the rulers of the people of Jerusalem, as manifest to the Searcher of hearts. Jerusalem, the city of Jehovah, and such princes as these, who either proudly ignore Jehovah, or throw Him off as useless, what a contrast! Chōzeh, and châzūth in Isa 28:18, signify an agreement, either as a decision or completion (from the radical meaning of the verb châzâh), or as a choice, beneplacitum (like the Arabic ray), or as a record, i.e., the means of selecting (like the talmudic châzı̄th, a countersign, a ra'ăyâh, a proof or argument: Luzzatto). In shōt shōtēph ("the swelling scourge," chethib שׁיט), the comparison of Asshur to a flood (Isa 28:2, Isa 28:8, Isa 28:7), and the comparison of it to a whip or scourge, are mixed together; and this is all the more allowable, because a whip, when smacked, really does move in waving lines (compare Jer 8:6, where shâtaph is applied to the galloping of a war-horse). The chethib עבר in Isa 28:15 (for which the keri reads יעבר, according to Isa 28:19) is to be read עבר (granting that it shall have passed, or that it passes); and there is no necessity for any emendation. The Egyptian alliance for which they are suing, when designated according to its true ethical nature, is sheqer (lie) and kâzâb (falsehood); compare Kg2 17:4 (where we ought perhaps to read sheqer for qesher, according to the lxx), and more especially Eze 17:15., from which it is obvious that the true prophets regarded self-willed rebellion even against heathen rule as a reprehensible breach of faith. The lâkhēn (therefore), which is resumed in Isa 28:16, is apparently followed as strangely as in Isa 7:14, by a promise instead of a threat. But this is only apparently the case. It is unquestionably a promise; but as the last clause, "he that believeth will not flee," i.e., will stand firm, clearly indicates, it is a promise for believers alone. For those to whom the prophet is speaking here the promise is a threat, a savour of death unto death. Just as on a former occasion, when Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, the prophet announced to him a sign of Jehovah's own selection; so here Jehovah opposes to the false ground of confidence on which the leaders relied, the foundation stone laid in Zion, which would bear the believing in immoveable safety, but on which the unbelieving would be broken to pieces (Mat 21:44). This stone is called 'ebhen boochan, a stone of proving, i.e., a proved and self-proving stone. Then follow other epithets in a series commencing anew with pinnath = 'ebhen pinnath (compare Psa 118:22): angulus h. e. lapis angularis pretiositatis fundationis fundatae. It is a corner-stone, valuable in itself (on yiqrath, compare Kg1 5:17), and affording the strongest foundation and inviolable security to all that is built upon it (mūsâd a substantive in form like mūsâr, and mūssâd a hophal participle in the form of those of the verba contracta pe yod). This stone was not the Davidic sovereignty, but the true seed of David which appeared in Jesus (Rom 9:33; Pe1 2:6-7). The figure of a stone is not opposed to the personal reference, since the prophet in Isa 8:14 speaks even of Jehovah Himself under the figure of a stone. The majestically unique description renders it quite impossible that Hezekiah can be intended. Micah, whose book forms the side piece of this cycle of prophecy, also predicted, under similar historical circumstances, the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem Ephratah (Mic 5:1). What Micah expresses in the words, "His goings forth are from of old," is indicated here in the preterite yissad connected with hineni (the construction is similar to that in Oba 1:2; Eze 25:7; compare Isa 28:2 above, and Jer 49:15; Jer 23:19). It denotes that which has been determined by Jehovah, and therefore is as good as accomplished. What is historically realized has had an eternal existence, and indeed an ideal pre-existence even in the heart of history itself (Isa 22:11; Isa 25:1; Isa 37:26). Ever since there had been a Davidic government at all, this stone had lain in Zion. The Davidic monarchy not only had in this its culminating point, but the ground of its continuance also. It was not only the Omega, but also the Alpha. Whatever escaped from wrath, even under the Old Testament, stood upon this stone. This (as the prophet predicts in יסהישׁ לא המּאמין יחישׁ׃ the fut. kal) would be the stronghold of faith in the midst of the approaching Assyrian calamities (cf., Isa 7:9); and faith would be the condition of life (Hab 2:4). But against unbelievers Jehovah would proceed according to His punitive justice. He would make this (justice and righteousness, mishpât and tsedâqâh) a norm, i.e., a line and level. A different turn, however, is given to qâv, with a play upon Isa 28:10, Isa 28:11. What Jehovah is about to do is depicted as a building which He is carrying out, and which He will carry out, so far as the despisers are concerned, on no other plan than that of strict retribution. His punitive justice comes like a hailstorm and like a flood (cf., Isa 28:2; Isa 10:22). The hail smites the refuge of lies of the great men of Jerusalem, and clears it away (יעה, hence יע, a shovel); and the flood buries their hiding-place in the waters, and carries it away (the accentuation should be סתר tifchah, מים mercha).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The prophet now directly attacks the great men of Jerusalem, and holds up a Messianic prophecy before their eyes, which turns its dark side to them, as chapter 7 did to Ahaz. "Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scornful lords, rulers of this people which is in Jerusalem! For ye say, We have made a covenant with death, and with Hades have we come to an agreement. The swelling scourge, when it cometh hither, will do us no harm; for we have made a lie our shelter, and in deceit have we hidden ourselves. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I am He who hath laid in Zion a stone, a stone of trial, a precious corner-stone of well-founded founding; whoever believes will not have to move. And I make justice the line, and righteousness the level; and hail sweeps away the refuge of lies, and the hiding-place is washed away by waters." With lâkhēn (therefore) the announcement of punishment is once more suspended; and in Isa 28:16 it is resumed again, the exposition of the sin being inserted between, before the punishment is declared. Their sin is lâtsōn, and this free-thinking scorn rests upon a proud and insolent self-confidence, which imagines that there is no necessity to fear death and hell; and this self-confidence has for its secret reserve the alliance to be secretly entered into with Egypt against Assyria. What the prophet makes them say here, they do not indeed say exactly in this form; but this is the essential substance of the carnally devised thoughts and words of the rulers of the people of Jerusalem, as manifest to the Searcher of hearts. Jerusalem, the city of Jehovah, and such princes as these, who either proudly ignore Jehovah, or throw Him off as useless, what a contrast! Chōzeh, and châzūth in Isa 28:18, signify an agreement, either as a decision or completion (from the radical meaning of the verb châzâh), or as a choice, beneplacitum (like the Arabic ray), or as a record, i.e., the means of selecting (like the talmudic châzı̄th, a countersign, a ra'ăyâh, a proof or argument: Luzzatto). In shōt shōtēph ("the swelling scourge," chethib שׁיט), the comparison of Asshur to a flood (Isa 28:2, Isa 28:8, Isa 28:7), and the comparison of it to a whip or scourge, are mixed together; and this is all the more allowable, because a whip, when smacked, really does move in waving lines (compare Jer 8:6, where shâtaph is applied to the galloping of a war-horse). The chethib עבר in Isa 28:15 (for which the keri reads יעבר, according to Isa 28:19) is to be read עבר (granting that it shall have passed, or that it passes); and there is no necessity for any emendation. The Egyptian alliance for which they are suing, when designated according to its true ethical nature, is sheqer (lie) and kâzâb (falsehood); compare Kg2 17:4 (where we ought perhaps to read sheqer for qesher, according to the lxx), and more especially Eze 17:15., from which it is obvious that the true prophets regarded self-willed rebellion even against heathen rule as a reprehensible breach of faith.

The lâkhēn (therefore), which is resumed in Isa 28:16, is apparently followed as strangely as in Isa 7:14, by a promise instead of a threat. But this is only apparently the case. It is unquestionably a promise; but as the last clause, "he that believeth will not flee," i.e., will stand firm, clearly indicates, it is a promise for believers alone. For those to whom the prophet is speaking here the promise is a threat, a savour of death unto death. Just as on a former occasion, when Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, the prophet announced to him a sign of Jehovah's own selection; so here Jehovah opposes to the false ground of confidence on which the leaders relied, the foundation stone laid in Zion, which would bear the believing in immoveable safety, but on which the unbelieving would be broken to pieces (Mat 21:44). This stone is called 'ebhen boochan, a stone of proving, i.e., a proved and self-proving stone. Then follow other epithets in a series commencing anew with pinnath = 'ebhen pinnath (compare Psa 118:22): angulus h. e. lapis angularis pretiositatis fundationis fundatae. It is a corner-stone, valuable in itself (on yiqrath, compare Kg1 5:17), and affording the strongest foundation and inviolable security to all that is built upon it (mūsâd a substantive in form like mūsâr, and mūssâd a hophal participle in the form of those of the verba contracta pe yod). This stone was not the Davidic sovereignty, but the true seed of David which appeared in Jesus (Rom 9:33; Pe1 2:6-7). The figure of a stone is not opposed to the personal reference, since the prophet in Isa 8:14 speaks even of Jehovah Himself under the figure of a stone. The majestically unique description renders it quite impossible that Hezekiah can be intended. Micah, whose book forms the side piece of this cycle of prophecy, also predicted, under similar historical circumstances, the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem Ephratah (Mic 5:1). What Micah expresses in the words, "His goings forth are from of old," is indicated here in the preterite yissad connected with hineni (the construction is similar to that in Oba 1:2; Eze 25:7; compare Isa 28:2 above, and Jer 49:15; Jer 23:19). It denotes that which has been determined by Jehovah, and therefore is as good as accomplished. What is historically realized has had an eternal existence, and indeed an ideal pre-existence even in the heart of history itself (Isa 22:11; Isa 25:1; Isa 37:26). Ever since there had been a Davidic government at all, this stone had lain in Zion. The Davidic monarchy not only had in this its culminating point, but the ground of its continuance also. It was not only the Omega, but also the Alpha. Whatever escaped from wrath, even under the Old Testament, stood upon this stone. This (as the prophet predicts in יסהישׁ לא המּאמין יחישׁ׃ the fut. kal) would be the stronghold of faith in the midst of the approaching Assyrian calamities (cf., Isa 7:9); and faith would be the condition of life (Hab 2:4). But against unbelievers Jehovah would proceed according to His punitive justice. He would make this (justice and righteousness, mishpât and tsedâqâh) a norm, i.e., a line and level. A different turn, however, is given to qâv, with a play upon Isa 28:10, Isa 28:11. What Jehovah is about to do is depicted as a building which He is carrying out, and which He will carry out, so far as the despisers are concerned, on no other plan than that of strict retribution. His punitive justice comes like a hailstorm and like a flood (cf., Isa 28:2; Isa 10:22). The hail smites the refuge of lies of the great men of Jerusalem, and clears it away (יעה, hence יע, a shovel); and the flood buries their hiding-place in the waters, and carries it away (the accentuation should be סתר tifchah, מים mercha).

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⁹ Whom shall he teach [03384] knowledge [01844]? and whom shall he make to understand [0995] doctrine [08052]? them that are weaned [01580] from the milk [02461], and drawn [06267] from the breasts [07699].

²² Now therefore be ye not mockers [03887], lest your bands [04147] be made strong [02388]: for I have heard [08085] from the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635] a consumption [03617], even determined [02782] upon the whole earth [0776].

²² For though thy people [05971] Israel [03478] be as the sand [02344] of the sea [03220], yet a remnant [07605] of them shall return [07725]: the consumption [03631] decreed [02782] shall overflow [07857] with righteousness [06666].

² Behold, the Lord [0136] hath a mighty [02389] and strong one [0533], which as a tempest [02230] of hail [01259] and a destroying [06986] storm [08178], as a flood [02230] of mighty [03524] waters [04325] overflowing [07857], shall cast down [03240] to the earth [0776] with the hand [03027].

¹¹ For with stammering [03934] lips [08193] and another [0312] tongue [03956] will he speak [01696] to this people [05971].

¹⁰ For precept [06673] must be upon precept [06673], precept [06673] upon precept [06673]; line [06957] upon line [06957], line [06957] upon line [06957]; here a little [02191], and there a little [02191]:

⁴ Behold, his soul [05315] which is lifted up [06075] is not upright [03474] in him: but the just [06662] shall live [02421] by his faith [0530].

⁹ And the head [07218] of Ephraim [0669] is Samaria [08111], and the head [07218] of Samaria [08111] is Remaliah's [07425] son [01121]. If ye will not believe [0539], surely ye shall not be established [0539].

²⁶ Hast thou not heard [08085] long ago [07350], how I have done [06213] it; and of ancient [06924] times [03117], that I have formed [03335] it? now have I brought [0935] it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste [07582] defenced [01219] cities [05892] into ruinous [05327] heaps [01530].

¹ O LORD [03068], thou art my God [0430]; I will exalt [07311] thee, I will praise [03034] thy name [08034]; for thou hast done [06213] wonderful [06382] things; thy counsels [06098] of old [07350] are faithfulness [0530] and truth [0544].

¹¹ Ye made [06213] also a ditch [04724] between the two walls [02346] for the water [04325] of the old [03465] pool [01295]: but ye have not looked [05027] unto the maker [06213] thereof, neither had respect [07200] unto him that fashioned [03335] it long ago [07350].

¹⁹ Behold, a whirlwind [05591] of the LORD [03068] is gone forth [03318] in fury [02534], even a grievous [02342] whirlwind [05591]: it shall fall grievously [02342] upon the head [07218] of the wicked [07563].

¹⁵ For, lo, I will make [05414] thee small [06996] among the heathen [01471], and despised [0959] among men [0120].

⁷ Behold, therefore I will stretch out [05186] mine hand [03027] upon thee, and will deliver [05414] thee for a spoil [0957] [0897] to the heathen [01471]; and I will cut thee off [03772] from the people [05971], and I will cause thee to perish [06] out of the countries [0776]: I will destroy [08045] thee; and thou shalt know [03045] that I am the LORD [03068].

² Behold, I have made [05414] thee small [06996] among the heathen [01471]: thou art greatly [03966] despised [0959].

¹ Now gather [01413] thyself in troops [01416], O daughter [01323] of troops [01416]: he hath laid [07760] siege [04692] against us: they shall smite [05221] the judge [08199] of Israel [03478] with a rod [07626] upon the cheek [03895].

¹⁴ And he shall be for a sanctuary [04720]; but for a stone [068] of stumbling [05063] and for a rock [06697] of offence [04383] to both [08147] the houses [01004] of Israel [03478], for a gin [06341] and for a snare [04170] to the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389].

⁶ Wherefore [1352] also [2532] it is contained [4023] in [1722] the scripture [1124], Behold [2400], I lay [5087] in [1722] Sion [4622] a chief corner [204] stone [3037], elect [1588], precious [1784]: and [2532] he that believeth [4100] on [1909] him [846] shall [2617] not be [3364] confounded [2617].
⁷ Unto you [5213] therefore [3767] which [3588] believe [4100] he is precious [5092]: but [1161] unto them which be disobedient [544], the stone [3037] which [3739] the builders [3618] disallowed [593], the same [3778] is made [1096] [1519] the head [2776] of the corner [1137],

³³ As [2531] it is written [1125], Behold [2400], I lay [5087] in [1722] Sion [4622] a stumblingstone [3037] [4348] and [2532] rock [4073] of offence [4625]: and [2532] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] on [1909] him [846] shall [2617] not [3756] be ashamed [2617].

¹⁷ And the king [04428] commanded [06680], and they brought [05265] great [01419] stones [068], costly [03368] stones [068], and hewed [01496] stones [068], to lay the foundation [03245] of the house [01004].

²² The stone [068] which the builders [01129] refused [03988] is become the head [07218] stone of the corner [06438].

⁴⁴ And [2532] whosoever shall fall [4098] on [1909] this [5126] stone [3037] shall be broken [4917]: but [1161] on [1909] whomsoever [3739] [302] it shall fall [4098], it will grind [3039] him [846] to powder [3039].

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord [0136] himself shall give [05414] you a sign [0226]; Behold, a virgin [05959] shall conceive [02030], and bear [03205] a son [01121], and shall call [07121] his name [08034] Immanuel [06005] [0410].

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], Behold, I lay [03245] in Zion [06726] for a foundation a stone [068], a tried [0976] stone [068], a precious [03368] corner [06438] stone, a sure [03245] foundation [04143]: he that believeth [0539] shall not make haste [02363].

¹⁵ But he rebelled [04775] against him in sending [07971] his ambassadors [04397] into Egypt [04714], that they might give [05414] him horses [05483] and much [07227] people [05971]. Shall he prosper [06743]? shall he escape [04422] that doeth [06213] such things? or shall he break [06565] the covenant [01285], and be delivered [04422]?

⁴ And the king [04428] of Assyria [0804] found [04672] conspiracy [07195] in Hoshea [01954]: for he had sent [07971] messengers [04397] to So [05471] king [04428] of Egypt [04714], and brought [05927] no present [04503] to the king [04428] of Assyria [0804], as he had done year [08141] by year [08141]: therefore the king [04428] of Assyria [0804] shut him up [06113], and bound [0631] him in prison [01004] [03608].

¹⁹ From the time [01767] that it goeth forth [05674] it shall take [03947] you: for morning [01242] by morning [01242] shall it pass over [05674], by day [03117] and by night [03915]: and it shall be a vexation [02113] only to understand [0995] the report [08052].

¹⁵ Because ye have said [0559], We have made [03772] a covenant [01285] with death [04194], and with hell [07585] are we [06213] at agreement [02374]; when the overflowing [07857] scourge [07752] [07885] shall pass through [05674] [05674], it shall not come [0935] unto us: for we have made [07760] lies [03577] our refuge [04268], and under falsehood [08267] have we hid [05641] ourselves:

⁶ I hearkened [07181] and heard [08085], but they spake not aright [01696]: no man [0376] repented [05162] him of [05921] his wickedness [07451], saying [0559], What have I done [06213]? every one turned [07725] to his course [04794], as the horse [05483] rusheth [07857] into the battle [04421].

⁷ But they [0428] also have erred [07686] through wine [03196], and through strong drink [07941] are out of the way [08582]; the priest [03548] and the prophet [05030] have erred [07686] through strong drink [07941], they are swallowed up [01104] of [04480] wine [03196], they are out of the way [08582] through strong drink [07941]; they err [07686] in vision [07203], they stumble [06328] in judgment [06417].

⁸ For all tables [07979] are full [04390] of vomit [06892] and filthiness [06675], so that there is no place [04725] clean.

¹⁸ And your covenant [01285] with death [04194] shall be disannulled [03722], and your agreement [02380] with hell [07585] shall not stand [06965]; when the overflowing [07857] scourge [07752] shall pass through [05674], then ye shall be trodden down [04823] by it.