The Meaning of Isaiah 28:22 Explained

Isaiah 28:22

KJV: Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

YLT: And now, show not yourselves scorners, Lest strong be your bands, For a consumption, that is determined, I have heard, by the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, Is for all the land.

Darby: Now therefore be ye not scorners, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord Jehovah of hosts a consumption, and one determined, upon the whole land.

ASV: Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore be ye not mockers,  lest your bands  be made strong:  for I have heard  from the Lord  GOD  of hosts  a consumption,  even determined  upon the whole earth. 

What does Isaiah 28:22 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah called on the rulers to stop being scoffers (cf. Isaiah 28:14), or their punishment would be worse. It was unavoidable, but by repenting they could lessen it. Thus, this section of the "woe" that describes judgment coming on Judah ends with a note of mercy, just as the section describing judgment coming on Ephraim did ( Isaiah 28:5-6).

Context Summary

Isaiah 28:14-29 - Truth The Only Refuge
In the beginning of Hezekiah's reign the Jewish leaders had made an alliance with Assyria, on whom they relied to protect them against any and all foes. But the prophet told them plainly that they would be disappointed, and that when the Assyrian scourge passed through the land toward Egypt, it would involve them also in disaster, Isaiah 28:18. Then he broke out with this sublime description of the only foundation of security that could never fail. The deep meaning of this prediction of the precious corner-stone is unfolded in later Scriptures, Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7. Christ was tried by Satan and by man: He is precious: He unites the walls of Jew and Gentile that were at right-angles to each other. All our excuses and professions are too short and too narrow when God enters into judgment. Outside of Christ there is neither peace nor safety. See that thou buildest Him a holy character of gold, silver, and precious stones, 1 Corinthians 3:10, etc. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 28

1  The prophet threatens Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness
5  The residue shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ
7  He rebukes their error
9  Their unwillingness to learn
14  And their security
16  Christ the sure foundation is promised
17  Their security shall be tried
23  They are incited to the consideration of God's providence

What do the individual words in Isaiah 28:22 mean?

Therefore now not do be mockers lest be made strong your bonds for a destruction and even determined I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts upon all the earth
וְעַתָּה֙ אַל־ תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ פֶּֽן־ יֶחְזְק֖וּ מֽוֹסְרֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ כָלָ֨ה וְנֶחֱרָצָ֜ה שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי מֵאֵ֨ת אֲדֹנָ֧י יְהוִ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת עַל־ כָּל־ הָאָֽרֶץ

וְעַתָּה֙  Therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
תִּתְלוֹצָ֔צוּ  do  be  mockers 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
פֶּֽן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
יֶחְזְק֖וּ  be  made  strong 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
מֽוֹסְרֵיכֶ֑ם  your  bonds 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מֹוסֵר 
Sense: band, bond.
כָלָ֨ה  a  destruction 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: completion, termination, full end, complete destruction, consumption, annihilation.
וְנֶחֱרָצָ֜ה  and  even  determined 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: חָרוּץ 
Sense: to cut, sharpen, decide, decree, determine, maim, move, be decisive, be mutilated.
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי  I  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֲדֹנָ֧י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִ֛ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֖וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.