Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary
Isaiah 28 · World English Bible
1Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!
2Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.
3The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot.
4The fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley, shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer, which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it.
5In that day, the LORD of Armies will become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the residue of his people,
6and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.
8For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness.
9Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?
10For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.
11But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language,
12to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to the weary,” and “This is the refreshing;” yet they would not hear.
13Therefore the LORD’s word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.
14Therefore hear the LORD’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:
15“Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’”
16Therefore the Lord GOD says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
17I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
18Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.
19As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message.”
20For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.
21For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.
22Now therefore don’t be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, GOD of Armies, on the whole earth.
23Give ear, and hear my voice! Listen, and hear my speech!
24Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods?
25When he has leveled its surface, doesn’t he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?
26For his God instructs him in right judgment and teaches him.
27For the dill isn’t threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod.
28Bread flour must be ground; so he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don’t grind it.
29This also comes out from the LORD of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
World English Bible · World English Bible; source eBible.org.
Notes on Isaiah 28
Date uncertain | Irenaeus of Lyons
7. On this account also, Daniel, foreseeing His advent, said that a stone, cut out without hands, came into this world. For this is what "without hands" means, that His coming into this world was not by the operation of human hands, that is, of those men who are accustomed to stonecutting; that is, Joseph taking no part with regard to it, but Mary alone co-operating with the pre-arranged plan. For this stone from the earth derives existence from both the power and the wisdom of God. Wherefore also Isaiah says: "Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I deposit in the foundations of Zion a stone, precious, elect, the chief, the corner-one, to be had in honour." So, then, we understand that His advent in humnn nature was not by the will of a man, but by the will of God.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Against Heresies, Book 3 / Chap. xxi. — A vindication of the prophecy in Isaiah (vii. 14) against the misinterpretations of Theodotion, Aquila, the Ebionites, and the Jews. Authority of the Septuagint version. Arguments in proof that Christ was born of a virgin., source paragraph ancl:a0af7f160bfda6d8f6e3:p:169 · Original source
1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Isa. xxviii. 16.
Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3 / Chap. xxi. — A vindication of the prophecy in Isaiah (vii. 14) against the misinterpretations of Theodotion, Aquila, the Ebionites, and the Jews. Authority of the Septuagint version. Arguments in proof that Christ was born of a virgin., editorial note cite_note-411 · Original source
1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
This sentence is wholly unintelligible as it stands in the Latin version. Critics differ greatly as to its meaning; Harvey tries to bring out of it something like the translation given above. [This name is manufactured from a curious abuse of (קו לקו) Isaiah xxviii. 10–13, which is variously understood. See (Epiphanius ed. Oehler, vol. i.) Philastr., p. 38.]
Editorial footnote · Against Heresies: Book I, Chapter uncertain (transcription heading: Chapter XXIV), editorial note cite_note-289 · Original source
1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Cod. Sin. has “believe.” Isa. viii. 14, Isa. xxviii. 16.
Editorial footnote · The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter VI.—The sufferings of Christ, and the new covenant, were announced by the prophets., editorial note cite_note-53 · Original source
1885 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Isa. xxviii. 14.
Editorial footnote · The Five Books Against Marcion, Book 4, Chapter 27, editorial note cite_note-35 · Original source
1886 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Isa. xxviii. 16. [See Tertull., “stumbling-stone,” vol. iii. p. 165.]
Editorial footnote · The Treatises of Cyprian, Chapter uncertain; original source section: Part 16, editorial note cite_note-1 · Original source
1887 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)
Ps. cxviii. 22; Isa. xxviii. 16
Editorial footnote · On the Catechising of the Uninstructed, Chapter 23.—Of the Mission of the Holy Ghost Fifty Days After Christ’s Resurrection.; original source section: Chapter 23, editorial note cite_note-11 · Original source
Date uncertain | Irenaeus of Lyons (historical collection attribution)
7. On this account also, Daniel, foreseeing His advent, said that a stone, cut out without hands, came into this world. For this is what “without hands” means, that His coming into this world was not by the operation of human hands, that is, of those men who are accustomed to stone-cutting; that is, Joseph taking no part with regard to it, but Mary alone co-operating with the pre-arranged plan. For this stone from the earth derives existence from both the power and the wisdom of God. Wherefore also Isaiah says: “Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I deposit in the foundations of Zion a stone, precious, elect, the chief, the corner-one, to be had in honour.” So, then, we understand that His advent in human nature was not by the will of a man, but by the will of God.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Against Heresies: Book III, Chapter uncertain (transcription heading: Chapter XXI), source paragraph 125 · Original source
Date uncertain | Irenaeus of Lyons (historical collection attribution)
5. Salvation belongs to the soul alone, for the body is by nature subject to corruption. He declares, too, that the prophecies were derived from those powers who were the makers of the world, but the law was specially given by their chief, who led the people out of the land of Egypt. He attaches no importance to [the question regarding] meats offered in sacrifice to idols, thinks them of no consequence, and makes use of them without any hesitation; he holds also the use of other things, and the practice of every kind of lust, a matter of perfect indifference. These men, moreover, practise magic; and use images, incantations, invocations, and every other kind of curious art. Coining also certain names as if they were those of the angels, they proclaim some of these as belonging to the first, and others to the second heaven; and then they strive to set forth the names, principles, angels, and powers of the three hundred and sixty-five imagined heavens. They also affirm that the barbarous name in which the Saviour ascended and descended, is Caulacau.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Against Heresies: Book I, Chapter uncertain (transcription heading: Chapter XXIV), source paragraph 142 · Original source