Isaiah 28:14-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 28:14-22

The prophet, having reproved those that made a jest of the word of God, here goes on to reprove those that made a jest of the judgments of God, and set them at defiance; for he is a jealous God, and w 6716 ill not suffer either his ordinances or his providences to be brought into contempt. He addressed himself to the scornful men who ruled in Jerusalem, who were the magistrates of the city, Isa. 28:14. It is bad with a people when their thrones of judgment become the seats of the scornful,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 28:14

Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men ,.... Men of scorn and mockery, that scoffed and mocked at the word of God, as in the preceding verse Isaiah 28:13 ; or at the threatenings of punishment; and even made a jest of death and hell, as in the following words: "the word of the Lord" they are called upon to hear, hearken, and attend to, is either the word of promise of the Messiah, Isaiah 28:16 or rather the word threatening them with ruin, Isaiah 28:18 or it may be both: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 28:15

Because ye have said ,.... Within themselves; they thought so, if they did not say it in express words; and their conduct and behaviour showed that these were the sentiments and presumptions of their minds: We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement : as safe from death, and secure from hell, or the grave, as if a covenant and compact had been formally entered into between them. The phrases are expressive of their being fearless of them, and of their confidence... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ,.... In order to show what is the true foundation of hope and trust for security from death and hell, and to convince men of their vain and false confidence, as well as to comfort the people of God, such as truly feared him in Jerusalem; who, bearing the judgment denounced, might conclude that they were going to be cut off from being a nation, and that the family and kingdom of David would be at an end, and then where was the promise of the Messiah?... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 28:17

Judgment also will I lay to the line ,.... A metaphor taken from builders, who in building use the line and plummet to carry on their work even and regular, retaining such stones as agree thereunto, and rejecting such as do not; signifying, that in the spiritual building, where Christ is the foundation and cornerstone, such as are built thereon shall continue and grow up regularly into a holy temple; but those that set at nought this precious stone, and build upon the sandy foundation of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 28:18

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled ,.... Or, "be besmeared" F24 וכפר "Heb. oblinetur", Piscator; "quasi pica illita tabulae literaeque foederis incrustentur, inducantur ac dispereant", Gusset. Comment. Ebr. p. 397. , or daubed over, as the ark was with pitch, Genesis 6:14 where the same word is used as here; so that it shall not be legible, as any writing that is blotted out by ink, or any other liquor, so that it cannot be read; in like manner this their covenant... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 28:15

A covenant with death - To be in covenant with, is a kind of proverbial expression to denote perfect security from evil and mischief of any sort: - "For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee." Job 5:23 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 28:16

Behold, I lay in Zion - See the notes on Genesis 49:32 ; Psalm 118:22 ; (note); Matthew 21:42 ; (note); Acts 4:11 ; (note); Romans 9:33 ; (note); Romans 10:11 ; (note); Ephesians 2:20 ; (note); 1 Peter 2:6-8 ; (note). Kimchi understands this of Hezekiah; but it most undoubtedly belongs to Jesus Christ alone; and his application of it to himself, even the Jews could not contest. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 28:18

Your covenant with death shall be disannulled "Your covenant with death shall be broken" - For כפר caphar , which seems not to belong to this place, the Chaldee reads תפר taphar , which is approved by Houbigant and Secker. See Jeremiah 33:21 , where the very same phrase is used. See Prelim. Dissert. p. l. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 28:14

Ye scornful men ; literally, ye men of scorn . The word used is rare, but will be found in the same sense in Proverbs 1:22 and Proverbs 29:8 . A cognate participle occurs in Hosea 7:5 . That rule this people . (On the authority of the nobles at this period, see the introductory paragraph.) read more

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