Isaiah 28:10 For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there."

◄ Isaiah 28:10 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
For it is: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there."

English Standard Version
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”

New American Standard Bible
"For He says, 'Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.'"

King James Bible
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For he says: "Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there."

International Standard Version
For it is: "Do this and do that, do this and do that, Line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there."

American Standard Version
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For command, command again; command, command again; expect, expect again; expect, expect again: a little there, a little there.

Darby Bible Translation
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little. ...

Young's Literal Translation
For rule is on rule, rule on rule, line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there,

Cross References

2 Chronicles 36:15
And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years did you forbear them, and testified against them by your spirit in your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the people of the lands.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

28:5-15 The prophet next turns to Judah, whom he calls the residue of his people. Happy are those alone, who glory in the Lord of hosts himself. Hence his people get wisdom and strength for every service and every conflict. But it is only in Christ Jesus that the holy God communicates with sinful man. And whether those that teach are drunk with wine, or intoxicated with false doctrines and notions concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah, they not only err themselves, but lead multitudes astray. All places where such persons have taught are filled with errors. For our instruction in the things of God, it is needful that the same precept and the same line should be often repeated to us, that we may the better understand them. God, by his word, calls us to what is really for our advantage; the service of God is the only true rest for those weary of the service of sin, and there is no refreshment but under the easy yoke of the Lord Jesus. All this had little effect upon the people. Those who will not understand what is plain, but scorn and despise it as mean and trifling, are justly punished. If we are at peace with God, we have, in effect, made a covenant with death; whenever it comes, it cannot do us any real damage, if we are Christ's. But to think of making death our friend, while by sin we are making God our enemy, is absurd. And do not they make lies their refuge who trust in their own righteousness, or to a death-bed repentance? which is a resolution to sin no more, when it is no longer in their power to do so.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9, 10. Here the drunkards are introduced as scoffingly commenting on Isaiah's warnings: "Whom will he (does Isaiah presume to) teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand instruction? Is it those (that is, does he take us to be) just weaned, &c.? For (he is constantly repeating, as if to little children) precept upon precept," &c.

line—a rule or law. [Maurer]. The repetition of sounds in Hebrew tzav latzav, tzav latzav, qav laqav, qav laquav, expresses the scorn of the imitators of Isaiah's speaking; he spoke stammering (Isa 28:11). God's mode of teaching offends by its simplicity the pride of sinners (2Ki 5:11, 12; 1Co 1:23). Stammerers as they were by drunkenness, and children in knowledge of God, they needed to be spoken to in the language of children, and "with stammering lips" (compare Mt 13:13). A just and merciful retribution.