Isaiah 28 Prophecy About the Quran

Isaiah 28:1-17 are referring to a prophecy delivered by the prophet Isaiah. In these verses, Isaiah is conveying a message from God, warning the people of Ephraim about the consequences of their pride, excessive drinking, and moral decay. The imagery and metaphors used in the prophecy serve to emphasize the impending judgment and the promise of a future in which the Lord will bring justice and strength. Prophecies like these are a common theme in the Book of Isaiah, serving as both warnings and messages of hope for the people of Israel.

Isaiah 28:1-8
Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley— to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand. That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot, The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest. Whoever sees it will swallow it while it is still in his hand, In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate. And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions. All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.

The meaning of each passage from Isaiah 28:1-8:

• 1. **Verses 1-4**: In these verses, the prophet Isaiah delivers a message of woe or judgment upon the people of Ephraim, a tribe of Israel. He uses metaphors like a fading flower and a wreath on the head of a fertile valley to describe their once glorious beauty and pride. The message suggests that their pride and excessive indulgence in wine and revelry will lead to their downfall.
• 2. **Verses 5-6**: These verses shift to a more positive message. Isaiah speaks of the Lord as a mighty and strong force, like a destructive storm. This force will bring down the pride of Ephraim, symbolized by the wreath. The message implies that the Lord’s power will surpass and humble the human pride represented by Ephraim.
• 3. **Verse 7**: Isaiah emphasizes that in that future day, the Lord will be a source of justice for those who sit in judgment and strength for those who defend against attacks at the city gate. This suggests that under the Lord’s rule, justice and strength will prevail.
• 4. **Verse 8**: These verses describe a troubling scene where priests and prophets, who should be spiritual leaders, are also affected by excessive drinking. They are unable to see visions clearly and make sound decisions. The imagery of tables covered in vomit and filth illustrates the spiritual decay and moral corruption that have overcome the religious leaders.

Isaiah 28:9-10 “Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!”

• In Isaiah 28:9-10, it describes a situation where people are mocking the prophet, suggesting that his teachings are so simple and repetitive that it’s as if he is addressing children who have just been weaned from their milk. They are essentially making fun of the way he conveys his message

Isaiah 28:11-13
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.

• It appears that the passage in Isaiah 28:11-13 is a response to those who were mocking Prophet Isaiah. In response, God is going to reveal a form of divine revelation, somewhat like teaching young children. This revelation will involve God communicating with the people in foreign lips and strange tongues, which suggests a unique divine message. The passage warns that if they don’t heed this revelation, they will face consequences, such as falling backward, being injured, snared, and captured.

The Repetitive Phrase in Isaiah 28:10 and 13

What does what the King James rendered as “precept upon precept” really mean, then? Well, in Hebrew the phrase in Isaiah 28 verses 10 and 13 is: “sav lasav sav lasav, kav lakav kav lakav” ( Translit qav Phonetics kav, kawv) as can be seen in the footnotes of most modern Bibles. The phrase appears to be mere gobbledygook, a mockery of the prophet’s words, which we will see in context momentarily. To have translated this gibberish was extremely daffy, but the KJV translators set an unfortunate precedent. Isaiah 28:11-13 It suggests that because some people were mocking Isaiah’s teachings and finding fault with the simplicity of his message, God has decided to deliver a similar message in a different and more mysterious way.

Reference: Precept Upon Precept

Reference: Isaiah 28:7-13 – Footnotes

Prophicy of Isaiah 28:7-13 Brigham Young University’s Religion Center

The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew phrase ṣaw lāṣāw ṣaw lāṣāw qaw lāqāw qaw lāqāw, translated as “precept upon precept; line upon line” in the KJV (Isaiah 28:10, 13), is widely debated among scholars. For example, by giving a different vocalization to the Hebrew letters of the text than does the KJV, Kennett suggests that the words are actually a parody of a schoolteacher giving a simple spelling lesson to little children. He sees the teacher explaining to the children that ṣadeh (צ) and waw (ו) spell ṣaw (צו), repeating it twice, and that qoph (ק) and waw (ו) spell qaw (קו), again repeating it twice. Hallo, on the other hand, finds evidence in Ugaritic abecedaries[4] indicating to him that the original names of the Hebrew letters ṣadeh and qoph may have simply been ṣaw and qaw. Rather than a spelling lesson, Hallo appears to see the phrase as an attempt to mimic a schoolmaster trying to teach children the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, ṣadeh and qoph, using their original names, ṣaw and qaw. Thus, he renders verse 10, “For it is ṣaw for ṣaw, ṣaw for ṣaw, qaw for qaw, qaw for qaw.” Watts points out how incoherent such a lesson would be when taught by a drunken teacher, This interpretation continues with the warning that those who “would not hear” will not enjoy God’s rest but would find God speaking with “stammering lips and another tongue” and ultimately “fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken” (Isaiah 28:11–13)

The Meaning of Kav

The Meaning of Sadeh

The Meaning of Qoph

Isaiah 29:12-19
Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.” Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know? You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”? [Is] it not, yet a little while very and shall be turned, Lebanon, into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field, be esteemed, On that day the deaf will hear the words of the Book, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see, Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel Jacob.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3
The angel Gabriel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “I do not know how to read.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?’ Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, ‘Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists ), created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” (Quran 96.1, 96.2, 96.3).

Fulfillment of of Isaiah 28:7-13 Prophicy

Quran 2:1-2
Alif, Lam, Meem. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah –

Quran 19:1 | Isaiah 28:13
Kãf-Ha-Ya-’Aĩn- Ṣãd.

Quran 50:1 | Isaiah 28:13
Qãf. By the glorious Quran!

Qur’an 38:1 | Isaiah 28:13
Ṣãd. By the Quran, full of reminders!

Quran 16:103 | Isaiah 28:11 
[So] We certainly know that they say, “It is only a human being who teaches the prophet.” The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and [this Qur’an] is [in] a clear Arabic language.

Quran 41:2-4 | Isaiah 28:11 
[So This is] a revelation from the Gracious, the Merciful – a Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’an for a people who know, as a giver of good news and a warner; but most of them turn away, so they do not hear.

Quran 9:124-25 | Isaiah 28:13
And whenever a surah is revealed, there are among the hypocrites those who say, “Which of you has this increased faith?” As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing. But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.

Quran 2:142
The foolish among the people will say, “What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?” Say, “To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path.”

Quran 16:101-2
And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse – and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down – they say, “You, [O Muhammad], are but an inventor [of lies].” But most of them do not know. Say, [O Muhammad], “The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims.”

Quran 28:48
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, “Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?” Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, “[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers.”

Quran 2:90
How wretched is that for which they sold themselves – that they would disbelieve in what Allah has revealed through [their] outrage that Allah would send down His favor upon whom He wills from among His servants. So they returned having [earned] wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.

• Isaiah 28:13
  So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there— so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.

Qur’an 33:26-27 | Isaiah 28:13
And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts [so that] a party you killed, and you took captive a party. And He caused you to inherit their land and their homes and their properties and a land which you have not trodden. And ever is Allah , over all things, competent.

Quran 25:29 | Isaiah 28:11-13
And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.

Quran 7:157
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful.

Isaiah 28:15-17
You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place, So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(16) Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation
So in Zion the foundation stone was laid, as witnessed in the Arabic name of the Mosque of Omar (Kubhet-es-Sakhra),(i.e., “dome of the rock”), on the solid rock. In the stone which was made “the head of the corner” (Psalm 118:22) we have a like thought. From the prophet’s stand-point this was identical with the manifestation of Jehovah’s righteousness in and through the Temple in its higher spiritual aspect. Christian interpreters have rightly found the true fulfilment of the words in the person of the Christ.

Quran 17:1
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

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