Isaiah 28:11

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

For with stammering {H3934} lips {H8193} and another {H312} tongue {H3956} will he speak {H1696} to this people {H5971}.

So with stammering lips, in a foreign accent, [ADONAI] will speak to this people.

Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people

Nay, but bymen of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people;

Isaiah 28:11 is a prophetic statement delivered by the prophet Isaiah concerning God's communication with His rebellious people, particularly the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Judah. This verse follows a section where the religious leaders and people of Israel are condemned for their spiritual drunkenness, scoffing at God's clear, simple instructions given through His prophets, viewing them as childish babbling.

Context

The immediate historical context of Isaiah 28 is a period of spiritual decline and political instability in both Israel and Judah. The northern kingdom, Ephraim (whose capital was Samaria), was particularly steeped in idolatry and moral decay. They had rejected the plain teachings of God's law and His prophets, mocking the divine message as if it were incoherent commands for infants. In response to their stubborn refusal to listen, God declares that He will indeed speak to them, but not in the comforting, understandable Hebrew of His prophets. Instead, He will speak through a harsh, foreign language, symbolizing the impending judgment and invasion by foreign powers.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The "stammering lips and another tongue" primarily refer to the foreign language of the invading Assyrian army. Because Israel refused to heed God's clear warnings and invitations to repentance, God would use a foreign nation to execute His judgment. The sound of their conquerors would be God's "voice" to them, a terrifying and incomprehensible message of defeat and exile. This highlights the severe consequences of persistent disobedience.
  • Rejection of God's Clear Word: The verse underscores the tragic outcome of rejecting God's straightforward communication. When His people refused to listen to the prophets speaking in their own tongue, God would speak through a means they could not understand, signifying their spiritual blindness and impending doom. This serves as a solemn warning about the importance of heeding divine instruction and the danger of spiritual arrogance.
  • Fulfillment in the New Testament: The Apostle Paul quotes this verse in 1 Corinthians 14:21 when discussing the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Paul uses it to illustrate that while tongues can be a sign for unbelievers, if not interpreted, they can serve as a sign of judgment, much like the foreign tongues of invaders were a sign of judgment for ancient Israel. It underscores that God can speak in ways that are either a blessing or a sign of judgment, depending on the hearer's heart.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "stammering lips" (Hebrew: lag lašon) and "another tongue" (Hebrew: 'aḥer lašon) vividly conveys the idea of an alien, unintelligible language. It suggests a speech that is difficult to understand, perhaps even mocking or threatening. This is not merely about a language barrier; it implies a breakdown in communication that is a direct result of Israel's spiritual deafness. The very words that should have brought comfort and guidance would become a source of confusion and dread, signifying the loss of divine favor and the impending Assyrian conquest and exile.

Practical Application

Isaiah 28:11 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of spiritual stubbornness. It teaches us that when we refuse to listen to God's clear voice through His Word and His messengers, He may speak to us in ways that are less desirable or even through difficult circumstances. It emphasizes the need for humility and a receptive heart to God's truth. Today, Christians are called to attentively hear and obey God's Word, ensuring that His message remains a source of life and guidance, not a perplexing sign of judgment. We are encouraged to seek understanding through the Holy Spirit and embrace the clear revelation provided in Scripture, lest we find ourselves in a similar state of spiritual confusion.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:21

    ¶ In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

  • Deuteronomy 28:49

    The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

  • Isaiah 33:19

    Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, [that thou canst] not understand.

  • Jeremiah 5:15

    Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it [is] a mighty nation, it [is] an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

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