Isaiah 28:11

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 28:11 is a stark prophetic declaration by God through Isaiah, announcing that because the people of Israel, particularly the scoffing leaders of Jerusalem and Ephraim, have stubbornly refused to heed His clear, simple instructions delivered through His prophets, He will now communicate with them through the harsh, unintelligible language of foreign invaders. This "stammering lips and another tongue" symbolizes the impending divine judgment and the terrifying reality of conquest and exile by the Assyrian empire, serving as a direct consequence of their spiritual deafness and rebellion against God's plain truth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a series of "woe" oracles in Isaiah 28, specifically targeting the spiritual drunkenness and arrogance of the leaders of Ephraim (the northern kingdom, Israel) and Judah. Verses 9-10 immediately precede our text, depicting the leaders mocking Isaiah's prophetic messages, dismissing them as childish babble—"precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little." Their contempt for God's clear revelation through His prophets sets the stage for God's response in verse 11: since they refuse to understand His simple, understandable Hebrew, He will speak to them in a way they *cannot* understand, through the alien tongues of their conquerors. This serves as a divine counter-mockery and a declaration of impending judgment, emphasizing the principle that rejection of divine truth leads to incomprehensible divine judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah prophesied during a turbulent period in the 8th century BCE, witnessing the decline and eventual fall of the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) to Assyria in 722 BCE, and the ongoing threat to the southern kingdom of Judah. The leaders of both kingdoms were characterized by spiritual apathy, idolatry, and a reliance on political alliances rather than on God. Culturally, the people were accustomed to the prophetic voice speaking in their native Hebrew, delivering God's covenant warnings and promises. The threat of foreign invasion, particularly from the formidable Assyrian empire known for its brutal conquests and policy of deportation, was a terrifying prospect. For God to declare He would speak through "another tongue" would immediately evoke the terrifying sound of Assyrian soldiers, whose language and customs were utterly alien and hostile, signifying the loss of national sovereignty and divine protection. This was a direct consequence of their failure to uphold the [Mosaic Covenant](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses of the Covenant").
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 28:11 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Isaiah. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty**. God is not merely reacting to Israel's sin; He is actively orchestrating their judgment, using foreign nations as instruments of His righteous wrath, demonstrating His absolute control over history and nations. Secondly, it underscores the **Consequences of Rejecting God's Word**. The verse vividly illustrates that persistent spiritual rebellion and scoffing at divine revelation lead to severe, often incomprehensible, consequences. Because they scorned the clear voice of the prophets, they would hear the terrifying voice of their oppressors. This theme is echoed throughout the prophetic literature, such as in [Jeremiah's warnings](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon") to Judah. Thirdly, it touches upon the **Nature of Prophetic Communication**. While God desires to speak clearly and simply, as seen in the "precept upon precept" style, He is also capable of speaking through circumstances and judgment when His direct words are ignored. This foreshadows how God might communicate in ways that are a sign of judgment for unbelief, as later referenced in [the New Testament](/1_corinthians/14-21 "1 Corinthians 14:21 - Paul's use of Isaiah 28:11 regarding tongues").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **stammering (Hebrew, _lâʻêg'_):** This word, derived from a root meaning "to mock" or "to stammer," signifies something unintelligible, foreign, or even contemptuous. In this context, it describes a speech that is not only difficult to understand but also carries an element of ridicule or hostility, reflecting the contempt the Israelites showed towards God's clear message. It implies a communication that is alien and disorienting, a direct contrast to the clear, simple instructions they had rejected.
* **another (Hebrew, _ʼachêr'_):** This term simply means "other" or "different." When combined with "tongue," it emphasizes the foreignness and alien nature of the language. It's not just a different dialect, but a completely distinct linguistic system, signifying a profound cultural and national divide. This "otherness" underscores the severity of the impending judgment, as it represents an external, hostile force that will overwhelm them.
* **speak (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** This fundamental Hebrew verb means "to speak," "to declare," or "to command." Its use here is ironic and powerful. God, who has consistently "spoken" to His people through His prophets in their own language, will now "speak" to them through the terrifying medium of a foreign tongue. This highlights God's active role in bringing about the judgment, transforming the very act of communication from one of instruction and warning into one of punishment and conquest.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For with stammering lips and another tongue":** This phrase describes the *manner* of God's future communication. "Stammering lips" (לַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה, _laʻagê sâphâh_) refers to speech that is unclear, foreign, or even mocking, while "another tongue" (וְלָשׁוֹן אַחֶרֶת, _wəlâšôwn ʼaḥeret_) explicitly identifies it as a foreign language. This is a powerful **metonymy**, where the foreign language itself stands for the foreign people who speak it, specifically the invading Assyrians. The very sound of their language, unintelligible and threatening, would be God's "voice" of judgment to a people who had refused to listen to His clear voice. It signifies a breakdown in communication, not because God is unclear, but because the people have become spiritually deaf.
* **"will he speak to this people":** This clause identifies the *agent* and the *recipient* of this communication. "He" refers to God, indicating His divine initiative and sovereignty in bringing this judgment. "This people" refers to the Israelites, particularly the leaders and inhabitants of Judah and Ephraim, who had consistently rejected God's prophetic warnings. The passive voice of "will he speak" (יְדַבֵּר, _yədaḇḇêr_) implies that this is a divinely ordained action, a direct consequence of their rebellion. God's speaking, once a source of life and guidance, now becomes a terrifying pronouncement of their impending doom, delivered not through comforting words but through the harsh realities of invasion and exile.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 28:11 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment. **Metonymy** is prominent, as "stammering lips and another tongue" stands for the foreign invaders themselves, particularly the Assyrians. The unintelligible language is a stand-in for the terrifying reality of their conquest. There is also profound **Irony** at play: because the people mocked God's clear, simple instructions as "babbling" fit for infants (Isaiah 28:9-10), God declares He will indeed speak to them in a "babbling" foreign tongue—a terrifying reversal where their scorn becomes their judgment. This serves as a divine counter-mockery. Furthermore, the verse uses **Symbolism**, where the foreign tongue symbolizes not just an alien language, but the loss of divine favor, the breakdown of the covenant relationship, and the impending national catastrophe of invasion, defeat, and exile. The very sound of the foreign language becomes a tangible sign of God's wrath and the consequences of spiritual rebellion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 28:11 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine communication, judgment, and the consequences of human rebellion. It underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even when it involves bringing disciplinary judgment upon His unfaithful people. The principle is clear: when God's clear and simple word is rejected, He may resort to more severe, even incomprehensible, forms of communication to get His people's attention, often through the instrument of suffering or foreign powers. This passage highlights God's sovereignty over history and nations, using even pagan empires to accomplish His righteous purposes. It also implicitly teaches the importance of humility and responsiveness to divine revelation, as spiritual deafness ultimately leads to a terrifying reality where God's voice is heard in the roar of an enemy.

* [Deuteronomy 28:49](/deuteronomy/28-49 "Deuteronomy 28:49 - Prophecy of Foreign Invasion")
* [Jeremiah 5:15](/jeremiah/5-15 "Jeremiah 5:15 - God's Judgment through a Foreign Nation")
* [1 Corinthians 14:21-22](/1_corinthians/14-21 "1 Corinthians 14:21-22 - Paul's Application of Isaiah 28:11 to Tongues")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 28:11 stands as a solemn warning to all generations about the perils of spiritual arrogance and the refusal to heed God's clear voice. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we truly listening to God's Word, or are we dismissing it as irrelevant, simplistic, or inconvenient? When we become spiritually deaf to the plain truths of Scripture and the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit, we risk a harsher, less desirable form of divine communication—one that may come through difficult circumstances, painful consequences, or even the "foreign tongues" of life's trials. This verse calls us to cultivate a posture of humility and receptivity, recognizing that God's Word, though sometimes challenging, is always for our good. It reminds us that consistent rejection of light leads to greater darkness, and that true wisdom lies in embracing God's revealed truth with an open heart and obedient spirit, ensuring that His voice remains a source of life and guidance, not a perplexing sign of judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually deaf or resistant to God's clear Word?**
* **How do I respond when God's message feels "simple" or "repetitive"? Do I dismiss it, or do I seek deeper obedience?**
* **Can I identify times when God might have "spoken" to me through difficult circumstances because I wasn't listening to His direct instruction?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more humble and receptive heart to God's truth daily?**

### FAQ
**What does "stammering lips and another tongue" literally refer to in Isaiah's time?**

Answer: In the immediate historical context of Isaiah 28:11, "stammering lips and another tongue" literally refers to the foreign language spoken by the invading Assyrian army. Because the people of Israel and Judah had mocked and rejected God's clear, understandable messages delivered by His Hebrew-speaking prophets, God declared that He would speak to them through the unintelligible and terrifying sounds of their conquerors. This was a direct sign of divine judgment and the impending reality of invasion and exile, as prophesied throughout Isaiah (e.g., [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-6 - Assyria as God's Instrument")).

**How does the Apostle Paul use Isaiah 28:11 in 1 Corinthians 14:21?**

Answer: The Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11 in [1 Corinthians 14:21](/1_corinthians/14-21 "1 Corinthians 14:21 - Paul's use of Isaiah 28:11 regarding tongues") within his discussion on the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Paul uses the Old Testament passage to illustrate that tongues, particularly uninterpreted tongues, can serve as a sign of judgment for unbelievers. Just as God spoke through foreign tongues (the Assyrians) as a sign of judgment to disobedient Israel, so too can the uninterpreted phenomenon of tongues be a sign to those who do not believe, indicating God's dealings with them. Paul emphasizes that while tongues are a sign, prophecy (speaking in an understandable language) is more beneficial for the church's edification because it leads to understanding and conviction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 28:11 primarily speaks to God's judgment upon rebellious Israel through foreign invaders, its deeper Christ-centered fulfillment reveals profound truths about God's communication and humanity's response to His ultimate Word. Jesus Christ is the **Logos**, the very Word of God made flesh, through whom God has spoken most clearly and definitively (e.g., [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh") and [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son")). Yet, just as ancient Israel rejected the clear voice of the prophets, so too did many in Israel reject the plain and powerful words of Jesus, the Son of God, dismissing Him and His message (e.g., [John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). Their spiritual deafness to the Messiah's voice ultimately led to a form of "stammering lips and another tongue" as judgment, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, a foreign power whose language and customs were alien, much like the Assyrians of Isaiah's day.

However, in a beautiful redemptive paradox, the "other tongues" also find a positive fulfillment in the New Covenant. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowered believers to speak in "other tongues" (languages) understood by the diverse crowd, reversing the curse of Babel and signifying the universal reach of the Gospel (e.g., [Acts 2:4-11](/acts/2-4 "Acts 2:4-11 - Speaking in Tongues at Pentecost")). This outpouring of the Spirit on all nations, breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers, is God's ultimate clear communication of salvation to "this people" (humanity) through Christ. Yet, as Paul highlights in [1 Corinthians 14:21-22](/1_corinthians/14-21 "1 Corinthians 14:21-22 - Paul's Application of Isaiah 28:11 to Tongues"), even these Spirit-empowered "other tongues" can serve as a sign of judgment for unbelievers who refuse to listen, much like the foreign tongues of invaders. Ultimately, Isaiah 28:11 foreshadows that rejection of God's clear revelation in Christ will lead to a terrifying encounter with divine judgment, but for those who embrace Him, His "tongue" is one of grace and salvation, understood by all who believe.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.