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Isaiah 28:17

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Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Judgment {H4941} also will I lay {H7760} to the line {H6957}, and righteousness {H6666} to the plummet {H4949}: and the hail {H1259} shall sweep away {H3261} the refuge {H4268} of lies {H3577}, and the waters {H4325} shall overflow {H7857} the hiding place {H5643}.

I will make justice the plumbline and righteousness the plumb-bob; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, water will overflow the hiding place,

I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.

And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

Commentary

Isaiah 28:17 powerfully declares God's unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness, contrasting it with the futility of human deception and false security. This verse is part of a larger prophetic message concerning judgment on both the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah, who had turned away from God and sought refuge in alliances and lies rather than in Him.

Context

This verse follows a stern warning against the leaders of Judah who boasted of having made a "covenant with death" and an "agreement with hell," believing they were immune to judgment because of their deceptive schemes. God, through Isaiah, exposes the emptiness of their confidence. Immediately preceding this verse, Isaiah 28:16 introduces the precious cornerstone that God Himself lays in Zion, a foundational truth often understood as a prophecy pointing to Jesus Christ. Verse 17 then reveals the divine response to those who reject this true foundation and instead build on falsehoods.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Precision: The imagery of the "line" (קו - qav) and "plummet" (משקלת - mishqeleth) signifies God's exact and unbending standards. Just as a builder uses these tools for accuracy, so God's judgment is not arbitrary but perfectly measured by His holy character. This speaks to God's absolute righteousness and justice, which form the foundation of His throne.
  • Exposure of False Security: The "refuge of lies" and "hiding place" represent any human-devised means of protection or escape that contradicts God's truth. This could include political alliances, deceptive practices, idolatry, or self-righteousness. God declares that these will be utterly swept away by His judgment, symbolized by the destructive power of "hail" and "overflowing waters."
  • Inevitability of Judgment: The vivid natural imagery of "hail" and "waters" underscores the overwhelming and inescapable nature of divine judgment when people persist in rebellion and trust in deceit. What humanity constructs as a safe haven apart from God will prove to be a flimsy shelter against His righteous wrath.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for "line" (qav) and "plummet" (mishqeleth) are architectural instruments used to ensure straightness and vertical alignment. Their use here emphasizes the meticulous and unchanging nature of God's moral and judicial standards. The phrase "refuge of lies" (מחסֶה כָזָב - machaseh kazav) powerfully conveys the deceptive and ultimately unreliable nature of any trust placed outside of God.

Practical Application

Isaiah 28:17 serves as a timeless warning and a call to introspection. It challenges us to examine what we are building our lives upon. Are we relying on our own cunning, fleeting trends, human institutions, or material wealth as our "hiding place"? Or are we building on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ, the true cornerstone? This verse reminds us that God's standards are unwavering, and ultimately, only truth and righteousness can stand the test of His divine scrutiny. It encourages repentance and a genuine trust in God's provision and protection, rather than in any "refuge of lies."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 21:13 (6 votes)

    And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as [a man] wipeth a dish, wiping [it], and turning [it] upside down.

  • Amos 7:7 (4 votes)

    Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall [made] by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

  • Amos 7:9 (4 votes)

    And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

  • Revelation 16:21 (4 votes)

    And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

  • Jeremiah 7:14 (3 votes)

    Therefore will I do unto [this] house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.

  • Romans 2:2 (3 votes)

    But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

  • Romans 2:5 (3 votes)

    But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;