Isaiah 28:23

¶ Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

Give ye ear {H238}, and hear {H8085} my voice {H6963}; hearken {H7181}, and hear {H8085} my speech {H565}.

Listen and hear my voice; pay attention, and hear what I say:

Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.

Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.

Isaiah 28:23 serves as an urgent and emphatic call to attention from the prophet Isaiah, urging his audience to listen intently to the divine message that is about to be delivered. The repetitive phrasing underscores the critical importance of what follows, signaling a pivotal moment of instruction from God.

Context

This verse appears within a larger section of Isaiah (chapters 28-33) where the prophet pronounces "woes" upon various nations and, significantly, upon the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem). The preceding verses in Isaiah 28 detail God's judgment against their pride, spiritual drunkenness, and their reliance on human alliances rather than on Him. Amidst these pronouncements of judgment and warnings, verse 23 marks a transition. It introduces a parable-like section (verses 24-29) that illustrates God's wisdom and orderly ways through the analogy of a farmer's careful and measured work. This call to listen, therefore, prepares the audience to receive a deeper understanding of God's sovereign control and purposeful actions, even in judgment.

Key Themes

  • The Imperative to Listen: The repeated commands—"Give ye ear," "hear my voice," "hearken," and "hear my speech"—highlight the vital necessity of spiritual attentiveness. God is not merely speaking; He demands a receptive and engaged audience for His truth. This echoes the fundamental command to "Hear, O Israel" found throughout the Law.
  • Divine Authority and Wisdom: The voice and speech are God's own, emphasizing His ultimate authority as the source of all true wisdom and instruction. The subsequent agricultural analogy demonstrates that God operates with a deliberate, wise, and purposeful plan, unlike the chaotic behavior of those He is judging.
  • Preparation for Understanding: This verse serves as a crucial preface, preparing the hearts and minds of the listeners to grasp the profound truths about divine wisdom and justice that will be revealed in the following verses, particularly the parable of the farmer's measured work.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text employs powerful parallelism and repetition to convey urgency. "Give ye ear" (ha'azinu) and "hearken" (qishvu) both convey the idea of listening intently, paying close attention. Similarly, "hear my voice" (shimu qoli) and "hear my speech" (ha'azinu imrati) reinforce the command to receive and understand the divine message. This poetic structure is designed to penetrate the listener's indifference and compel them to focus on the words of the prophet, which are, in essence, the words of God.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 28:23 is a timeless reminder of the importance of truly listening to God. In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, this verse challenges us to cultivate a posture of spiritual attentiveness. It encourages us to:

  • Prioritize God's Word: Just as God demanded full attention then, He calls us to diligently engage with His Scriptures and prayer.
  • Seek Discernment: Understanding God's "speech" requires not just hearing words, but discerning His will and wisdom in our lives. This aligns with Jesus' teaching that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.
  • Be Receptive to Instruction: God's messages, whether through His Word, prayer, or circumstances, are always for our instruction and growth. Like the soil in the Parable of the Sower, our hearts must be prepared to receive and bear fruit.

Ultimately, this verse is an invitation to lean in, quiet the noise, and hear what the Lord has to say, recognizing that His words are always purposeful, wise, and essential for our spiritual well-being.

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.

  • Jeremiah 22:29

    O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

  • Isaiah 1:2

    ¶ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

  • Revelation 2:29

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  • Revelation 2:11

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

  • Revelation 2:14

    But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

  • Revelation 2:7

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

  • Deuteronomy 32:1

    ¶ Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

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