Isaiah 28:26

KJV

For his God doth instruct him to discretion, [and] doth teach him.

KJV (with Strong's)

For his God {H430} doth instruct {H3256} him to discretion {H4941}, and doth teach {H3384} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

because his God has taught him this, has given him instruction.

Berean Standard Bible

For his God instructs and teaches him properly.

American Standard Version

For his God doth instruct him aright, and doth teach him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 28:26 encapsulates a profound theological truth within an agricultural analogy, revealing that the farmer's practical wisdom and discerning skill in cultivating the land do not originate from human ingenuity alone, but are divinely imparted. This verse serves as a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty, not only over grand cosmic affairs but also over the mundane and practical aspects of daily life, affirming Him as the ultimate source of all true instruction, judgment, and discernment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 28 opens with a scathing indictment against the proud and drunken leaders of Ephraim, the northern kingdom of Israel, highlighting their spiritual blindness and impending judgment. The prophet contrasts their foolishness with God's steadfast wisdom and His promise of a sure foundation in Zion, a "precious cornerstone" for those who believe (see [Isaiah 28:16](/isaiah/28-16 "Isaiah 28:16 - The Cornerstone of Zion")). Following this severe pronouncement, Isaiah shifts abruptly in verses 23-29 to an extended agricultural parable. This analogy serves to illustrate God's wise and varied dealings with His people, much like a skilled farmer employs diverse methods for different crops and stages of cultivation. The farmer's methodical approach—plowing, sowing various seeds, and threshing grains with appropriate tools—is presented as a model of divine wisdom. Verse 26 directly attributes this practical wisdom, which enables the farmer to exercise "discretion" and "teach" others, to God Himself, thereby linking the earthly wisdom of the farmer to the divine wisdom of the Creator.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was primarily an agrarian society, where farming practices were central to life and survival. The annual cycle of plowing, sowing, and harvesting was deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric and often served as a rich source of metaphors for spiritual truths. Farmers needed immense practical knowledge, passed down through generations, about soil types, weather patterns, seed varieties, and the appropriate tools and techniques for each stage of cultivation and each type of grain. This knowledge was not merely empirical but was often seen as a gift from God, who controlled the seasons and the fertility of the land (cf. [Deuteronomy 11:14](/deuteronomy/11-14 "Deuteronomy 11:14 - God Provides Rain")). In a broader sense, the ancient Near East often viewed wisdom as emanating from the gods. Isaiah's declaration that "his God" instructs the farmer directly challenges any notion of purely human-derived wisdom, emphasizing Yahweh's unique role as the ultimate instructor and source of all practical and spiritual discernment. This context underscores the radical nature of attributing such practical skills directly to divine instruction, elevating the seemingly mundane to a sphere of divine providence.

* **Key Themes:** The verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah and biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the theme of **Divine Wisdom and Sovereignty**. God is presented not merely as a distant ruler but as the active, intimate instructor who imparts practical wisdom for daily tasks, demonstrating His comprehensive sovereignty over all aspects of creation and human endeavor. This contrasts sharply with the foolishness of the proud leaders condemned earlier in the chapter (cf. [Isaiah 28:7-8](/isaiah/28-7 "Isaiah 28:7-8 - Drunken Priests and Prophets")). Secondly, the passage highlights **God as the Ultimate Teacher**. The verbs "instruct" and "teach" emphasize God's active role in guiding humanity, not just through explicit revelation but also through the natural order and the development of practical skills. This teaching leads to "discretion," which is a key element of the third theme: **Discretion, Discernment, and Justice**. The Hebrew term for discretion, *mishpat*, carries connotations of right judgment and justice, implying that God's instruction enables one to act appropriately and justly in all circumstances, whether in farming or in governing. This divine imparting of wisdom is essential for navigating life's complexities and ensuring righteous conduct, a quality sorely lacking in the leaders Isaiah condemns.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** This term (H430) is the plural form of *ʼĕlôah*, often translated as "God" and specifically used in the plural to refer to the supreme God, Yahweh, especially when accompanied by the definite article. In this context, "his God" emphasizes a personal relationship and the specific divine source of the farmer's wisdom. It underscores that the instruction comes from the one true, sovereign God, not from human ingenuity or pagan deities.
* **instruct (Hebrew, _yâçar'_):** The root *yâçar* (H3256) implies a process of discipline, chastisement, or correction, which leads to instruction. It suggests a formative teaching that shapes character and behavior, often through experience or even hardship. Here, it indicates that God's teaching is not merely intellectual but involves a molding and guiding process that leads to practical skill and sound judgment.
* **discretion (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** This powerful word (H4941) means "judgment," "justice," or "discernment." It signifies a verdict, a formal decree, or the act of judging. In this agricultural context, it refers to the farmer's judicious application of appropriate techniques—knowing when to plow, when to sow, what seed to use, and how to thresh. It implies the ability to make sound, righteous decisions based on divine wisdom, ensuring the proper order and execution of tasks.
* **teach (Hebrew, _yârâh'_):** The root *yârâh* (H3384) primarily means "to flow as water" or "to shoot" (as an arrow), but figuratively it means "to point out" or "to teach." This verb reinforces the idea of imparting knowledge and skill, specifically the practical guidance needed for effective action. It complements *yâçar* by emphasizing the direct impartation of knowledge that leads to practical application and understanding.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For his God doth instruct him to discretion":** This clause establishes the divine origin of the farmer's practical wisdom. The farmer's ability to make wise, discerning judgments (*mishpat*) in his agricultural tasks—knowing the right time and method for each activity—is not an innate human capacity but a direct result of God's formative instruction (*yâçar*). This instruction implies a process of guidance and discipline that shapes the farmer's understanding and decision-making.
* **"and doth teach him":** This second clause reiterates and reinforces the first, emphasizing the active and ongoing nature of God's role as a teacher. The verb "teach" (*yârâh*) highlights the imparting of specific knowledge and practical skills, indicating that God provides the necessary understanding and guidance for the farmer to perform his duties effectively. Together, the two clauses underscore the comprehensive nature of divine instruction, encompassing both the shaping of character (discretion) and the imparting of practical knowledge.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Isaiah 28:23-29, and specifically highlighted in verse 26, is an **Analogy** or **Parable**. The prophet uses the familiar and relatable example of a farmer's skilled agricultural practices to illustrate God's own wise, discerning, and varied dealings with His people. Just as the farmer knows the precise methods for different crops and stages, so too does God exercise perfect wisdom in His plans, judgments, and instruction. This analogy serves to make abstract theological truths concrete and understandable. Furthermore, there is an element of **Personification** in attributing the farmer's wisdom directly to God's active "instruction" and "teaching." While God is indeed the ultimate source of wisdom, the phrasing here makes His role as a divine mentor particularly vivid and personal. The passage also employs **Contrast**, implicitly comparing the divinely-imparted wisdom of the farmer with the foolishness and lack of discernment displayed by the proud leaders of Ephraim, who are rebuked at the beginning of the chapter.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 28:26 profoundly asserts God's immanence and active involvement in the practical affairs of human life, challenging the notion that divine wisdom is limited to spiritual or theological matters. It reveals that the very skills and discernment needed for mundane tasks, like farming, are gifts from God, underscoring His comprehensive sovereignty and His role as the ultimate source of all knowledge and understanding. This perspective elevates daily work to a sphere where divine instruction is sought and received, transforming labor into an act of worship and dependence on the Creator. It teaches us that true wisdom for living, whether in grand decisions or simple tasks, flows from a relationship with "his God."

* [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - The Lord Gives Wisdom") declares, "For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
* [James 1:5](/james/1-5 "James 1:5 - Asking for Wisdom") encourages believers, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
* [Psalm 119:99](/psalms/119-99 "Psalm 119:99 - Understanding from God's Testimonies") states, "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 28:26 offers a powerful and comforting truth for contemporary believers: our God is intimately involved in every facet of our lives, eager to impart wisdom and discretion for even the most practical and seemingly ordinary tasks. In a world that often prizes self-reliance and human ingenuity, this verse calls us back to a posture of humble dependence on the divine instructor. Whether we are navigating complex professional challenges, managing family dynamics, making financial decisions, or simply striving to live wisely day by day, we are not left to our own limited understanding. Instead, we are invited to seek God's guidance, trusting that He will "instruct us to discretion" and "teach us" the way we should go. This encourages a life of constant prayer, diligent study of His Word, and attentiveness to His Spirit, recognizing that true success and flourishing come from aligning our actions with His perfect wisdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you most need God's "discretion" and "instruction" right now?**
* **How does recognizing God as the source of practical wisdom change your approach to daily tasks and decision-making?**
* **What specific steps can you take to more intentionally seek God's instruction and teaching in your life?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean that God directly teaches everyone how to do their job, like farming?**

Answer: While Isaiah 28:26 uses the specific example of a farmer, its theological principle extends beyond agriculture. It means that all genuine wisdom, skill, and discernment, whether for practical tasks like farming, for leadership, or for navigating daily life, ultimately originate from God. He imparts this wisdom through various means: through the natural order He established, through the human capacity for learning and experience He endowed, through His Word, and through the guidance of His Spirit. So, while God may not give a direct, audible lesson on how to operate a tractor, He is the ultimate source of the intelligence, discernment, and knowledge that enable a person to learn and master such a skill. It's about recognizing divine providence and instruction in all areas of life, as seen in passages like [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - The Lord Gives Wisdom") or [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God Gives Wisdom and Knowledge").

**How does "discretion" relate to "justice" or "judgment" in this context?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "discretion" is *mishpat* (H4941), which indeed carries a broad range of meanings including "judgment," "justice," "ordinance," and "custom." In the context of Isaiah 28, particularly with the farmer analogy, *mishpat* refers to the practical wisdom of knowing the right, appropriate, or just way to do something. For the farmer, it's about applying the correct technique for each crop and stage of cultivation—the "just" or "proper" way to plow, sow, and thresh. This is a form of practical justice, ensuring that actions are aligned with what is right and effective for the desired outcome. The prophet is highlighting that this discernment, this ability to make sound and appropriate judgments in practical matters, is divinely taught. It's the application of wisdom that leads to righteous and effective action, whether in the field or in the courtroom, as God's law (also *mishpat*) provides the framework for righteous living (see [Deuteronomy 4:8](/deuteronomy/4-8 "Deuteronomy 4:8 - God's Righteous Statutes and Judgments")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 28:26, with its emphasis on divine instruction leading to discretion and wisdom, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment and source of God's wisdom. While the Old Testament farmer receives practical wisdom for his earthly tasks, Christ is the One through whom all wisdom and knowledge are ultimately revealed and imparted for eternal life. He is depicted as the "wisdom of God" (see [1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Wisdom of God")), and in Him are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (as declared in [Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ Are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")). Just as God instructed the farmer to discretion, so too does the Holy Spirit, sent by Christ, guide believers into all truth and impart spiritual discernment (refer to [John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth Guides") and [1 Corinthians 2:10-16](/1_corinthians/2-10 "1 Corinthians 2:10-16 - The Spirit Searches All Things")). Through Christ, believers are not only taught practical wisdom for earthly living but are also given the ultimate discretion to discern spiritual truths, understand God's will, and live lives that reflect His righteousness, thereby fulfilling the promise of divine instruction in a profound and eternal way.

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

Exodus 36:2

And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, [even] every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

Exodus 31:3

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

Exodus 31:6

And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Job 35:11

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?

Daniel 1:17

¶ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Job 39:17

Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

Exodus 28:3

And thou shalt speak unto all [that are] wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.