Isaiah 28:27

KJV

For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

KJV (with Strong's)

For the fitches {H7100} are not threshed {H1758} with a threshing instrument {H2742}, neither is a cart {H5699} wheel {H212} turned about {H5437} upon the cummin {H3646}; but the fitches {H7100} are beaten out {H2251} with a staff {H4294}, and the cummin {H3646} with a rod {H7626}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Dill must not be threshed with a sledge or cartwheels driven over cumin; rather, dill one beats with a stick and cumin with a flail.

Berean Standard Bible

Surely caraway is not threshed with a sledge, and the wheel of a cart is not rolled over the cumin. But caraway is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod.

American Standard Version

For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 28:27 employs a profound agricultural analogy to illuminate God's perfect wisdom and meticulous precision in His dealings with humanity, particularly concerning His divine discipline and judgment. Just as a discerning farmer wisely selects appropriate tools and methods for threshing diverse crops—applying gentler techniques for delicate seeds like fitches and cummin, and heavier implements for more robust grains—so too does the Lord administer His sovereign purposes with unparalleled discernment, never employing a uniform approach but always acting with tailored wisdom to achieve His intended outcome of refinement and purification rather than destruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is intricately woven into a significant prophetic section of Isaiah (chapters 28-33), often characterized by a series of "Woes" pronounced against Israel and Judah. Isaiah 28 opens with a severe rebuke directed at Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom) for its spiritual arrogance and moral decay, followed by a stern warning to Jerusalem (the Southern Kingdom) for its misguided reliance on human alliances and its rejection of God's incremental, patient teaching, described as "precept upon precept, line upon line" in [Isaiah 28:10](/isaiah/28-10 "Isaiah 28:10 - God's Simple Instructions"). Amidst these pronouncements of impending judgment, verses 23-29 introduce a remarkable parable of the farmer, which subtly shifts the tone from condemnation to a profound exposition of God's inherent wisdom and sovereign control. This agricultural analogy serves to explain the *rationale* behind God's actions—His judgments and disciplines are not arbitrary acts of wrath but are administered with the same careful, purposeful skill a farmer employs to cultivate his land and harvest his crops effectively. The preceding verse, [Isaiah 28:26](/isaiah/28-26 "Isaiah 28:26 - The Farmer's Divine Instruction"), explicitly states that the farmer's knowledge and discernment come directly from God, thus setting the theological framework for the specific examples of threshing methods detailed in verse 27.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was fundamentally an agrarian society, where agricultural practices formed the bedrock of daily life and communal understanding. Threshing represented a critical stage of the harvest cycle, essential for separating the valuable grain from the less desirable chaff and straw. The specific methods employed for threshing varied significantly depending on the crop's characteristics, such as its size, delicacy, and the toughness of its husk. Robust grains like wheat and barley necessitated heavy threshing sledges (often equipped with sharp teeth) or large cart wheels pulled by oxen, designed to break apart their sturdy stalks and husks. Conversely, lighter tools, such as staffs or rods, were exclusively used for smaller, more delicate seeds like fitches (black cumin) and cummin, which would be easily crushed or rendered useless by heavier implements. This common, practical agricultural knowledge provided Isaiah's audience with a readily comprehensible and deeply resonant metaphor, illustrating God's precise and appropriate application of discipline, perfectly tailored to the specific "crop" (whether an individual, a nation, or a particular situation) and its unique needs. The imagery would have resonated deeply with their lived experience and agricultural heritage.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 28:27 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Wisdom and Sovereignty**, which underscores that God's actions are never random, excessive, or capricious, but are perfectly calibrated, reflecting His infinite knowledge and absolute control over all creation and human affairs. This verse also profoundly highlights the theme of **Tailored Discipline and Judgment**, revealing that God's punitive or refining actions are not designed for annihilation but are purposed to achieve a specific, often redemptive, outcome. Just as a skilled farmer seeks to preserve the valuable grain, God's discipline ultimately aims to purify, restore, and preserve His people. This contrasts sharply with the earlier pronouncements of woe and judgment, demonstrating that even God's most severe actions are administered with a wise and purposeful hand, as affirmed by the concluding statement of this analogy in [Isaiah 28:29](/isaiah/28-29 "Isaiah 28:29 - God's Wonderful Counsel and Excellent Working"), which declares God's "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." The passage also subtly touches upon the theme of **Human Accountability**, implying that while God's methods are perfectly wise, the necessity for such divine discipline often arises from human sin, rebellion, and a persistent refusal to heed His "precept upon precept" instruction.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Threshed (Hebrew, _dûwsh'_):** A primitive root, this word signifies the act of trampling or threshing, specifically the process of separating grain from its stalk and husk. In the context of Isaiah 28:27, its use in the negative ("are not threshed with a threshing instrument") emphasizes the *inappropriateness* of employing heavy-handed, crushing methods for delicate crops. It implies a forceful, often destructive action typically reserved for tougher, more resilient grains.
* **Threshing instrument (Hebrew, _chărûwts'_):** This term refers to a specific agricultural implement, often a sledge or wagon fitted with sharp teeth or heavy wheels, used for intensive, heavy-duty threshing. Its description as "incisive" or "pointed" underscores its capacity for severe, thorough separation. The explicit contrast with gentler tools highlights the principle that God does not indiscriminately apply the harshest forms of judgment or discipline to all situations, but rather with discerning purpose.
* **Staff (Hebrew, _maṭṭeh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to extend," this word denotes a branch, rod, or staff. In this agricultural context, it refers to a lighter, hand-held tool used for beating out more delicate seeds. Its selection here, alongside "rod" (H7626, _shêbeṭ'_), underscores the precise, gentle, and non-destructive method employed for the fitches, mirroring God's careful and measured discipline that aims to preserve rather than destroy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument":** This initial clause introduces the first example of the principle of appropriate threshing methods. "Fitches" (Hebrew: _qetsach_) refers to black cumin, a small, delicate seed. The emphatic assertion that they are *not* threshed with a heavy "threshing instrument" (Hebrew: _chărûwts_) immediately establishes the core principle of tailored action. It conveys that a wise and skilled farmer would never use a tool designed for tough, coarse grains on something as fragile as fitches, as such an action would inevitably destroy the valuable seed rather than merely separate it. This illustrates God's profound discernment in not applying overly harsh or destructive discipline where a gentler, more preserving touch is required.
* **"neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin":** This second negative example powerfully reinforces the established principle. "Cummin" (Hebrew: _kammôn_) is another small, aromatic seed, comparable in delicacy to fitches. A "cart wheel" (Hebrew: _ʻăgâlâh_ and _ʼôwphân_) refers to the heavy wheels of a wagon or cart, which were sometimes employed to roll over grains for threshing. To use such a heavy implement on cummin would, like the threshing instrument on fitches, crush the seeds, rendering them useless. This further emphasizes God's absolute precision, ensuring that His actions are never disproportionate or counterproductive to His ultimate, redemptive purpose.
* **"but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod":** This final clause provides the positive and correct methods for threshing these delicate crops, highlighting the contrast. A "staff" (Hebrew: _maṭṭeh_) and a "rod" (Hebrew: _shêbeṭ_) are lighter, hand-held implements. They allow for a gentle, controlled beating action that effectively separates the seeds from their husks without crushing or damaging them. This vivid contrast underscores God's measured approach: His discipline, though sometimes painful or uncomfortable, is always administered with a specific, refining, and ultimately preserving purpose, ensuring that the "precious" (the purified believer or nation) is not destroyed but made ready for its intended use and flourishing.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Isaiah 28:27, and indeed throughout the broader passage (Isaiah 28:23-29), is an **Extended Metaphor** or **Analogy**. God is implicitly and powerfully compared to a skilled, wise farmer, and His people (or humanity in general) are likened to various crops requiring specific cultivation and harvesting techniques. The different threshing instruments and methods symbolize God's diverse, appropriate, and perfectly calibrated ways of dealing with individuals and nations, particularly in moments of judgment and discipline. This analogy takes an abstract theological concept—divine wisdom in judgment—and makes it tangible, relatable, and understandable through a common, everyday agricultural practice. The verse also prominently employs **Contrast**, setting the inappropriate, destructive methods (the heavy threshing instrument, the crushing cart wheel) against the appropriate, preserving methods (the gentle staff, the delicate rod). This stark contrast powerfully underscores the precision, purposefulness, and non-arbitrary nature of God's actions, ensuring that His discipline is always tailored to achieve purification and refinement rather than annihilation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 28:27 profoundly reveals God's character as a sovereign, infinitely wise, and purposeful Lord who administers His discipline with perfect calibration and discernment. It meticulously refutes any notion of a capricious, arbitrary, or overly harsh deity, instead portraying Him as a master craftsman who knows precisely how to refine His creation without destroying it. This agricultural metaphor extends beyond mere discipline, touching upon God's overarching providential care and His intentionality in all His dealings, whether in judgment or blessing. He is the one who "instructs" the farmer (and by extension, all of creation) in the appropriate methods, demonstrating that His profound wisdom undergirds the very fabric of the natural world and human experience, ensuring all things work according to His perfect plan.

* [Proverbs 3:19](/proverbs/3-19 "Proverbs 3:19 - The Lord by Wisdom Founded the Earth")
* [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - God Disciplines Those He Loves")
* [Jeremiah 10:24](/jeremiah/10-24 "Jeremiah 10:24 - Correct Me, O Lord, but with Justice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 28:27 offers immense comfort and profound practical guidance for the believer navigating life's inevitable challenges and seasons of difficulty. It calls us to cultivate a deep trust in God's perfect wisdom, even when His methods of discipline or refinement feel uncomfortable, painful, or prolonged. Just as the farmer's ultimate goal is to preserve and prepare the grain for its intended, valuable use, God's purpose in our trials is always redemptive, aiming to separate what is precious and eternal from what is worthless and temporal within us. His desire is to purify us, to sanctify us, and to make us more useful for His glorious kingdom. We are not to fear that God's hand is too heavy, His judgment arbitrary, or His discipline excessive; rather, we can rest securely in the assurance that He intimately knows our delicate nature and applies His discipline with the precise, loving care of a compassionate Father. This verse encourages us to humbly submit to His refining process, knowing with certainty that every "beating out" with a staff or rod is meticulously designed for our ultimate spiritual good, preparing us for a greater purpose and deeper communion with Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's "tailored discipline" in Isaiah 28:27 transform your perspective on personal trials or difficulties you might be currently facing?**
* **In what ways might you be inadvertently resisting God's refining process, perhaps by wishing for a "heavier" or "lighter" method than He is currently applying in your life?**
* **How can the imagery of the delicate fitches and cummin encourage you about God's meticulous care for the seemingly "small," vulnerable, or overlooked aspects of your life and faith?**

### FAQ
**What is the main message of Isaiah 28:27 in the context of God's character?**

Answer: The main message of Isaiah 28:27 is that God is infinitely wise, perfectly precise, and profoundly purposeful in all His dealings with humanity, especially concerning His divine discipline and judgment. He does not employ a uniform, one-size-fits-all approach but rather applies His actions with meticulous discernment, tailoring His methods to the specific needs, nature, and condition of the individual or nation. His ultimate objective is always a purposeful outcome of refinement, purification, and preservation, rather than indiscriminate destruction. This verse powerfully highlights His sovereign control, meticulous care, and unwavering commitment to His redemptive purposes, ensuring His discipline is always appropriate and supremely effective.

**How does this verse relate to God's judgment on Israel?**

Answer: This verse serves as a crucial explanation and profound justification for God's impending judgments on Israel (both the Northern Kingdom of Ephraim and the Southern Kingdom of Judah) that are described earlier in [Isaiah 28](/isaiah/28 "Isaiah 28 - Woes to Ephraim and Jerusalem"). It provides a divine assurance to the audience that even though severe judgment is coming, it is neither arbitrary nor excessively harsh. Instead, like a wise and discerning farmer, God applies the exact measure of discipline needed—heavy and forceful for the stubborn and rebellious, but gentle and precise for those who are delicate or require a different kind of refining process. His ultimate goal is always to separate the "grain" (the righteous remnant or the purified people) from the "chaff" (sin, rebellion, and spiritual impurity), not to utterly annihilate His covenant people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 28:27, with its vivid imagery of God's perfectly calibrated discipline and refining work, finds its most profound and ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament frequently portrays God's discipline as a necessary, refining process for His people, the New Testament reveals that the ultimate "threshing instrument" for sin and the full weight of divine judgment were borne by Christ Himself. He, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the object of God's righteous wrath, enduring the full, crushing force of the "cart wheel" of divine justice so that all who believe in Him might be eternally spared from that condemnation. Through His finished work on the cross, believers are no longer subjected to the crushing judgment for sin, but rather experience the sanctifying and refining work of the Holy Spirit, a discipline administered with the gentle "staff" and "rod" of the Good Shepherd, as beautifully depicted in [Psalm 23:4](/psalm/23-4 "Psalm 23:4 - Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me"). Jesus, as the very embodiment of divine wisdom ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God")), perfectly understands the unique nature of each "crop" (individual believer) and applies His transforming grace with the precise wisdom necessary for our sanctification, ensuring that we are purified and made fit for His eternal kingdom, never crushed by arbitrary force ([Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - All Things Work for Good")). He is the ultimate Farmer, cultivating His people with perfect wisdom, unwavering love, and sovereign purpose, always with a view to their eternal good and His supreme glory.

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

Isaiah 41:15

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

Jeremiah 10:24

O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Jeremiah 46:28

Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

Amos 1:3

¶ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:

2 Kings 13:7

Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

Isaiah 27:7

¶ Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? [or] is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him?

Isaiah 27:8

In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.