Isaiah 28:28

Bread [corn] is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break [it with] the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it [with] his horsemen.

Bread {H3899} corn is bruised {H1854}; because he will not ever {H5331} be threshing {H156}{H1758} it, nor break {H2000} it with the wheel {H1536} of his cart {H5699}, nor bruise {H1854} it with his horsemen {H6571}.

When crushing grain for bread, one doesn't thresh it forever; one drives the horse and cart wheels over it but doesn't crush it to powder.

Grain for bread must be ground, but it is not endlessly threshed. Though the wheels of the cart roll over it, the horses do not crush it.

Bread grain is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he doth not grind it.

Isaiah 28:28 uses an agricultural metaphor to convey profound spiritual truths about God's wisdom and His measured approach to discipline and judgment. It speaks of the careful process of preparing grain, illustrating that even in moments of difficulty, there is a divine purpose and a definite limit to the 'bruising' experienced.

Context

This verse is part of a broader passage (Isaiah 28:23-29) where the prophet Isaiah uses the analogy of a wise farmer to explain God's intelligent and purposeful dealings with His people, Israel. Following warnings of judgment against Ephraim (the northern kingdom) and Judah for their spiritual arrogance and rebellion, Isaiah pivots to assure them that God’s actions are not arbitrary or destructive. Just as a farmer knows the proper techniques and timing for planting, cultivating, and harvesting various crops, God understands precisely how to discipline His children without utterly destroying them. The preceding verses talk about the farmer's skill, and this verse specifically details the careful threshing process.

Key Themes

  • God's Measured Wisdom: The primary theme is God's infinite wisdom, revealed in His precise and appropriate actions. He knows when to apply pressure and when to stop, ensuring the desired outcome without ruin. This reflects a divine understanding of timing and intensity.
  • Purposeful Discipline: The "bruising" or threshing represents divine discipline or judgment. It's not for destruction but for refinement, to separate the valuable grain (righteousness) from the chaff (sin and impurity).
  • Hope Amidst Judgment: Implicitly, the verse offers hope. The farmer doesn't thresh indefinitely; there's a limit. This suggests that God's judgments, while severe, are temporary and designed for restoration, not annihilation, offering a glimpse of God's promise not to utterly destroy His people.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's "corn" here refers to grain in general (like wheat or barley), not specifically maize. The Hebrew word is dagan (דָּגָן), meaning "grain." The various methods of "bruising" and "threshing" (using a cart wheel, horsemen) highlight the forceful yet controlled nature of separating the valuable kernel from the husk. The critical point is the phrase "he will not ever be threshing it," emphasizing that the process has a beginning and an end, and it is governed by divine wisdom.

Related Scriptures

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 28:28 offers profound comfort and perspective. When we experience trials, difficulties, or what feels like 'bruising' in our lives, this verse reminds us that God is not haphazardly inflicting pain. He is working with divine precision, like a wise farmer, to refine us, remove impurities, and prepare us for His purposes. Our challenges have a limit and a specific aim: to produce spiritual fruit and draw us closer to Him. This understanding encourages us to trust God's sovereignty and wisdom, even when the path is difficult, knowing that His ultimate goal is our good and His glory. Just as the grain is bruised to become bread, our trials can transform us into something nourishing and useful in God's hands.

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.

  • Matthew 13:37

    He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

  • Matthew 13:43

    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

  • Amos 9:9

    For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as [corn] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

  • Matthew 3:12

    Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:9

    For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

  • 1 Corinthians 9:10

    Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

  • John 12:24

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

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