Isaiah Chapter 28 · Verse 17

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י also will I lay H7760
וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י also will I lay
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 1 of 12
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
מִשְׁפָּט֙ Judgment H4941
מִשְׁפָּט֙ Judgment
Strong's: H4941
Word #: 2 of 12
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
לְקָ֔ו to the line H6957
לְקָ֔ו to the line
Strong's: H6957
Word #: 3 of 12
a cord (as connecting), especially for measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord
וּצְדָקָ֖ה and righteousness H6666
וּצְדָקָ֖ה and righteousness
Strong's: H6666
Word #: 4 of 12
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת to the plummet H4949
לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת to the plummet
Strong's: H4949
Word #: 5 of 12
a weight, i.e., a plummet (with line attached)
וְיָעָ֤ה shall sweep away H3261
וְיָעָ֤ה shall sweep away
Strong's: H3261
Word #: 6 of 12
to brush aside
בָרָד֙ and the hail H1259
בָרָד֙ and the hail
Strong's: H1259
Word #: 7 of 12
hail
מַחְסֵ֣ה the refuge H4268
מַחְסֵ֣ה the refuge
Strong's: H4268
Word #: 8 of 12
a shelter (literally or figuratively)
כָזָ֔ב of lies H3577
כָזָ֔ב of lies
Strong's: H3577
Word #: 9 of 12
falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)
וְסֵ֥תֶר the hiding place H5643
וְסֵ֥תֶר the hiding place
Strong's: H5643
Word #: 10 of 12
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
מַ֖יִם and the waters H4325
מַ֖יִם and the waters
Strong's: H4325
Word #: 11 of 12
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃ shall overflow H7857
יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃ shall overflow
Strong's: H7857
Word #: 12 of 12
to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer

Analysis & Commentary

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. Having laid the true foundation (v.16), God now describes His construction standards. Judgment...to the line, and righteousness to the plummet (mishpat le-qav u-tsedaqah le-mishqalet, מִשְׁפָּט לְקָו וּצְדָקָה לְמִשְׁקָּלֶת) uses building imagery. The measuring line (qav, קָו) and plumb line (mishqalet, מִשְׁקָּלֶת, plummet) ensure straight, true construction. God's standards are perfect justice (mishpat, מִשְׁפָּט) and righteousness (tsedaqah, צְדָקָה). Amos 7:7-8 similarly uses plumb line imagery for God testing Israel.

When God applies His perfect standards, false refuges collapse: the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies (ve-ya'ah varad machseh kazav, וְיָעָה בָרָד מַחְסֵה כָזָב) and the waters shall overflow the hiding place (ve-seter mayim yittofu, וְסֵתֶר מַיִם יִטֹּפוּ). Hail and floods demolish structures not built to code. Political lies and false securities can't withstand divine judgment. This reverses verse 15 where they made lies their refuge—that refuge will be swept away. Only what's built on God's cornerstone with His standards survives (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

Historical Context

Judah's Egyptian alliance failed exactly as Isaiah predicted. Pharaoh couldn't save Jerusalem. Babylon breached the walls (2 Kings 25:4). Waters of judgment overflowed their false hiding place. Jesus warned of storms testing foundations (Matthew 7:24-27). Revelation 6:15-17 depicts those who hid in rocks crying for mountains to fall on them—no hiding place from God's wrath. Only those in Christ, building on the cornerstone with righteous lives, stand when judgment comes. All false refuges—wealth, power, religion without Christ—will be swept away.

Questions for Reflection