Isaiah 28:4
And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
Original Language Analysis
וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה
H1961
וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 20
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נֹבֵל֙
shall be a fading
H5034
נֹבֵל֙
shall be a fading
Strong's:
H5034
Word #:
3 of 20
to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint
תִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹ
beauty
H8597
תִפְאַרְתּ֔וֹ
beauty
Strong's:
H8597
Word #:
5 of 20
ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֹ֖אשׁ
which is on the head
H7218
רֹ֖אשׁ
which is on the head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
8 of 20
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
גֵּ֣יא
valley
H1516
גֵּ֣יא
valley
Strong's:
H1516
Word #:
9 of 20
a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)
שְׁמָנִ֑ים
of the fat
H8081
שְׁמָנִ֑ים
of the fat
Strong's:
H8081
Word #:
10 of 20
grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
בְּטֶ֣רֶם
H2962
בְּטֶ֣רֶם
Strong's:
H2962
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
קַ֔יִץ
before the summer
H7019
קַ֔יִץ
before the summer
Strong's:
H7019
Word #:
13 of 20
harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הָֽרֹאֶה֙
upon it seeth
H7200
הָֽרֹאֶה֙
upon it seeth
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
15 of 20
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
הָֽרֹאֶה֙
upon it seeth
H7200
הָֽרֹאֶה֙
upon it seeth
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
16 of 20
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אוֹתָ֔הּ
H853
אוֹתָ֔הּ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּעוֹדָ֥הּ
H5750
בְּעוֹדָ֥הּ
Strong's:
H5750
Word #:
18 of 20
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
Cross References
Nahum 3:12All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.Micah 7:1Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.Isaiah 28:1Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!Hosea 6:4O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
Historical Context
Samaria's conquest fulfilled this precisely. After three-year siege (2 Kings 17:5), the city fell and was quickly absorbed into the Assyrian Empire. Unlike Judah which experienced multiple invasions but survived, Northern Israel was consumed entirely—ten tribes scattered, never restored as a nation. Assyria 'ate up' this prize eagerly. For the church, this warns against trusting in external glories (buildings, numbers, prestige) that can be quickly lost. Only what's built on Christ endures (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).
Questions for Reflection
- What does the 'hasty fruit' imagery teach about how quickly human glories can be consumed and lost?
- How should awareness of life's transience affect believers' priorities and investments?
- What are you building that will last beyond this life, versus temporary 'early figs' that will be quickly consumed?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. Continuing the flower imagery from verse 1, Isaiah adds a second metaphor: the hasty fruit before the summer (bikkurah beterem qayits, בִּכּוּרָה בְּטֶרֶם קָיִץ, first-ripe fig before summer harvest). Early figs appearing before the main harvest were prized delicacies, eagerly devoured immediately upon discovery. The phrase which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up depicts someone spotting the fig, grabbing it, and consuming it instantly—all one swift action.
Applied to Samaria, this means Assyria will devour the city as quickly as someone eats a rare early fig—no resistance, no delay, complete consumption. What Ephraim considered their glorious beauty, their enemies will consume greedily. Micah 7:1 similarly laments the scarcity of early figs representing righteous people. Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree (Matthew 21:19), and used fig imagery for Israel's judgment (Luke 13:6-9). The double metaphor (fading flower + devoured fig) emphasizes both transience and total loss.