Isaiah 28:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden underfoot;

NIV: That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot.

NASB: The splendid crown of the habitually drunk of Ephraim is trampled underfoot.

CSB: The majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards will be trampled underfoot.

NLT: The proud city of Samaria — the glorious crown of the drunks of Israel — will be trampled beneath its enemies’ feet.

KJV: The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

NKJV: The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot;

Isaiah again refers to Samaria as a proud crown (Isaiah 28:1). As usual, he writes prophecy in the form of poetry. In this chapter more than others, that poetry takes the form of repeated words and phrases, emphasizing the rhythm and cadence of the poem as well as the content of his words.

Isaiah refers once again to the "proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim" (ESV) or "that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards" (NIV). The crown or wreath is the city of Samaria, capital of Israel, also known as Ephraim. It was apparently a beautiful city set on top of a hill as a wreath or crown on top of a head.

The leaders of Ephraim are proud of their capital. Yet they are also drunkards overcome with wine. They seem unconcerned that Assyria is coming. In the end, the wreath of Samaria will be trampled under the feet of the invaders.

Isaiah 28:1–13 poetically describes Israel's capital Samaria as a crown or wreath on the head of a beautiful valley. Its leaders, though, are drunkards, and the wilted wreath will be trampled by the hailstorm of the Lord's judgment. This comes in the form of Assyrian invaders. Then God will be the glorious crown of Israel once more. Israel's prophets and priests live in a drunken stupor, staggering, vomiting, and mocking Isaiah's warning message from the Lord. Isaiah assures them they will hear the message firsthand from foreign lips when the Lord's judgment falls on them.

Samaria, the capital of Israel, also called Ephraim, is the beautiful crown on the head of the rich valley below. Her leaders are proud and drunk. The Lord will send the Assyrians to trample the crown and send the people into exile. Israel's religious leaders mock Isaiah, but they will hear the Lord's message from the Assyrians. Isaiah warns Jerusalem's leaders not to mock his warning to them from the Lord about the same fate. Their covenant with death will fail. The hailstorm of the Assyrians will beat them down. The Lord's counsel is wonderful.

Isaiah 28 begins a new section following the previous four chapters about Israel's glorious future with the Lord as her king. Now, though, the Lord is sending the Assyrians to judge His own people, first in Ephraim, which is Israel, and then in Judah. The beautiful capital city of Samaria will be trampled like a wilted wreath. Israel's religious leaders mock Isaiah but will hear the Lord's message from the Assyrians themselves. Isaiah warns Jerusalem's leaders not to scoff at his message. Despite Judah's agreements with other nations, the Lord will send the overwhelming scourge to wash away their refuge of lies. The next three chapters of Isaiah (29—31) predict siege and distress for Jerusalem but also promise that God will destroy Judah's enemies and bless them if they return to Him.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 12/16/2025 11:01:02 PM