Isaiah 28:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

NIV: He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

NASB: A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment, A strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

CSB: a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who repel attacks at the city gate.

NLT: He will give a longing for justice to their judges. He will give great courage to their warriors who stand at the gates.

KJV: And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

NKJV: For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

At the time the Lord sets up His kingdom on earth, He will be a spirit of justice to Israel's leaders who sit in judgment. He will ensure that the poor are not taken advantage of (Isaiah 11:4; Proverbs 29:7). He will also empower the soldiers who defend the city. Israel tried to stand and thrive without the Lord. The remnant, those who will turn and put their trust in Him, will thrive because of Him.

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 8/20/2025 7:09:42 PM