The Meaning of Isaiah 28:16 Explained
Isaiah 28:16
KJV: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
YLT: Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: 'Lo, I am laying a foundation in Zion, A stone -- a tried stone, a corner stone precious, a settled foundation, He who is believing doth not make haste.
Darby: Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I lay for foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that trusteth shall not make haste.
ASV: therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -'stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.
Discover Isaiah 28:16
CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 28:16?
MEANING: What does Isaiah 28:16 Mean?
WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 28:16 mean?
RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 28:16?
What is the context of Isaiah 28:16?
- God’s Precious Cornerstone (Isaiah 28:14-20)
- The Cornerstone of Zion (Isaiah 28:14-22)
- A Deal with Death (Isaiah 28:14-22)
- Judah Is Warned (Isaiah 28:14-29)
- A Cornerstone in Zion (Isaiah 28:14-29)
- A Message about Samaria (Isaiah 28:1-29)
- Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah (Isaiah 28:1-29)
KJV Reverse Interlinear
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
What does Isaiah 28:16 Mean?
Verse Meaning
The Lord God"s response to His people"s lack of faith in Him was to reveal that He was doing something too. He was laying a firm foundation in Jerusalem that they could and should build on. This huge "stone" was tested, planted securely, and a sound basis for security. Ancient cornerstones were not the same as modern western ones. They were the largest and most determinative stone in the foundation of a building. Builders oriented the rest of the foundation in reference to this stone (cf. Ephesians 2:20), and it supported the major portion of the superstructure. What was this stone? I believe it was Messiah (cf. Psalm 118:22; Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 10:4; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6). The commentators have offered many interpretations of this cornerstone, and several of them have written extended discussions of the figure. In biblical usage, the figure of God as a stone goes back to Genesis 49:24 (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 8:14-15). Since Messiah would be God ( Isaiah 9:6), the interpretation of this stone as Messiah is in harmony with these other biblical uses of the figure (cf. Isaiah 8:14). God was doing something that would make possible a stable edifice (Israel), namely, preparing for Messiah. Those in Isaiah"s day who believed that God was working for His people would not panic. Perhaps Isaiah"s hearers did not recognize this as messianic prophecy when the prophet gave it (cf. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6). Perhaps they thought that Isaiah just meant that God was doing something hidden that would result in the security of their nation, and they should trust Him.
Context Summary
Isaiah 28:14-29 - Truth The Only Refuge
In the beginning of Hezekiah's reign the Jewish leaders had made an alliance with Assyria, on whom they relied to protect them against any and all foes. But the prophet told them plainly that they would be disappointed, and that when the Assyrian scourge passed through the land toward Egypt, it would involve them also in disaster, Isaiah 28:18. Then he broke out with this sublime description of the only foundation of security that could never fail. The deep meaning of this prediction of the precious corner-stone is unfolded in later Scriptures, Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7. Christ was tried by Satan and by man: He is precious: He unites the walls of Jew and Gentile that were at right-angles to each other. All our excuses and professions are too short and too narrow when God enters into judgment. Outside of Christ there is neither peace nor safety. See that thou buildest Him a holy character of gold, silver, and precious stones, 1 Corinthians 3:10, etc. [source]
Chapter Summary: Isaiah 28
1 The prophet threatens Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness
5 The residue shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ
7 He rebukes their error
9 Their unwillingness to learn
14 And their security
16 Christ the sure foundation is promised
17 Their security shall be tried
23 They are incited to the consideration of God's providence
What do the individual words in Isaiah 28:16 mean?
therefore thus says the Lord GOD behold I lay for a foundation in Zion a stone a stone tried a cornerstone precious a foundation sure Whoever believes not will act hastily
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ
| כֹּ֤ה | thus |
| Parse: Adverb Root: כֹּה Sense: thus, here, in this manner. | |
| אָמַר֙ | says |
| Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter. | |
| אֲדֹנָ֣י | the Lord |
| Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: אֲדֹנָי Sense: my lord, lord. | |
| יְהוִ֔ה | GOD |
| Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’. | |
| הִנְנִ֛י | behold |
| Parse: Interjection, first person common singular Root: הֵן Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part. | |
| יִסַּ֥ד | I lay for a foundation |
| Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular Root: יָסַד Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation. | |
| בְּצִיּ֖וֹן | in Zion |
| Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: צִיּׄון Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books. | |
| אָ֑בֶן | a stone |
| Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: אֶבֶן Sense: stone (large or small). | |
| אֶ֣בֶן | a stone |
| Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: אֶבֶן Sense: stone (large or small). | |
| בֹּ֜חַן | tried |
| Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: בֹּחַן Sense: testing, tested, tried. | |
| פִּנַּ֤ת | a cornerstone |
| Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: פִּנָּה Sense: corner. | |
| יִקְרַת֙ | precious |
| Parse: Adjective, feminine singular construct Root: יְקִפָּאֹון Sense: valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid. | |
| מוּסָ֣ד | a foundation |
| Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: מוּסָד Sense: foundation, laying of foundation, foundation-laying. | |
| מוּסָּ֔ד | sure |
| Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular Root: יָסַד Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation. | |
| הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין | Whoever believes |
| Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular Root: אָמַן Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful. | |
| יָחִֽישׁ | will act hastily |
| Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: חוּשׁ Sense: to haste, make haste, hurry. | |
What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 28:16?
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Similar Scriptures for Isaiah 28:16
| Psalms 118:22 [61] | ||
| Acts 4:11-12 [51] | ||
| 1 Peter 2:6-8 [45] | ||
| Luke 20:17-18 [42] | ||
| Romans 9:33 [41] | ||
| Mark 12:10 [34] | ||
| Matthew 21:42 [26] | ||
| Ephesians 2:20 [25] | ||
| Isaiah 8:14-15 [24] | ||
| 1 Corinthians 3:11 [20] | ||
| Romans 10:11 [18] | ||
| read more (7) | ||
| Zechariah 3:9 [13] | ||
| Genesis 49:24 [9] | ||
| Psalms 112:7-8 [7] | ||
| James 5:7-8 [5] | ||
| Isaiah 30:18 [5] | ||
| Habakkuk 2:3-4 [4] | ||
| Genesis 49:10 [4] | ||
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