For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.
Parallel translations
- KJV For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
- BSB For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.”
- NKJV For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”
- NASB “For He says, ‘Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.’ ”
- NLT He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The scoffers mimic Isaiah's teaching as tedious, repetitive babble: 'precept upon precept, line upon line.'
Overview
The mockers caricature God's instruction as monotonous, fragmented nonsense. Their derision exposes their refusal to heed even patient, careful teaching. Ironically, the very 'little by little' method they scorn reflects God's gracious, persistent dealing with stubborn hearts.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Isa 28:13Therefore Yahweh’s word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.
- 2 Tim 3:7always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- Jer 11:7For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, “Obey my voice.”
- Jer 25:3–7From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.
- Heb 5:12For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.
- Neh 9:29–30and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear.
- Deut 6:1–6Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it;
- Matt 21:34–41When the season for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.
- Isa 5:4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes?
- 2 Chr 36:15–16Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place;
- Phil 3:1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 28:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.