Isaiah 28:1
Woe 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!
Isaiah 28:1 in other translations
| BSB | Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine. |
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| WEB | Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine! |
| ASV | Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine! |
| YLT | Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim. And the fading flower of the beauty of his glory, That is on the head of the fat valley of the broken down of wine. |
| DARBY | Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious adornment, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine. |
| BBE | Ho! crown of pride of those who are given up to wine in Ephraim, and the dead flower of his glory which is on the head of those who are overcome by strong drink! |
| Webster | Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower; who are on the head of the rich valleys of them that are overcome with wine! |
What does Isaiah 28:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
This chapter begins with a denunciation of the approaching ruin of the Israelites by Shalmaneser, whose power is compared to a tempest or flood, and his keenness to the avidity with which one plucks and swallows the grape that is soonest ripe, Isa 28:1-4. It then turns to the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, who were to continue a kingdom after the final captivity of their brethren; and gives first a favorable prognostication of their affairs under Hezekiah, Isa 28:5, Isa 28:6; but soon changes to reproofs and threatenings for their intemperance and their profaneness, Isa 28:7, Isa 28:8. They are introduced as not only scornfully rejecting, but also mocking and ridiculing, the instructions of the prophet, Isa 28:9, Isa 28:10. To this God immediately retorts in terms alluding to their own mocking, but differently applied, Isa 28:11-13. The prophet then addresses these scoffers, Isa 28:14; who considered themselves as perfectly secure from every evil, Isa 28:15; and assures them that there was no method under heaven but one, by which they could be saved, Isa 28:16; that every other vain resource should fail in the day of visitation, Isa 28:17, Isa 28:18. He then farther adds, that the judgments of God were particularly levelled against them; and that all the means to which they trusted for warding them off should be to no purpose, Isa 28:19, Isa 28:20; as the Almighty, who, on account of his patience and long-suffering, is amiably described as unacquainted with punishing, had nevertheless determined to punish them, Isa 28:21, Isa 28:22. The prophet then concludes with a beautiful parable in explanation and defense of God's dealing with his people, Isa 28:23-29. Verse 1 Wo to the crown of pride - By the crown of pride, etc., Samaria is primarily understood. "Sebaste, the ancient Samaria, is situated on a long mount of an oval figure, having first a fruitful valley, and then a ring of hills running round about it;" Maundrell, p. 58. "E regione horum ruderum mons est peramoenus, planitie admodum frugifera circumseptus, super quem olim Samaria urbs condita fuit;" Fureri Itinerarium, p. 93. The city, beautifully situated on the top of a round hill, and surrounded immediately with a rich valley and a circle of other hills beyond it, suggested the idea of a chaplet or wreath of flowers worn upon their heads on occasions of festivity, expressed by the proud crown and the fading flower of the drunkards. That this custom of wearing chaplets in their banquets prevailed among the Jews, as well as among the Greeks and Romans, appears from the following passage of the book of The Wisdom of Solomon: - "Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments, And let no flower of the spring pass by us: Let us crown ourselves with rose-buds before they are withered." The Wisdom of Solomon 2:7, 8.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 28:1-4
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Isaiah 28:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Isaiah 28:1
- Hosea 7:5
In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
- Isaiah 28:7
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
- Isaiah 28:3-4
The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: 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.
- 2 Kings 14:25-27
He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath–hepher. For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
- Isaiah 5:22
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
- 2 Kings 18:10-12
And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: Because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
- Hosea 6:10
I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
- Amos 6:6
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
- 2 Chronicles 28:6
For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.
- Amos 6:1
Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
- Amos 2:12
But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
- Isaiah 8:4
For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5 The residue shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ.
7 He rebukes their error;
9 their untowardness 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 discreet providence.
A.M. 3279. B.C. 725. the crown.This chapter begins a new subject, chiefly relating to the devastations of Israel and Judah by the Assyrian kings. The ancient Samaria being beautifully situated on the top of a round hill, and surrounded immediately with a rich valley, and then a circle of other hills around it, suggested the idea of a chaplet, or wreath of flowers.
3; Ho 5:5; 6:10
drunkards.
7; 5:11,22; Pr 23:29; Ho 4:11; 7:5; Am 2:8,12; 6:6
whose.
4; 7:8,9; 8:4; 2Ki 14:25-27; 15:29; 18:10-12; 2Ch 28:6; 30:6,7
Am 6:1
overcome. Heb. broken.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Isaiah 28:1
Woe 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!
- Isaiah 28:2
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
Isaiah 28:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | ¡AY de la corona de soberbia, de los ebrios de Ephraim, y de la flor caduca de la hermosura de su gloria, que está sobre la cabeza del valle fértil de los aturdidos del vino! |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | ***Malheur à la couronne d’orgueil des ivrognes d’Éphraïm, et à la fleur flétrie de son bel ornement, qui est sur le sommet de la riche vallée de ceux qui sont vaincus par le vin! |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wehe der stolzen Krone der Trunkenen Ephraims, und der welkenden Blume seiner herrlichen Pracht auf dem Haupte des fetten Tales der vom Weine Überwältigten! |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Væ coronæ superbiæ, ebriis Ephraim, et flori decidenti, gloriæ exsultationis ejus, qui erant in vertice vallis pinguissimæ, errantes a vino. |