Isaiah 28 Prophecy About the Quran
Isaiah 28:1-17 are referring to a prophecy delivered by the prophet Isaiah. In these verses, Isaiah is conveying a message from God, warning the people of Ephraim about the consequences of their pride, excessive drinking, and moral decay. The imagery and metaphors used in the prophecy serve to emphasize the impending judgment and the promise of a future in which the Lord will bring justice and strength. Prophecies like these are a common theme in the Book of Isaiah, serving as both warnings and messages of hope for the people of Israel.
📖Isaiah 28:1-8
Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley— to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand. That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot, The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, which is on the summit above the rich valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest. Whoever sees it will swallow it while it is still in his hand, In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people. a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate. And these also stagger from wine and reel from beer: Priests and prophets stagger from beer and are befuddled with wine; they reel from beer, they stagger when seeing visions, they stumble when rendering decisions. All the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.
The meaning of each passage from Isaiah 28:1-8:
- 1. **Verses 1-4**: In these verses, the prophet Isaiah delivers a message of woe or judgment upon the people of Ephraim, a tribe of Israel. He uses metaphors like a fading flower and a wreath on the head of a fertile valley to describe their once glorious beauty and pride. The message suggests that their pride and excessive indulgence in wine and revelry will lead to their downfall.
- 2. **Verses 5-6**: These verses shift to a more positive message. Isaiah speaks of the Lord as a mighty and strong force, like a destructive storm. This force will bring down the pride of Ephraim, symbolized by the wreath. The message implies that the Lord’s power will surpass and humble the human pride represented by Ephraim.
- 3. **Verse 7**: Isaiah emphasizes that in that future day, the Lord will be a source of justice for those who sit in judgment and strength for those who defend against attacks at the city gate. This suggests that under the Lord’s rule, justice and strength will prevail.
- 4. **Verse 8**: These verses describe a troubling scene where priests and prophets, who should be spiritual leaders, are also affected by excessive drinking. They are unable to see visions clearly and make sound decisions. The imagery of tables covered in vomit and filth illustrates the spiritual decay and moral corruption that have overcome the religious leaders.
📖Isaiah 28:9-10
Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!”
- In Isaiah 28:9-10, it describes a situation where people are mocking the prophet, suggesting that his teachings are so simple and repetitive that it’s as if he is addressing children who have just been weaned from their milk. They are essentially making fun of the way he conveys his message
📖Isaiah 28:11-13
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured.
- It appears that the passage in Isaiah 28:11-13 is a response to those who were mocking Prophet Isaiah. In response, God is going to reveal a form of divine revelation, somewhat like teaching young children. This revelation will involve God communicating with the people in foreign lips and strange tongues, which suggests a unique divine message. The passage warns that if they don’t heed this revelation, they will face consequences, such as falling backward, being injured, snared, and captured.
Prophicy of Isaiah 28:7-13 Brigham Young University’s Religion Center
The meaning and correct translation of the Hebrew phrase ṣaw lāṣāw ṣaw lāṣāw qaw lāqāw qaw lāqāw, translated as “precept upon precept; line upon line” in the KJV (Isaiah 28:10, 13), is widely debated among scholars. For example, by giving a different vocalization to the Hebrew letters of the text than does the KJV, Kennett suggests that the words are actually a parody of a schoolteacher giving a simple spelling lesson to little children. He sees the teacher explaining to the children that ṣadeh (צ) and waw (ו) spell ṣaw (צו), repeating it twice, and that qoph (ק) and waw (ו) spell qaw (קו), again repeating it twice. Hallo, on the other hand, finds evidence in Ugaritic abecedaries[4] indicating to him that the original names of the Hebrew letters ṣadeh and qoph may have simply been ṣaw and qaw. Rather than a spelling lesson, Hallo appears to see the phrase as an attempt to mimic a schoolmaster trying to teach children the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, ṣadeh and qoph, using their original names, ṣaw and qaw. Thus, he renders verse 10, “For it is ṣaw for ṣaw, ṣaw for ṣaw, qaw for qaw, qaw for qaw.” Watts points out how incoherent such a lesson would be when taught by a drunken teacher, This interpretation continues with the warning that those who “would not hear” will not enjoy God’s rest but would find God speaking with “stammering lips and another tongue” and ultimately “fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken” (Isaiah 28:11–13)
Reference: An Approach to Understanding Isaiah 28:7–13
The Meaning of Qav
| Hebrew Kav | Image |
|---|---|
| It is important to note thatThe Hebrew word קַ֣ו, known as “qav,” also has a phonetic spelling “kav,” which is equivalent to the Arabic letter “Kaf. |  |
| Mentioned in Quran 19:1 | |
| Significance | |
| Reference: Translate in Google|ChatGPT | |
The Meaning of Sadeh
| Hebrew Kav | Image |
|---|---|
| The Hebrew word “ṣadeh” isequivalent to the Arabic word “Sad. |  |
| Mentioned in Quran 38:1 | |
| Significance | |
| Reference: Tsade – Wikipedia sadhe or tsa·de [ sah-dee, -duh, tsah-dee ] noun, the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the consonant sound represented by this letter. | |
The Meaning of Qoph
| Hebrew Kav | Image |
|---|---|
| The Hebrew word “Qoph” isequivalent to the Arabic word Qãf |  |
| Mentioned in Quran 50:1 | |
| Significance | |
| Reference: Qoph – Wikipedia | |
📖Isaiah 29:12-19
Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.” And he says, “I am not literate.” Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know? You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”? [Is] it not, yet a little while very and shall be turned, Lebanon, into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field, be esteemed, On that day the deaf will hear the words of the Book, and out of the deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see, Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel Jacob.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 3
The angel Gabriel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “I do not know how to read.” The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?’ Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, ‘Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists ), created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” (Quran 96.1, 96.2, 96.3).
📖Deuteronomy 33:1-3
This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes. And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4276
The Prophet (ﷺ) left Medina (for Mecca) in the company of ten-thousand (Muslim warriors) in (the month of) Ramadan, and that was eight and a half years after his migration to Medina. He and the Muslims who were with him, proceeded on their way to Mecca.
📖Mark 4:30-32
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.
📖Quran 48:29
Muhammad is the Messenger of God. And those with him are firm with the disbelievers and compassionate with one another. You see them bowing and prostrating ˹in prayer˺, seeking Allah’s bounty and pleasure. The sign ˹of brightness can be seen˺ on their faces from the trace of prostrating ˹in prayer˺. This is their description in the Torah Deuteronomy 33:1-3 And their parable in the Gospel is that of a seed that sprouts its ˹tiny˺ branches, making it strong. Then it becomes thick, standing firmly on its stem, to the delight of the planters —in this way Allah makes the believers a source of dismay for the disbelievers. To those of them who believe and do good, Allah has promised forgiveness and a great reward.
Fulfillment of of Isaiah 28:7-13 Prophicy
📖Quran 2:1-2
Alif, Lam, Meem. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah –
📖Quran 19:1 | Isaiah 28:13
Kãf-Ha-Ya-’Aĩn- Ṣãd.
📖Quran 50:1 | Isaiah 28:13
Qãf. By the glorious Quran!
📖Qur’an 38:1 | Isaiah 28:13
Ṣãd. By the Quran, full of reminders!
📖Quran 16:103 | Isaiah 28:11
[So] We certainly know that they say, “It is only a human being who teaches the prophet.” The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and [this Qur’an] is [in] a clear Arabic language.
📖Quran 41:2-4 | Isaiah 28:11
[So This is] a revelation from the Gracious, the Merciful – a Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’an for a people who know, as a giver of good news and a warner; but most of them turn away, so they do not hear.
📖Quran 9:124-25 | Isaiah 28:13
And whenever a surah is revealed, there are among the hypocrites those who say, “Which of you has this increased faith?” As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing. But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.
📖Quran 2:142
The foolish among the people will say, “What has turned them away from their qiblah, which they used to face?” Say, “To Allah belongs the east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a straight path.”
📖Quran 16:101-2
And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse – and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down – they say, “You, [O Muhammad], are but an inventor [of lies].” But most of them do not know. Say, [O Muhammad], “The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims.”
📖Quran 28:48
But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, “Why was he not given like that which was given to Moses?” Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said, “[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers.”
📖Quran 2:90
How wretched is that for which they sold themselves – that they would disbelieve in what Allah has revealed through [their] outrage that Allah would send down His favor upon whom He wills from among His servants. So they returned having [earned] wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.
📖Isaiah 28:13
So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do this, do that, a rule for this, a rule for that; a little here, a little there— so that as they go they will fall backward; they will be injured and snared and captured. 👇
📖Qur’an 33:26-27 | Isaiah 28:13
And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts [so that] a party you killed, and you took captive a party. And He caused you to inherit their land and their homes and their properties and a land which you have not trodden. And ever is Allah , over all things, competent.
- Quran 33:10 refers to a group of enemies that came to fight against the Muslims. This verse describes the intense fear and uncertainty experienced by the Muslims when they found themselves surrounded by these hostile forces during the Battle of the Trench. Quran 33:26-27 mentions the “people of the scripture” (Jews) who broke their agreements with the Muslims. These verses describe their support for the group mentioned in Quran 33:10, which includes the Quraysh and their allies. As a result of their actions, some of them faced consequences during the battle.
📖Quran 25:29 | Isaiah 28:11-13
And those who disbelieve say, “Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once?” Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.
📖Quran 7:157
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful.
📖Isaiah 28:14-16
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.
- The Christian scholars interpret these passages differently. However, their interpretations do not align with the verses’ context, as they contain words like ‘drunkards’ and ‘scoffers’ who ruled over the people in Jerusalem. Before the time of Prophet Muhammad, the Byzantine Empire ruled Jerusalem and did not allow the tribes of Jacob to enter. However, during Islamic rule after Prophet Muhammad, these tribes were permitted to return. Historically, a significant development related to Zionism occurred with the Balfour Declaration in 1917. This declaration, issued by the British government during World War I, expressed support for the establishment of a ‘national home for the Jewish people’ in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire. This marked an important milestone in the Zionist movement’s efforts to establish a Jewish homeland. Based on the words used in the verses, one can conclude that this is a warning against the tribe of Judah, or as a group of people who say they are Jewish but the synagogue of Satan Revelation 3:9. The scoffers represent a group who worship creation instead of the creator, and even they gave control of Jerusalem to the Zionists during the Trump administration. According to this interpretation, the verses refer to the Zionists, and scoffers made an agreement with the realm of the dead. This could also suggest they made an agreement with the Antichrist, also known as the deceiver, who will lead people into hell, known as the realm of the dead. It’s important to note that this is my personal interpretation of the verses, based on terms like ‘drunkards’ and ‘scoffers’ who rule this people in Jerusalem.
📖Isaiah 28:16-17
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
- In Christianity, the stone is commonly understood to symbolize Jesus Christ. However, within this particular context, there is room for interpretation that it might be referring to the Al Aqsa, The Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, which is considered a part of the broader region historically associated with Zion. This verse suggests that it doesn’t directly point to Jesus. In the book of Matthew, Jesus mentioned that the Kingdom of God would be taken from the Jewish people and given to another. He also spoke of the stone that was rejected becoming the cornerstone, but he didn’t explicitly state that he himself is that stone. The concept of Jesus as the cornerstone was introduced into Christianity by Apostle Paul. Regarding the additional phrases in this verse, such as “water will flood your hiding place,” the meaning needs to be understood within the context.
📖Isaiah 28:16-17
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
📖Quran 17:1
Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
Additional Information
This article contains a reference to Isaiah chapter 28, which is presented as an interpretation and opinion based on our understanding. It is important to note that interpretations can vary, and there is a possibility of error in our interpretation. Your understanding of the chapter may differ. If you believe there are inaccuracies in this article, please reach out to us with the correct interpretation, so we can make the necessary updates to the information.
