A Closer Look - Isaiah 28:10

This weeks torah portion includes an often quoted verse from Isaiah 28.

Isaiah 28:10 KJV
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah 28:13 KJV
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; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

There is some debate about what this might mean.  Some say that the word is mocking Isaiah. Some say that each law was built on another law. Some say we must repeat the laws until they are ingrained in our hearts.

But I see it quite differently.

Let us look at the hebrew words used in this verse.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/isa/28/1/t_conc_707010

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6673&t=KJV
Tsav = Precept, Commandment, Law

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H6957&t=KJV
Qav = Line, Rule

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2191&t=KJV
Ze'eyr = Little, root = Dwindling, Taking away, Loss

So the hebrew text says only =
tsav tsav tsav tsav qav qav qav qav ze'eyr ze'eyr

law law law law rule rule rule rule loss loss

Isaiah 28:13 then gives us these same words within more context.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/isa/28/10/t_conc_707013

What does it look like if we put JUST a direct translation into this statement?

"But the word of YHWH was to them, "law law law law rule rule rule rule loss loss" that they might go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken."

Interestingly the word tsav is used in ONE other verse that I believe adds to this understanding.

Hos 5:11 KJV
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. tsav H6673

In our current english language this sounds like Ephraim was oppressed and broken BECAUSE they walked in the law?  But looking closely again at the hebrew language we find that this verse implies something very different.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/hos/5/11/t_conc_867011
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgement, because he WILLFULLY (ya'al = foolishness, mental weakness) walked, after (achar = after, as in time) the tsav.

So we see that Ephraim did not walk in the law, but walked 'willfully' after the law was given.

Brought together these three verses make the concept of Isaiah 28:13 much more clear.

We were given the law.  But when we looked at it we (our forefathers) saw only rules, and lines, and continued loss of freedoms and goods.  We saw a to do list and no gains.  We chose to walk willfully instead.

The root here is that we SAW the law incorrectly.  So many use it as a checklist, do this, don't do that. We end up trudging along and losing sight of HIM.

"But the word of YHWH was to them, "law law law law rule rule rule rule loss loss" that they might go and fall backward and be broken and snared and taken."

This is a test.  When you see Torah, do you see 'law law law law rule rule rule rule loss loss"?

Or do you have eyes to see and ears to hear, The Father safeguarding and guiding His children?  Do you see HIM?

Keep looking and listening. HE is in there. And HE is beautiful.