Isaiah 28

“Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the…” Naming Ephraim and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include judgment, battle, gate. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have…” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, strong, erred. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would…” The line’s distinctive content terms include rest, cause, hear. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line…” The line’s distinctive content terms include line, precept, little. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wherefore hear the word of the LORD , ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD , Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise…” Naming Bread keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cometh, counsel, excellent. Its relationship to verses 28 shows what work it does in this passage.