King James Version

What Does Isaiah 28:17 Mean?

Isaiah 28:17 in the King James Version says “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.”

Isaiah 28:17 · KJV

Context

15

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through , it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

17

Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

18

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. trodden: Heb. a treading down to it

19

From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. to: or, when he shall make you to understand doctrine

Read Isaiah 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. Having laid the true foundation (v.16), God now describes His construction standards. Judgment...to the line, and righteousness to the plummet (mishpat le-qav u-tsedaqah le-mishqalet, מִשְׁפָּט לְקָו וּצְדָקָה לְמִשְׁקָּלֶת) uses building imagery. The measuring line (qav, קָו) and plumb line (mishqalet, מִשְׁקָּלֶת, plummet) ensure straight, true construction. God's standards are perfect justice (mishpat, מִשְׁפָּט) and righteousness (tsedaqah, צְדָקָה). Amos 7:7-8 similarly uses plumb line imagery for God testing Israel.

When God applies His perfect standards, false refuges collapse: the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies (ve-ya'ah varad machseh kazav, וְיָעָה בָרָד מַחְסֵה כָזָב) and the waters shall overflow the hiding place (ve-seter mayim yittofu, וְסֵתֶר מַיִם יִטֹּפוּ). Hail and floods demolish structures not built to code. Political lies and false securities can't withstand divine judgment. This reverses verse 15 where they made lies their refuge—that refuge will be swept away. Only what's built on God's cornerstone with His standards survives (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Judah's Egyptian alliance failed exactly as Isaiah predicted. Pharaoh couldn't save Jerusalem. Babylon breached the walls (2 Kings 25:4). Waters of judgment overflowed their false hiding place. Jesus warned of storms testing foundations (Matthew 7:24-27). Revelation 6:15-17 depicts those who hid in rocks crying for mountains to fall on them—no hiding place from God's wrath. Only those in Christ, building on the cornerstone with righteous lives, stand when judgment comes. All false refuges—wealth, power, religion without Christ—will be swept away.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's use of 'judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet' assure believers that His standards are perfectly just?
  2. What 'refuges of lies' and false 'hiding places' in your life need to be swept away before judgment does it?
  3. How does building on Christ the cornerstone with righteous living ensure survival when God's judgment comes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י1 of 12

“also will I lay”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

מִשְׁפָּט֙2 of 12

“Judgment”

H4941

properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind

לְקָ֔ו3 of 12

“to the line”

H6957

a cord (as connecting), especially for measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord

וּצְדָקָ֖ה4 of 12

“and righteousness”

H6666

rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)

לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת5 of 12

“to the plummet”

H4949

a weight, i.e., a plummet (with line attached)

וְיָעָ֤ה6 of 12

“shall sweep away”

H3261

to brush aside

בָרָד֙7 of 12

“and the hail”

H1259

hail

מַחְסֵ֣ה8 of 12

“the refuge”

H4268

a shelter (literally or figuratively)

כָזָ֔ב9 of 12

“of lies”

H3577

falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively (idol)

וְסֵ֥תֶר10 of 12

“the hiding place”

H5643

a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)

מַ֖יִם11 of 12

“and the waters”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃12 of 12

“shall overflow”

H7857

to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to gallop, conquer

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 28:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 28:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Kings 21:13Amos 7:7-9Revelation 16:21Jeremiah 7:14Romans 2:5Isaiah 28:2

Test Your Knowledge

Isaiah 28 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterIsaiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Isaiah 28 with CommentaryAll Isaiah ChaptersComplete Isaiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes