New English Translation
Isaiah 28:16
16Therefore, this is what the sovereign master, the Lord, says: “Look, I am laying a stone in Zion, an approved stone, set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation. The one who maintains his faith will not panic.
Isaiah 28:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.
Context of Isaiah 28:16
14Therefore, listen to the Lord’s word, you who mock, you rulers of these people who reside in Jerusalem! 15For you say, “We have made a treaty with death, with Sheol we have made an agreement. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by it will not reach us. For we have made a lie our refuge, we have hidden ourselves in a deceitful word.” Therefore, this is what the sovereign master, the Lord, says: “Look, I am laying a stone in Zion, an approved stone, set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation. The one who maintains his faith will not panic. 17I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place. 18Your treaty with death will be dissolved; your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by, you will be overrun by it.
Read all of Isaiah 28Isaiah 28:16 word by word
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
- Behold, I layיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
- in Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- for a foundation a stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- a triedבֹּ֫חַןbôchan · testingH976
- a preciousיָקָרyâqâr · preciousH3368
- cornerפִּנָּהpinnâh · cornerH6438
- foundationמוּסָדmûsâd · foundationH4143
- he that believethאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
- shall not make hasteחוּשׁchûsh · to hastenH2363
Cross-references for Isaiah 28:16
- Isaiah 8:14He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip, and a rock that makes one stumble – to the two houses of Israel. He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem.
- Genesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.
- Psalms 118:22The stone which the builders discarded has become the cornerstone.
- Zechariah 3:9As for the stone I have set before Joshua – on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord who rules over all, ‘to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.
- Matthew 21:42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- Mark 12:10Have you not read this scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- Luke 20:17But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
- Acts 4:11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.
- Romans 9:33just as it is written, “Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
- Romans 10:11For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:11For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 2:20because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
- 1 Peter 2:6For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.”
- Isaiah 30:18For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.
- Psalms 112:7He does not fear bad news. He is confident; he trusts in the Lord.
- Habakkuk 2:3For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out. Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass – it will not arrive late.
Commentaries on Isaiah 28:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Behold, I lay in Zion - See the notes on Genesis 49:32; Psalm 118:22; (note); Matthew 21:42; (note); Acts 4:11; (note); Romans 9:33; (note); Romans 10:11; (note); Ephesians 2:20; (note); 1 Peter 2:6-8; (note). Kimchi understands this of Hezekiah; but it most undoubtedly belongs to Jesus Christ alone; and his application of it to himself, even the Jews could not contest.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Therefore thus saith the Lord - God. This verse is introductory to the solemn threatening which follows. Its design seems to be this. The prophet was about to utter an awful threatening of the judgment of God upon the nation. It might be supposed, perhaps, that the intention was completely to sweep them, and destroy them - that the threatened calamity would remove every vestige of the Jewish people and of the true religion together. To meet this…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Here is a promise of Christ, as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. This foundation was laid in Zion, in the eternal counsels of God. This foundation is a stone, firm and able to support his church. It is a tried stone, a chosen stone, approved of God, and never failed any who made trial of it. A corner stone, binding together the whole building, and bearing the whole weight; precious in the sight of the Lord, and of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The Lord is the dependable cornerstone in Jerusalem, a valuable foundation stone of God's true city. There would be real hope in Jerusalem if the leaders and people turned to Him. By trusting in God, they would be safe during the worst storm or earthquake (see Isaiah 8:14; Psalm 118:22; Matthew 7:24–27; 21:42; see the application to Jesus Christ, Romans 9:33; 10:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Literally, "Behold Me as Him who has laid"; namely, in My divine counsel (Re 13:8); none save I could lay it (Is 63:5). stone--Jesus Christ; Hezekiah [Maurer], or the temple [Ewald], do not realize the full significancy of the language; but only in type point to Him, in whom the prophecy receives its exhaustive accomplishment; whether Isaiah understood its fulness or not (1Pe 1:11, 12), the Holy Ghost plainly contemplated its fulfilment in Christ…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 28:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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