Isaiah 28:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will judge according to perfect standards, and all false refuges will be swept away completely.
The Context of Isaiah 28:17
Isaiah emphasizes that God's judgment is both precise and inevitable, leaving no false refuge intact.
What Does Isaiah 28:17 Mean?
A line and plummet are tools of precise measurement. God's judgment will be exact and righteous—not arbitrary but perfectly calibrated according to truth. Nothing sloppy or unfair; everything tested against the standard of righteousness.
The hail and waters return to the language of overwhelming force from verse 2. All the lies and false refuges that leaders relied on will be destroyed. The 'hiding place' under falsehood has no actual shelter; the judgment sweeps through it as easily as water overflows a shallow ditch. No human deception can stand against God's truthful assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 28:17
What does Isaiah 28:17 mean?
God will judge according to perfect standards, and all false refuges will be swept away completely.
What is the context of Isaiah 28:17?
Isaiah emphasizes that God's judgment is both precise and inevitable, leaving no false refuge intact.