Isaiah 28:17
New International Version
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.

New Living Translation
I will test you with the measuring line of justice and the plumb line of righteousness. Since your refuge is made of lies, a hailstorm will knock it down. Since it is made of deception, a flood will sweep it away.

English Standard Version
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

Berean Standard Bible
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place.

New American Standard Bible
“I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the secret place.

NASB 1995
“I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies And the waters will overflow the secret place.

NASB 1977
“And I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the level; Then hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the secret place.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of falsehood, And the waters will overflow the secret place.

Amplified Bible
“I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the mason’s level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies And waters will flood over the secret [hiding] place.

Christian Standard Bible
And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason’s level.” Hail will sweep away the false refuge, and water will flood your hiding place.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason’s level.” Hail will sweep away the false refuge, and water will flood your hiding place.

American Standard Version
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

Contemporary English Version
Justice and fairness will be the measuring lines that help me build." Hailstones and floods will destroy and wash away your shelter of lies.

English Revised Version
And I will make judgment the line, and righteousness the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will make justice a measuring line and righteousness a plumb line. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and floodwaters will wash away your hiding place.

Good News Translation
Justice will be the measuring line for the foundation, and honesty will be its plumb line." Hailstorms will sweep away all the lies you depend on, and floods will destroy your security.

International Standard Version
And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and floods will overflow your hiding place.

Majority Standard Bible
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.

NET Bible
I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.

New Heart English Bible
I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have put judgment for a line, "" And righteousness for a plummet, "" And hail sweeps away the refuge of lies, "" And waters overflow the secret hiding place.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have put judgment for a line, And righteousness for a plummet, And sweep away doth hail the refuge of lies, And the secret hiding-place do waters overflow.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I set judgment to the line and justice to the weight: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of falsehood, and the waters shall overflow the covering.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will set judgment in weight, and justice in measure: and hail shall overturn the hope of falsehood: and waters shall overflow its protection.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will establish judgment in weights, and justice in measures. And a hailstorm will overturn hope in what is false; and waters will inundate its protection.

New American Bible
I will make judgment a measuring line, and justice a level.— Hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters shall flood the hiding place.

New Revised Standard Version
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will make justice to the measuring line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall set judgment for measurement and righteousness to the scale, and hail shall beat the false hope and water shall overflow the refuge
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will make justice the line, And righteousness the plummet; And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will cause judgement to be for hope, and my compassion shall be for just measures, and ye that trust vainly in falsehood shall fall: for the storm shall by no means pass by you,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Cornerstone in Zion
16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. 17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place. 18Your covenant with death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, you will be trampled by it.…

Cross References
Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus 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’?

1 Peter 2:6-8
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” / To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” / and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

Romans 9:33
as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Zechariah 10:4
The cornerstone will come from Judah, the tent peg from him, as well as the battle bow and every ruler together.

Acts 4:11
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Luke 20:17-18
But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? / Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Isaiah 8:14-15
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. / Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”

Amos 7:7-8
This is what He showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. / “Amos, what do you see?” asked the LORD. “A plumb line,” I replied. “Behold,” said the Lord, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:

Zechariah 4:7
What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”


Treasury of Scripture

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.

judgment

Isaiah 10:22
For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

2 Kings 21:13
And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

Psalm 94:15
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

and the hail

Isaiah 28:2,15
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand…

Isaiah 25:4
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Isaiah 32:2,18,19
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land…

and the waters

Isaiah 30:28
And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

Job 22:16
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

Daniel 11:22
And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

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Appoint Covered Decision Flowing Hail Hiding Hiding-Place Ice-Storm Judgment Justice Level Line Measuring Measuring-Line Overflow Overwhelm Plumb Plummet Refuge Right Righteousness Safe Secret Sweep Water Waters Weight Words
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Appoint Covered Decision Flowing Hail Hiding Hiding-Place Ice-Storm Judgment Justice Level Line Measuring Measuring-Line Overflow Overwhelm Plumb Plummet Refuge Right Righteousness Safe Secret Sweep Water Waters Weight Words
Isaiah 28
1. The prophet threatens Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness
5. The residue shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ
7. He rebukes their error
9. Their unwillingness to learn
14. And their security
16. Christ the sure foundation is promised
17. Their security shall be tried
23. They are incited to the consideration of God's providence














I will make justice the measuring line
In this phrase, the Hebrew word for "justice" is "מִשְׁפָּט" (mishpat), which conveys a sense of judgment, fairness, and righteousness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a measuring line was a tool used by builders to ensure that structures were straight and true. Here, God is declaring that His standard of justice will be the ultimate measure by which all actions and decisions are evaluated. This reflects the divine attribute of God as the ultimate judge who upholds righteousness and truth. In a world where human justice can be flawed, this assurance of divine justice provides hope and a call to align with God's standards.

and righteousness the plumb line
The term "righteousness" in Hebrew is "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), which implies a state of moral integrity and ethical conduct. A plumb line is a tool used to ensure vertical accuracy in construction. By using this metaphor, God emphasizes that His righteousness is the standard for uprightness and moral rectitude. This imagery suggests that just as a plumb line ensures a wall is perfectly vertical, God's righteousness ensures that His people live in alignment with His will. It is a call for believers to pursue a life that reflects God's character, striving for holiness and integrity in all aspects.

hail will sweep away your refuge of lies
The word "hail" in Hebrew is "בָּרָד" (barad), often associated with divine judgment and destruction in the Old Testament. The "refuge of lies" refers to falsehoods and deceitful practices that people rely on for security. Historically, hailstorms were seen as acts of divine intervention, often used to dismantle the false securities and idols that people trusted in. This phrase serves as a warning that any foundation built on deception will ultimately be destroyed by God's truth. It is a powerful reminder that only truth and integrity can withstand the scrutiny of divine judgment.

and water will flood your hiding place
In this context, "water" symbolizes overwhelming judgment and cleansing. The Hebrew word for "water" is "מַיִם" (mayim), which can represent both life and destruction, depending on the context. The "hiding place" signifies the false securities and secret sins that people believe are hidden from God. The imagery of water flooding these places suggests that God's judgment is inescapable and will uncover all hidden iniquities. This serves as a call to repentance, urging individuals to abandon their reliance on deceit and to seek refuge in God's truth and righteousness. It is an invitation to find true security in the Lord, who offers forgiveness and restoration.

(17) Judgment also will I lay to the line . . .--Rather, I make judgment for a line, and righteousness for a plummet. The architectural imagery is continued. The "elect corner stone" shall come up to the standard of perfection, laid four-square (Revelation 21:16); and, therefore, should be the true place of refuge; while? the boast of the scorners, which the prophet repeats in the words that follow, should prove a false one. They would see their place of refuge swept away by the great waters. (Comp. Matthew 7:26-27.) Their treaty with death and Hades should be treated as null and void, They should be trampled under foot by the invading armies.

Verse 17. - Judgment also will I lay to the line, said righteousness to the plummet; rather, justice also will I set for my rule, and righteousness for my plumb-line; i.e. I will execute justice and judgment on the earth with all strictness and exactness. The scorners had implied that, by their clever devices, they would escape the judgment of God (ver. 15). The hail (comp. ver. 2). The storm of Assyrian invasion will overwhelm Egypt, which is a "refuge of lies," false and untrustworthy (see the comment on ver. 15). The hiding-place. Mr. Cheyne adds, "of falsehood," supposing a word to have fallen out of the text. Such an addition seems almost required to complete the parallelism of the two clauses, and also for the balance between this verse and ver. 15.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will make
וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י (wə·śam·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

justice
מִשְׁפָּט֙ (miš·pāṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

the measuring line
לְקָ֔ו (lə·qāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6957: A cord, for, measuring, a rule, a rim, a musical string, accord

and righteousness
וּצְדָקָ֖ה (ū·ṣə·ḏā·qāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

the level.”
לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת (lə·miš·qā·leṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4949: A leveling instrument, a level

Hail
בָרָד֙ (ḇā·rāḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1259: Hail

will sweep away
וְיָעָ֤ה (wə·yā·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3261: To sweep together

your refuge
מַחְסֵ֣ה (maḥ·sêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4268: Refuge, shelter

of lies,
כָזָ֔ב (ḵā·zāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3577: A lie, falsehood, deceptive thing

and water
מַ֖יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

will flood
יִשְׁטֹֽפוּ׃ (yiš·ṭō·p̄ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7857: To gush, to inundate, cleanse, to gallop, conquer

your hiding place.
וְסֵ֥תֶר (wə·sê·ṯer)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5643: A covering, hiding place, secrecy


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 28:17 I will make justice the measuring line (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 28:16
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