For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The seemingly simple repetition of "precept upon precept, line upon line" isn't just about God teaching His people basic lessons. It highlights the mockery of those who scorned God's message, reducing His profound truths to a childish, repetitive drone that they felt was beneath them.
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is addressing the drunkards of Ephraim and the proud leaders of Jerusalem, who are mocking his message. They dismiss his teachings as repetitive and simplistic, like lessons for children, rather than engaging with the profound truths he proclaims. This verse reveals their scornful attitude towards God's word, portraying it as mere "precept upon precept, line upon line," and setting the stage for God's judgment upon their wilful ignorance.
Why would God's message be delivered with such seemingly tedious repetition? And what does this tell us about those who hear it?
The phrase 'precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little' describes the way the prophet Isaiah was delivering God's message. However, this wasn't just simple repetition. Those who were mocking Isaiah heard his message this way because they were filled with disdain for God and His word.
Why the Repetition?
God's method of patiently repeating His truths is meant for understanding, but for those who refuse to listen and mock, even the clearest instruction sounds like meaningless babble.
What happens when people mock God's warnings, believing they are immune to His judgment?
The people of Judah, and particularly their leaders, were not just dismissive of Isaiah's message; they were actively mocking God's authority and His warnings. They believed they had a special arrangement that protected them from disaster.
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A False Sense of Security
Understand the original words
tsav · Hebrew Noun
A command, rule, or divine instruction; used here to denote the foundational, repetitive building blocks of God's moral and spiritual law.
qav · Hebrew Noun
A standard or measuring instrument used metaphorically for the authoritative and objective standard of God's revealed truth.
This verse describes the scornful rejection of prophetic messages by the people of Judah during a time of escalating imperial threats and internal corruption, particularly during the Assyrian and Babylonian periods. Their mocking dismissal of God's word as simplistic and repetitive highlights their spiritual dullness and unwillingness to heed warnings of impending judgment.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence and control over the region of Israel and Judah, including military campaigns and deportations.
c. 732 BC
Fall of Samaria (First Deportation)
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, fell to the Assyrians, leading to the deportation of a significant portion of its population and the end of the kingdom as a distinct entity.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Captivity of Israel
Following the fall of Samaria, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was fully absorbed into the Assyrian Empire, with its people exiled and scattered, marking the end of the ten tribes' independent existence.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, but inexplicably withdrew before conquering the city.
c. 605 BC
Babylonian Empire Rises
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II began its ascent, eventually replacing Assyria as the dominant power in the region.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a large part of the remaining population of Judah, marking a profound crisis for the Jewish people.
This passage directly quotes and applies Isaiah's words about 'precept upon precept' to the context of church teaching, highlighting how incomprehensible spiritual speech can be to those who don't understand, much like the people Isaiah was addressing.
Hebrews 5:12-14The author of Hebrews uses a similar metaphor of needing 'milk' and being unable to handle 'solid food' to describe spiritual immaturity, echoing Isaiah's critique of those who only respond to elementary, repetitive instruction and can't grasp deeper truths.
Matthew 11:28Jesus offers rest to the weary, which is a profound truth that contrasts with the superficial or ineffective 'rest' the people of Isaiah's day were seeking, showing what true rest entails compared to their shallow understanding.
Luke 10:25-37The parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates a practical application of 'loving your neighbor' – a 'precept' – that goes beyond mere rote instruction, revealing the heart of God's commands which the people in Isaiah were missing.
cambridgeIsaiah 28:10: "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"
10 . The topers proceed to mock, in stammering drunken tones, the excited utterance and the wearisome iterations of the prophet’s teaching. Translate with R.V. (marg.) For it is precept upon precept … rule upon rule … here a little, there a little . The Hebr. is a series of monosyllables ( çav lâ-çâv çav lâ-çâv qav lâ-qâv qav lâ-qâv z‘êr shâm z‘êr shâm ); th…
barnesIsaiah 28:10: "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"
For precept must be upon precept - This is probably designed to ridicule the concise and sententious manner of the prophets, and especially the fact that they dwelt much upon the same elementary truths of religion. In teaching children we are obliged to do it by often repeating the same simple lesson. So the profane and scoffing teachers of the people said i…
The seemingly simple repetition of "precept upon precept, line upon line" isn't just about God teaching His people basic lessons. It highlights the mockery of those who scorned God's message, reducing His profound truths to a childish, repetitive drone that they felt was beneath them.
The prophet Isaiah is addressing the drunkards of Ephraim and the proud leaders of Jerusalem, who are mocking his message. They dismiss his teachings as repetitive and simplistic, like lessons for children, rather than engaging with the profound truths he proclaims. This verse reveals their scornful attitude towards God's word, portraying it as mere "precept upon precept, line upon line," and setting the stage for God's judgment upon their wilful ignorance.
The prophet Isaiah is addressing the drunkards of Ephraim and the proud leaders of Jerusalem, who are mocking his message. They dismiss his teachings as repetitive and simplistic, like lessons for children, rather than engaging with the profound truths he proclaims. This verse reveals their scornful attitude towards God's word, portraying it as mere "precept upon precept, line upon line," and setting the stage for God's judgment upon their wilful ignorance.
"For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”" — The seemingly simple repetition of "precept upon precept, line upon line" isn't just about God teaching His people basic lessons. It highlights the mockery of those who scorned God's message, reduc…
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Last reviewed October 2026