Isaiah 28:10 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 28:10 mean?

Isaiah 28:10 describes a way of teaching or giving instruction that is slow, repetitive, and broken into small, simple steps: “precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” The verse uses this phrase to show how the message is being delivered bit by bit, almost as if to children.

The prophet Isaiah is speaking to the leaders of Israel, who have become proud and dismissive of God’s warnings. Isaiah’s words here mimic the way they mock his teaching, as if it is childish or overly simple. The verse highlights the stubbornness of the people and the need for God’s message to be repeated in basic terms because they refuse to listen.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 28:10

• The word “precept” (צַו, tsav) means a command or instruction. Isaiah repeats it to emphasize the step-by-step, almost tedious way the message is being given.
• The word “line” (קַו, qav) can mean a measuring line or rule, suggesting a careful, measured approach to teaching.
• The word “little” (זְעֵיר, ze‘eir) means “a little” or “a small amount,” underlining how the instruction is given in small, simple pieces.

Why Isaiah 28:10 matters

• Isaiah 28:10 clears up the misunderstanding that God’s message is always grand or complex; sometimes, it must be given in the simplest terms because people are unwilling to listen.
• The verse shows the frustration of the prophet with the people’s hard hearts, which forces him to repeat basic truths over and over.
• This verse connects to the wider passage, where Isaiah warns that because the people mock God’s simple instructions, they will eventually face consequences for ignoring His word.