For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
ISAIAH 28:21KJVWhat does Isaiah 28:21 mean?
Isaiah 28:21 describes the LORD rising up in judgment, comparing His actions to famous past events where He powerfully intervened—at Mount Perazim and in the valley of Gibeon. The verse calls God’s coming work “strange” and “unusual,” highlighting that this act of judgment is unexpected and out of the ordinary for Him.
Isaiah is speaking to the leaders of Jerusalem, warning them that God is about to act in a way that will surprise them. The reference to Mount Perazim and the valley of Gibeon recalls moments when God fought for Israel in dramatic ways, but here, the “strange work” is that God will act against His own people because of their stubbornness. The verse stresses that God’s judgment is not His usual way—it is extraordinary, meant to get their attention.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 28:21
- “Strange” (זָר — zar): This word means “foreign” or “unexpected.” Isaiah uses it to show that God’s judgment on His own people is not what He typically does; it is out of character for Him to punish Israel so severely.
- “Work” (מַעֲשֶׂה — ma‘aseh): This word means “deed” or “action.” The emphasis is on God’s deliberate and powerful intervention, not a random event.
- “Act” (עֲבֹדָה — ‘avodah): This word often means “service” or “work,” but here it is paired with “strange” to stress how unusual this intervention is.
- “Wroth” (רָגַז — ragaz): This word means “to be angry” or “to quake.” It highlights the intensity and seriousness of God’s response.
Why Isaiah 28:21 matters
- Isaiah 28:21 clears up the misunderstanding that God’s judgment is routine or desired by Him; the verse shows that such acts are rare and not His preferred way of dealing with His people.
- The verse connects God’s coming judgment to well-known stories from Israel’s past, but flips the expectation—God is now acting against, not for, His people.
- This verse emphasizes the seriousness of ignoring God’s warnings, showing that even God’s patience has limits, and when He acts in judgment, it is both shocking and deeply significant.