Isaiah 28:23 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 28:23 mean?

Isaiah 28:23 calls the audience to pay close attention to what the speaker is about to explain. The repeated commands mark a shift from the warning in the preceding passage to an explanation drawn from the work of a farmer.

Isaiah speaks to people in Judah who have heard his warnings, including leaders in Jerusalem. The four commands are arranged in two pairs: “Give ye ear, and hear my voice” and “hearken, and hear my speech.” The paired lines give the introduction a deliberate, rhythmic sound.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 28:23

• “ear” — אָזַן (ʾāzan): This word can mean to give ear or listen closely. The KJV phrase “Give ye ear” expresses one Hebrew command, making the ear an image for attentive listening.
• “hearken” — קָשַׁב (qāshav): This word carries the sense of paying attention or listening carefully. Alongside “hear,” the word adds to the verse’s insistent appeal.

Why Isaiah 28:23 matters

• The verse introduces an illustration rather than leaving the earlier warning unexplained. After “hear my speech,” Isaiah asks about a farmer’s plowing and planting in verses 24–25.
• The farming picture points to thoughtful choices in the way a farmer works. In verses 27–28, different crops receive different treatment, helping explain why Isaiah begins by asking the audience to listen carefully.