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Isaiah 28:12

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 28:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isaiah 28:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 28

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?
10For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.
11Nay, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people;
12to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
14Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:
15Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
← Isaiah 28:11Isaiah 28:13 →
← Full Chapter 28 Isaiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“To whom he said, &c.] Either the Lord himself, or the prophet Isaiah; or rather the Lord by him, and other prophets; so the Targum, “to whom the prophets said;” that is, the true prophets of the Lord said to the people, or to the priests and other prophets; or Christ and his apostles, as follows: This [is] the rest [wherewith] ye may cause the weary to rest: and this [is] the refreshing: that is, by teaching the word of God, the true knowledge of him, and the sound doctrines of the Gospel, and the duties of religion; this would be the best way of casing and refreshing the minds and consciences of the people, burdened with a sense of sin, or distressed and disconsolate through afflictions and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Rather, "He (Jehovah) who hath said to them." this . . . the rest--Reference may be primarily to "rest" from national warlike preparations, the Jews being at the time "weary" through various preceding calamities, as the Syro-Israelite invasion (Isa 7:8; compare Isa 30:15; Isa 22:8; Isa 39:2; Isa 36:1; Kg2 18:8). But spiritually, the "rest" meant is that to be found in obeying those very "precepts" of God (Isa 28:10) which they jeered at (compare Jer 6:16; Mat 11:29).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“This - This doctrine. The rest - The only way, in which you will find rest. Isaiah 28:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“28:12 Had his people listened, God’s revelation would have led them to rest (see 48:18-19). But they would not listen because of their hard hearts (65:12).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“This: Isa 30:15; Ch2 14:11, Ch2 16:8, Ch2 16:9; Jer 6:16; Mat 11:28, Mat 11:29 yet: Psa 81:11-13; Jer 44:16; Zac 7:11, Zac 7:14; Heb 12:25 Isaiah 28:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification