Isaiah 28:11

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Isaiah 28:11 (KJV)

Context

Isaiah 28:11 sits within a prophetic oracle against the leaders and priests of Jerusalem in the eighth century BC. The chapter opens with a woe against Ephraim’s drunkards, and by verse 11 Isaiah addresses rulers who mock the prophet’s message (Isaiah 28:1, 7-10). They had rejected the plain teaching of God through Isaiah, asking, “Whom shall he teach knowledge? … them that are weaned from the milk?” (Isaiah 28:9). They treated the prophet’s words as childish and repetitive: “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10).

Meaning

In verse 11, Isaiah foretells that God will address a people who refuse to listen by using “stammering lips and another tongue.” The Hebrew word for “stammering” (la’ag) can mean “to mock” or “to stammer,” and the NET Bible renders it “mocking lips.” This is not a promise of new revelation but a declaration of judgment. Because the people despised the simple prophetic word, they would receive a word they could not understand—spoken through foreign invaders. The verse contrasts with verse 12, where God had offered rest and refreshing, but the people would not hear.

Biblical connections

The prophecy found partial fulfillment in the Assyrian domination of the eighth century BC. Under kings such as Shalmaneser V and Sargon II, the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC, carrying many Israelites into exile. Their commanders communicated in Assyrian, a language foreign to the Hebrew-speaking population, thereby matching Isaiah’s description. The verse is quoted by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:21, where he applies it to the purpose of tongues as a sign for unbelievers, not for believers.

Application

Isaiah 28:11 reminds believers of God’s sovereignty and His ability to communicate through unexpected means. It calls us to be attentive to God’s voice—whether heard in Scripture, preaching, or the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The passage also underscores that the gospel is not confined to a single language or culture but is meant to be shared with people of every tongue. The verse carries a warning: persistent rejection of God’s clear word leads to a form of judgment where His message becomes unintelligible or comes through harsh circumstances. Yet even in judgment, God continues to speak, calling His people to repentance.

Reflection

In sum, the verse warns of judgment through foreign conquerors, records a historical partial fulfillment, and points to the ultimate spiritual fulfillment in Pentecost, urging us to remain receptive to God’s diverse communications.