Isaiah 28:2
ESV
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.
NIV
See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
NASB
Behold, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent; As a storm of hail, a tempest of destruction, Like a storm of mighty overflowing waters, He has thrown it down to the earth with His hand.
CSB
Look, the Lord has a strong and mighty one — like a devastating hail storm, like a storm with strong flooding water. He will bring it across the land with his hand.
NLT
For the Lord will send a mighty army against it. Like a mighty hailstorm and a torrential rain, they will burst upon it like a surging flood and smash it to the ground.
KJV
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
NKJV
Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, Like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, Like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.
What does Isaiah 28:2 mean?
Isaiah is prophesying about the Lord's judgment to come on Israel, also called Ephraim. It is the nation of the northern ten tribes of Israel (1 Kings 12:16–20). He has pictured the capital of Israel, Samaria, as the crown or wreath on the head of a beautiful valley. The leaders, though, are in a drunken stupor, and the flower is fading quickly.Now Isaiah declares that the Lord has someone ready to deliver His judgment. This one is mighty and strong, like a hailstorm, a tempest that brings great flooding. Isaiah is describing the conquering nation of Assyria who will defeat and exile the Israelites in 722 BC.
The Assyrians would not likely have agreed, but Isaiah is clear: God is the one sending this defeat and exile upon His people in Israel. The Lord will use Assyria to judge His people for their faithlessness to Him. This is not because Assyria knows God or is faithful to Him in any way. In fact, the Assyrians did great evil in the world and the Lord will one day bring judgment and destruction on them as well (Isaiah 10:12). For now, though, Assyria is the Lord's mighty one who will rain down destruction on Israel.
