Isaiah 28:22
ESV
Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord God of hosts against the whole land.
NIV
Now stop your mocking, or your chains will become heavier; the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
NASB
And now do not carry on as scoffers, Or your shackles will be made stronger; For I have heard from the Lord God of armies Of decisive destruction on all the earth.
CSB
So now, do not scoff, or your shackles will become stronger. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Armies a decree of destruction for the whole land.
NLT
For the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, has plainly said that he is determined to crush the whole land. So scoff no more, or your punishment will be even greater.
KJV
Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.
NKJV
Now therefore, do not be mockers, Lest your bonds be made strong; For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, A destruction determined even upon the whole earth.
What does Isaiah 28:22 mean?
The Lord is about to do something unusual (Isaiah 28:21). Isaiah has warned the leaders of Jerusalem that God is about to strike at His own people in Israel and Judah. He will send the hailstorm of the Assyrians against them for their continued unfaithfulness (Isaiah 28:17–18).Now Isaiah warns the Jerusalem leaders not to scoff at his message to them. The Lord's prophets were often mocked. They brought dire warnings to powerful people who saw no immediate evidence that anything bad was coming their way. Ephraim's religious leaders mocked Isaiah's warnings about the Assyrians (Isaiah 28:9–10). Now he tells Judah's rulers to check themselves before giving into the same dismissive attitude.
Isaiah says mocking will make the impending disaster even stronger, and more restrictive. This is almost a hopeful warning. It implies that though the Lord has sentenced Judah to certain judgment, there is wiggle room in their "bonds." Perhaps there is time for repentance and restoration.
But make no mistake: Isaiah has heard from the Lord God of hosts a decree of destruction against the entire land of both Israel and Judah.
