Isaiah 28:25
ESV
When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border?
NIV
When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field?
NASB
Does he not level its surface And sow dill and scatter cumin And plant wheat in rows, Barley in its place and rye within its area?
CSB
When he has leveled its surface, does he not then scatter black cumin and sow cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, with spelt as their border.
NLT
Does he not finally plant his seeds — black cumin, cumin, wheat, barley, and emmer wheat — each in its proper way, and each in its proper place?
KJV
When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?
NKJV
When he has leveled its surface, Does he not sow the black cummin And scatter the cummin, Plant the wheat in rows, The barley in the appointed place, And the spelt in its place?
What does Isaiah 28:25 mean?
Isaiah is using the basic steps of agriculture to point out something about Judah's situation. After plowing and leveling out the ground, the farmer will plant seeds in an orderly way. He will scatter dill by hand. Cumin needs to be sown more precisely. Wheat goes in rows and barley also has its place. Emmer—or spelt—was another type of wheat apparently sown around the border of the field.Commentators suggest Isaiah is saying that even a simple farmer takes care of his business in an orderly way. He follows instructions given according to wisdom and considering God's design. Israel's leaders should be doing the same. Another suggestion is after the season of "plowing up" Judah in judgment (Psalm 129:2–3), a new season of planting and growth will come for God's people (Jeremiah 30:3).
