The Meaning of Isaiah 28:16 Explained

Isaiah 28:16

KJV: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

YLT: Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: 'Lo, I am laying a foundation in Zion, A stone -- a tried stone, a corner stone precious, a settled foundation, He who is believing doth not make haste.

Darby: Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I lay for foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that trusteth shall not make haste.

ASV: therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -'stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore thus saith  the Lord  GOD,  Behold, I lay  in Zion  for a foundation a stone,  a tried  stone,  a precious  corner  [stone], a sure  foundation:  he that believeth  shall not make haste. 

What does Isaiah 28:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord God"s response to His people"s lack of faith in Him was to reveal that He was doing something too. He was laying a firm foundation in Jerusalem that they could and should build on. This huge "stone" was tested, planted securely, and a sound basis for security. Ancient cornerstones were not the same as modern western ones. They were the largest and most determinative stone in the foundation of a building. Builders oriented the rest of the foundation in reference to this stone (cf. Ephesians 2:20), and it supported the major portion of the superstructure. What was this stone? I believe it was Messiah (cf. Psalm 118:22; Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 10:4; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6).
The commentators have offered many interpretations of this cornerstone, and several of them have written extended discussions of the figure. In biblical usage, the figure of God as a stone goes back to Genesis 49:24 (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 8:14-15). Since Messiah would be God ( Isaiah 9:6), the interpretation of this stone as Messiah is in harmony with these other biblical uses of the figure (cf. Isaiah 8:14). God was doing something that would make possible a stable edifice (Israel), namely, preparing for Messiah. Those in Isaiah"s day who believed that God was working for His people would not panic. Perhaps Isaiah"s hearers did not recognize this as messianic prophecy when the prophet gave it (cf. Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6). Perhaps they thought that Isaiah just meant that God was doing something hidden that would result in the security of their nation, and they should trust Him.

Context Summary

Isaiah 28:14-29 - Truth The Only Refuge
In the beginning of Hezekiah's reign the Jewish leaders had made an alliance with Assyria, on whom they relied to protect them against any and all foes. But the prophet told them plainly that they would be disappointed, and that when the Assyrian scourge passed through the land toward Egypt, it would involve them also in disaster, Isaiah 28:18. Then he broke out with this sublime description of the only foundation of security that could never fail. The deep meaning of this prediction of the precious corner-stone is unfolded in later Scriptures, Matthew 21:42; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7. Christ was tried by Satan and by man: He is precious: He unites the walls of Jew and Gentile that were at right-angles to each other. All our excuses and professions are too short and too narrow when God enters into judgment. Outside of Christ there is neither peace nor safety. See that thou buildest Him a holy character of gold, silver, and precious stones, 1 Corinthians 3:10, etc. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 28

1  The prophet threatens Ephraim for their pride and drunkenness
5  The residue shall be advanced in the kingdom of Christ
7  He rebukes their error
9  Their unwillingness to learn
14  And their security
16  Christ the sure foundation is promised
17  Their security shall be tried
23  They are incited to the consideration of God's providence

What do the individual words in Isaiah 28:16 mean?

therefore thus says the Lord GOD behold I lay for a foundation in Zion a stone a stone tried a cornerstone precious a foundation sure Whoever believes not will act hastily
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ

כֹּ֤ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַר֙  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲדֹנָ֣י  the  Lord 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲדֹנָי  
Sense: my lord, lord.
יְהוִ֔ה  GOD 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
הִנְנִ֛י  behold 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
יִסַּ֥ד  I  lay  for  a  foundation 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
בְּצִיּ֖וֹן  in  Zion 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
אָ֑בֶן  a  stone 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
אֶ֣בֶן  a  stone 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
בֹּ֜חַן  tried 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּחַן  
Sense: testing, tested, tried.
פִּנַּ֤ת  a  cornerstone 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: פִּנָּה  
Sense: corner.
יִקְרַת֙  precious 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular construct
Root: יְקִפָּאֹון 
Sense: valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid.
מוּסָ֣ד  a  foundation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָד  
Sense: foundation, laying of foundation, foundation-laying.
מוּסָּ֔ד  sure 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין  Whoever  believes 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
יָחִֽישׁ  will  act  hastily 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חוּשׁ 
Sense: to haste, make haste, hurry.