Isaiah 28:11

Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The text states that God will speak to "this people" using mocking lips and foreign tongues. This declaration follows a description of a group that has reduced divine instruction to a fragmented, repetitive chant.

The words — The Hebrew phrase בְּלַעֲגֵי שָׂפָה (be./la.'a.Gei sa.Fah) literally renders "by stammerings of lips," while אַחֶּ֑רֶת ('a.Che.ret) means "another." These terms specify the manner and medium of the forthcoming speech.

The thread — The passage is quoted in 1 Corinthians 14:21 to demonstrate how God uses foreign tongues as a sign of judgment. The motif of a distant nation bringing foreign speech also appears in Deuteronomy 28:49 and Jeremiah 5:15.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that divine communication may shift from clear instruction to unintelligible speech when a people refuse offered rest. It requires the reader to confront the direct consequence of rejecting obedience.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֚יkifor בְּלַעֲגֵ֣יbe./la.'a.Geiby/ stammerings of שָׂפָ֔הsa.Fahlip וּבְלָשׁ֖וֹןu./ve./la.Shonand/ by/ a tongue אַחֶ֑רֶת'a.Che.retanother יְדַבֵּ֖רye.da.Berhe will speak אֶל־'el-to הָעָ֥םha./'Amthe/ people הַזֶּֽה׃ha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

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

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 14:21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,
Jeremiah 5:15 Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.
Isaiah 33:19 You will no longer see the insolent, a people whose speech is unintelligible, who stammer in a language you cannot understand.