Isaiah 28:21

For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses a rebellious audience in Jerusalem during a period of impending judgment, following warnings about insufficient spiritual refuge and preceding a command to cease mockery.

The words — יָקוּם (ya.Kum) = he will arise and יִרְגָּז (yir.Gaz) = he will rage.

The thread — The imagery of God rising and raging against enemies echoes David’s victory at Baal-perazim (1 Chronicles 14:11; 2 Samuel 5:20) and Joshua’s campaign in the Valley of Gibeon (Joshua 10:12).

Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh will act with disruptive force to execute judgment, demanding the audience recognize that current constraints will harden into heavier bondage if they persist in mockery.

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

כִּ֤יkifor כְהַר־khe./har-like/ [the] mountain of פְּרָצִים֙pe.ra.TzimPerazim יָק֣וּםya.Kumhe will arise יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh כְּעֵ֖מֶקke./'E.meklike/ a valley בְּגִבְע֣וֹןbe./giv.'onin/ Gibeon יִרְגָּ֑זyir.Gazhe will rage לַעֲשׂ֤וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ do מַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ma.'a.Se./hudeed/ his זָ֣רzar[is] strange מַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּma.'a.Se./hudeed/ his וְלַֽעֲבֹד֙ve./la./'a.Vodand/ to/ work עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹa.Vo.da.T/owork/ his נָכְרִיָּ֖הna.khe.ri.Yah[is] alien עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃a.vo.da.T/owork/ his

King James Version

For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 14:11 So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.
Joshua 10:12 On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.
Joshua 10:10 And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
2 Samuel 5:25 So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
1 Chronicles 14:16 So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Lamentations 2:15 All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?”
Deuteronomy 29:21 and single him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.
Isaiah 28:19 As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night.” The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
Isaiah 29:14 Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”