Isaiah 28 — Dead Sea Scrolls
29 verses • 11 variants • Columns XXII–XXIII of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 28 opens the 'Woe Oracles' section (chs. 28–33) with a denunciation of Ephraim's drunken leaders, then pivots to Judah with the crucial cornerstone passage (v. 16). The 29 verses contain a mix of orthographic and theologically significant variants.
Notable Variants
Verse 11 has a variant in the 'stammering lips' passage. Verse 15 has the 'covenant with death' phrase. Verse 16 — the cornerstone passage quoted in Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:6 — is the theological centerpiece. Verse 21 references Mount Perazim and the Valley of Gibeon.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
Woe to the proud crown of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading blossom of its splendid beauty, set on the head of a rich valley — those hammered by wine!
Masoretic (WLC)
עֲטֶרֶת
crown of
Dead Sea Scroll
עטרת
crown of
Identical consonantal text. The 'proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim' — the fading flower of their glorious beauty — is described identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXII, line 20
Look — the Lord has one who is mighty and strong. Like a storm of hail, a torrent of destruction, like a flood of mighty, overwhelming waters, he will hurl it down to the earth with force.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXII, line 21
The proud crown of Ephraim's drunkards will be trampled underfoot.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXII, line 22
And the fading blossom of its splendid beauty, set on the head of a rich valley, will be like an early fig before summer — whoever sees it swallows it the moment it is in his hand.
Masoretic (WLC)
בִּכּוּרָה
first-ripe fig
Dead Sea Scroll
בכורה
first-ripe fig
Identical consonantal text. The simile of the first-ripe fig — eagerly devoured as soon as it is seen — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXII, line 23
On that day the LORD of Hosts Himself will become a crown of splendor and a diadem of beauty for the remnant of His people,
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXII, line 24
a spirit of justice for the one who sits in judgment, and strength for those who turn back the battle at the gate.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 1
But these also stagger from wine and reel from strong drink: priest and prophet stagger from strong drink, swallowed up by wine, reeling from strong drink. They stagger in their visions; they stumble in their judgments.
Masoretic (WLC)
בַּיַּיִן
with wine
Dead Sea Scroll
ביין
with wine
1QIsaiah-a writes ביין with a shorter form. The drunkenness imagery — priests and prophets staggering with wine — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 2
For every table is covered with vomit — filth with no clean place left.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 3
'Whom will he teach knowledge? Whom will he instruct in the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?'
Masoretic (WLC)
שְׁמוּעָה
message/report
Dead Sea Scroll
שמועה
message/report
Identical consonantal text. 'Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message?' — the people's mocking question about Isaiah's preaching. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 4
'For it is command upon command, command upon command, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there.'
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 5
Indeed, through foreign lips and an alien tongue the LORD will speak to this people.
Masoretic (WLC)
לַעֲגֵי
stammering
Dead Sea Scroll
לעגי
stammering
1QIsaiah-a reads לעגי identically in consonantal form. The passage about 'stammering lips and a foreign tongue' through which God will speak to this people is preserved in both traditions. Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 14:21 in the context of speaking in tongues. The DSS confirm the reading.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 6
He had told them, 'This is the place of rest — give rest to the weary; this is the place of repose.' But they would not listen.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 7
So the word of the LORD will become for them command upon command, command upon command, line upon line, line upon line, a little here, a little there — so that they will go and stumble backward, be broken, ensnared, and captured.
Masoretic (WLC)
צַו
command
Dead Sea Scroll
צו
command
Identical consonantal text. The mocking repetition צַו לָצָו צַו לָצָו (tsav la-tsav, tsav la-tsav — 'precept upon precept') is preserved identically. These may be nonsense syllables imitating Isaiah's preaching, or genuine Hebrew meaning 'command upon command.' The ambiguity is present in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 8
Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 9
Because you have said, 'We have cut a covenant with death; with Sheol we have made a pact. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps through, it will not reach us, for we have made lies our refuge and hidden ourselves behind falsehood,'
Masoretic (WLC)
בְּרִית אֶת־מָוֶת
covenant with death
Dead Sea Scroll
ברית את מות
covenant with death
1QIsaiah-a preserves the phrase ברית את מות ('covenant with death') identically. Jerusalem's rulers have made a 'covenant with death' and an 'agreement with Sheol' — likely referring to a political alliance with Egypt, described in the most extreme theological terms. The metaphor influenced apocalyptic literature and is echoed in the Qumran community's own covenant theology.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 10
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Look — I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. The one who trusts will never be shaken.'
Masoretic (WLC)
אֶבֶן בֹּחַן פִּנַּת יִקְרַת מוּסַד מוּסָּד
a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation
Dead Sea Scroll
אבן בוחן פנת יקרת מוסד מוסד
a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation
The cornerstone passage. 1QIsaiah-a reads אבן בוחן (with plene spelling of 'tested') but otherwise preserves the MT reading exactly. The full phrase: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation.' Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:6 both quote this passage, identifying the cornerstone with Christ. The DSS confirm the pre-Christian form of this crucial text. The phrase 'the one who believes will not be in haste' (ha-ma'amin lo yachish) — trusting rather than panicking — is preserved identically.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 11
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line. Hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will flood the hiding place.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 12
Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps through, you will be trampled by it.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 13
As often as it passes through, it will seize you — morning after morning it will sweep over, by day and by night. Sheer terror will be the only way to understand this message.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 14
For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַמַּצָּע
the bed
Dead Sea Scroll
המצע
the bed
Identical consonantal text. The proverbial image — 'the bed is too short to stretch out on and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in' — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 15
For the LORD will rise as He did at Mount Perazim; He will storm as in the Valley of Gibeon — to do His work, His strange work, and perform His task, His alien task.
Masoretic (WLC)
פְּרָצִים
Perazim
Dead Sea Scroll
פרצים
Perazim
1QIsaiah-a writes פרצים identically. Mount Perazim references David's victory in 2 Samuel 5:20. The Valley of Gibeon references Joshua 10. God's coming work will be 'strange' (zarah) and 'alien' (nokhriyyah) — judgment against his own people. Both historical allusions are preserved identically.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 16
Now stop your scoffing, lest your chains grow even tighter, for I have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts a decree of destruction determined against the whole land.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 17
Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear my words.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 18
Does the farmer plow all day just to sow? Does he endlessly break and harrow his ground?
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 19
When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter black cumin and sow cumin, plant wheat in rows and barley in its place, and spelt along the border?
Masoretic (WLC)
קֶצַח
black cumin
Dead Sea Scroll
קצח
black cumin
Identical consonantal text. The agricultural parable — the farmer knows when to plow and when to harvest — is preserved identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 20
For his God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 21
Black cumin is not threshed with a sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin. Black cumin is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 22
Grain for bread is crushed, but not forever does the farmer thresh it. He drives the cart wheel over it but does not grind it to dust.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 23
This also comes from the LORD of Hosts — wonderful in counsel, magnificent in wisdom.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XXIII, line 24