This verse highlights God’s use of unexpected means to capture humanity’s attention and draw them toward repentance.
Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the 8th century BC (740-681 BC), a turbulent period that saw various threats from powerful empires. When the prophet declares, “Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue” (v.11), he is addressing the complacent hearts of the leaders and people who have grown spiritually apathetic. They refused to heed the straightforward messages given through God’s prophets, so the Lord resolved to communicate His instruction in a language they would not understand—foreshadowing eventual judgment and exile if they persisted in their stubbornness. Rather than seeking refuge in God, they sought to establish their own security, an attitude Isaiah earnestly rebuked Isaiah 30:1-2).
By warning them “through stammering lips and a foreign tongue” (v.11), Isaiah points to how the Israelites would experience discipline from those who spoke languages unknown to them and whose words would be unintelligible in everyday life. This reflected a deeper spiritual reality: when people dull their ears to the truth, even the simplest divine instructions can seem incomprehensible. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul references a similar notion, stating that a foreign tongue can signal God’s judgment against hard-hearted attitudes (1 Corinthians 14:21). Isaiah’s warning reaches beyond a single generation, beckoning the faithful to remain responsive to God’s clear message.
Ultimately, “He will speak to this people Through stammering lips” (v.11) reminds us that God communicates in ways that expose pride and call us back to trust in Him. Even in the midst of judgment, the Lord’s heart is for redemption and a restored covenant relationship. If the people persist in disbelief, He may permit them to be overtaken by circumstances beyond their control so that they recognize their dependence on Him. But if they humbly acknowledge their need for divine guidance, they can avoid unnecessary calamity and experience the Lord’s protective care.
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Isaiah 28:11 meaning
Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the 8th century BC (740-681 BC), a turbulent period that saw various threats from powerful empires. When the prophet declares, “Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue” (v.11), he is addressing the complacent hearts of the leaders and people who have grown spiritually apathetic. They refused to heed the straightforward messages given through God’s prophets, so the Lord resolved to communicate His instruction in a language they would not understand—foreshadowing eventual judgment and exile if they persisted in their stubbornness. Rather than seeking refuge in God, they sought to establish their own security, an attitude Isaiah earnestly rebuked Isaiah 30:1-2).
By warning them “through stammering lips and a foreign tongue” (v.11), Isaiah points to how the Israelites would experience discipline from those who spoke languages unknown to them and whose words would be unintelligible in everyday life. This reflected a deeper spiritual reality: when people dull their ears to the truth, even the simplest divine instructions can seem incomprehensible. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul references a similar notion, stating that a foreign tongue can signal God’s judgment against hard-hearted attitudes (1 Corinthians 14:21). Isaiah’s warning reaches beyond a single generation, beckoning the faithful to remain responsive to God’s clear message.
Ultimately, “He will speak to this people Through stammering lips” (v.11) reminds us that God communicates in ways that expose pride and call us back to trust in Him. Even in the midst of judgment, the Lord’s heart is for redemption and a restored covenant relationship. If the people persist in disbelief, He may permit them to be overtaken by circumstances beyond their control so that they recognize their dependence on Him. But if they humbly acknowledge their need for divine guidance, they can avoid unnecessary calamity and experience the Lord’s protective care.