Isaiah warns that when leaders let sin master them, confusion and corruption follow.
And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment. (v.7)
Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the latter half of the 8th century BC, around 740-700 BC, when God’s covenant people were repeatedly warned about their spiritual decay. Like many of the prophets, Isaiah served as an authorized envoy under Israel’s suzerain-vassal covenant with the LORD, highlighting that disobedience would bring dire consequences. These priests and prophets are described as stumbling and confused, not only physically but also morally and spiritually, because of their indulgence in alcohol. It depicts a stark failure of leadership at a time when Judah was meant to model God’s righteousness to surrounding nations.
The priests and prophets were supposed to be set apart for holiness, entrusted with administering the law and providing guidance for the people. Instead, they succumbed to drunkenness, nullifying their ability to offer wise judgment. The words they reel while having visions and totter when rendering judgment underscore how deeply their spiritual perception was impaired by excessive strong drink. This moral collapse pointed to a broader declension in Judah’s society—if the very guardians of truth were corrupted, the nation risked straying farther and farther from God’s standards.
In the New Testament, believers are urged to remain sober-minded (1 Peter 5:8) and not be drunk with wine (Ephesians 5:18). The tragic example in Isaiah 28:7 highlights that lack of self-control among spiritual leaders can have community-wide repercussions and dishonor the LORD’s holiness. By contrast, being filled with the Holy Spirit fosters clarity of mind, service to others, and humble reverence to God’s Word.
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Isaiah 28:7 meaning
And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment. (v.7)
Isaiah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the latter half of the 8th century BC, around 740-700 BC, when God’s covenant people were repeatedly warned about their spiritual decay. Like many of the prophets, Isaiah served as an authorized envoy under Israel’s suzerain-vassal covenant with the LORD, highlighting that disobedience would bring dire consequences. These priests and prophets are described as stumbling and confused, not only physically but also morally and spiritually, because of their indulgence in alcohol. It depicts a stark failure of leadership at a time when Judah was meant to model God’s righteousness to surrounding nations.
The priests and prophets were supposed to be set apart for holiness, entrusted with administering the law and providing guidance for the people. Instead, they succumbed to drunkenness, nullifying their ability to offer wise judgment. The words they reel while having visions and totter when rendering judgment underscore how deeply their spiritual perception was impaired by excessive strong drink. This moral collapse pointed to a broader declension in Judah’s society—if the very guardians of truth were corrupted, the nation risked straying farther and farther from God’s standards.
In the New Testament, believers are urged to remain sober-minded (1 Peter 5:8) and not be drunk with wine (Ephesians 5:18). The tragic example in Isaiah 28:7 highlights that lack of self-control among spiritual leaders can have community-wide repercussions and dishonor the LORD’s holiness. By contrast, being filled with the Holy Spirit fosters clarity of mind, service to others, and humble reverence to God’s Word.