The phrase “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little” is found in Isaiah 28:13. This verse is part of a larger passage where Isaiah pronounces judgment on the northern kingdom of Israel for their lack of faith and distrust in God. The people of Israel had made an alliance with Egypt to protect themselves from Assyria instead of relying on God. Isaiah rebukes them for this and says they will be conquered and taken into exile by Assyria as judgment for their unbelief.
In Isaiah 28:9-13, Isaiah mocks the people’s attitude toward God’s Word given through the prophets. The people viewed God’s instructions as simplistic, treating them with contempt and scorn. They felt they knew better than God and did not need to listen to His Word.
So when Isaiah pronounces judgment on them, he does so by quoting back to them the very attitude they had toward God’s Word. Essentially he is saying, “You think God’s Word is too simplistic, just ‘precept upon precept, line upon line’? Very well then, by means of this very method that you scorn, God will pronounce His judgment upon you!”
The phrase “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little” indicates the basic, foundational, and elementary nature of God’s instructions. On its own, each individual precept or line seems very simple and not too demanding. However, when taken together as a whole, they build into God’s full revelation and His demands on His people.
The people of Israel were treating God’s Word lightly, while still expecting God to bless and protect them. By quoting this phrase back to them, Isaiah is pronouncing God’s judgment – that very method of instruction they had rejected would now become God’s means of communicating His judgment to them. The foundational, basic, simple truths they had rejected would now be built up line upon line to pronounce their coming judgment and exile.
In summary, the phrase “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little” refers to the basic, foundational nature of God’s instructions which the people of Israel had scorned. As judgment, God would use this very method to pronounce their coming judgment and exile. The way they had mocked God’s Word would become the way God’s Word came to them in judgment.
1. The Context of Isaiah 28
Isaiah 28 is part of Isaiah’s pronouncements of woe and judgment against both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel had made an alliance with Egypt to protect themselves from Assyria instead of relying on God (Isaiah 28:14-15). The leaders of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom of Judah were also scoffing at God’s Word (Isaiah 28:14).
So Isaiah pronounces woe and judgment on both kingdoms for their lack of faith and rejection of God’s Word. The northern kingdom of Israel would fall and be taken into exile by Assyria (Isaiah 28:1-6). The southern kingdom of Judah was also rebuked, although their judgment would not come until later by the hand of Babylon.
Isaiah 28:7-13 deals specifically with the northern kingdom of Israel immediately prior to their falling to the Assyrians. The leaders and prophets of Israel were drunkards (v. 7) who rejected true spiritual leadership (vv. 9-10). Their rejection of God’s Word is summed up in v. 13 which says “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.”
2. Israel’s Attitude Toward God’s Word
The phrase “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little” in Isaiah 28:13 reveals Israel’s contemptuous attitude toward the Word of God given through the prophets.
The nation was treating God’s instructions lightly, seeing them as simplistic, childish, repetitive, and not worthy of their attention. Every individual precept or line, when taken on its own, seemed very basic and not too demanding. Over time, they accumulated an dismissive attitude to God’s Word.
Verse 9 indicates the leaders of Israel were mocking God’s Word, seeing themselves as far wiser than the prophets or what God had to say. They were expressing contempt toward God Himself and His simple, foundational words (verse 10). They felt they knew better than God and did not need to obey His Word.
Although each individual precept or instruction was simple, together they built into the full counsel and will of God for all of life. But in their pride, the people of Israel saw no need for God’s Word and dismissed it as beneath them.
3. God’s Response Through Isaiah
Because the people of Israel had rejected God’s Word delivered “precept upon precept, line upon line”, God would now use the same method to pronounce His judgment upon them (Isaiah 28:11-13).
Isaiah quotes their scornful mantra right back to them in verse 13. They had mocked God’s simple, foundational way of instructing them. So now God would use that very method to communicate His message of judgment.
Just as they had treated each precept as unworthy of their attention, now God would use precept upon precept to build His case against them. They had rejected His “line upon line” word, so now judgment would come to them line upon line. The simplistic way they had dismissed would now become the very means of Yahweh’s judgment.
The scoffing attitude the people had taken toward God’s Word would now be the way God’s Word would come to them. The foundational, elemental way they had rejected God’s wisdom would now be how God pronounced their discipline.
This “precept upon precept” method indicates the basic, step-by-step way God had spoken to them through His Word. When taken together, these precepts built into the full purpose and plan of God. But in their arrogance, Israel had rejected God’s wisdom and instructions as simplistic and not worthy of their obedience. So God responded by using the very method they had scorned to announce their coming judgment and exile.
4. Examples of “Precept Upon Precept”
There are several examples throughout Scripture of God progressively revealing more of His truth one step at a time:
- The unfolding plan of redemption through the seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), then tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), then house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), culminating in the coming Messiah Jesus Christ.
- The revelations of God’s Law beginning in Exodus, repeated and enlarged throughout Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
- The “here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:10) manner in which prophecy was given across different biblical books and authors.
- Jesus’ teaching through parables which built line upon line to communicate deep spiritual truth.
- The epistles expanding layer by layer various theological doctrines about salvation, justification, sanctification, glorification, etc.
In all these examples, God did not reveal His full truth all at once, but gradually “precept upon precept” over time. But the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day had rejected even the first levels of truth. So God responded by using the same method to now pronounce their judgment.
5. Application for Us Today
This passage provides an important lesson for us as well. We must not become dismissive or think we know better than God’s Word. Scripture may at first seem basic, but it builds over time into deep spiritual truth.
We too must guard against arrogance and high-mindedness over simple biblical truths. Building our spiritual life requires accepting each line from God’s Word and putting it into practice. Only through humble obedience even to elementary precepts will we grow into maturity.
Like Israel, we are prone to despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10) in God’s plan for our lives. But every precept matters. We must give ourselves to careful, thoughtful obedience, taking every principle seriously. Then over time we will grow in wisdom and understanding.
Many people read isolated verses of the Bible while missing the grand story. Others treat Scripture as simplistic while relying on worldly wisdom instead. But every line of God’s Word is instructing us unto maturity in Christ. May we honor God’s precepts, guard against arrogance, and build our lives on His truth – line upon line and precept upon precept.