Isa 28:10 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 10. For precept must be upon precept ] The original is remarkably abrupt and sententious. The hemistichs are these:- latsav tsav latsav tsav ki lakav kav lakav kav sham zeeir sham zeeir For,-Command to command, command to command. Line to line, line to line. A little there, a little there. Kimchi says tsav, precept , is used here for mitsvah, command , and is used in no other place for it but here. tsav signifies a little precept , such as is suited to the capacity of a child; see . kav signifies the line that a mason stretches out to build a layer of stones by. After one layer or course is placed, he raises the line and builds another; thus the building is by degrees regularly completed. This is the method of teaching children, giving them such information as their narrow capacities can receive; and thus the prophet dealt with the Israelites. See Kimchi in loc ., and see a fine parallel passage, , by which this may be well illustrated. My old MS. Bible translates oddly:- For sende efter sende, sende efter sende: Abide efter abiide, abiide efter abiide: Lytyl ther, lytyl ther. Coverdale is also singular:- Commande that may be commanded; Byd that maye be bydden: Foorbyd that maye be forbydden; Kepe backe that maye be kepte backe: Here a litle, there a litle.

‏ Isaiah 28:10

Verse 10. For precept must be upon precept] The original is remarkably abrupt and sententious. The hemistichs are these:-

latsav tsav latsav tsav ki

lakav kav lakav kav

sham zeeir sham zeeir

For,-Command to command, command to command.

Line to line, line to line.

A little there, a little there.

Kimchi says tsav, precept, is used here for mitsvah, command, and is used in no other place for it but here. tsav signifies a little precept, such as is suited to the capacity of a child; see Isa 28:9. kav signifies the line that a mason stretches out to build a layer of stones by. After one layer or course is placed, he raises the line and builds another; thus the building is by degrees regularly completed. This is the method of teaching children, giving them such information as their narrow capacities can receive; and thus the prophet dealt with the Israelites. See Kimchi in loc., and see a fine parallel passage, Heb 5:12-14, by which this may be well illustrated.

My old MS. Bible translates oddly:-

For sende efter sende, sende efter sende: Abide efter abiide, abiide efter abiide: Lytyl ther, lytyl ther.

Coverdale is also singular:-

Commande that may be commanded;

Byd that maye be bydden:

Foorbyd that maye be forbydden;

Kepe backe that maye be kepte backe:

Here a litle, there a litle.