Single lesson
Isaiah 28: The Captivity of Ephraim
Isaiah 28:1–13; Isaiah 28:14–22; Isaiah 28:23–29
Isaiah 28:1–13 warns Ephraim about pride, drunkenness and refusing Yahweh’s word. The passage contrasts fading human glory with Yahweh himself, and it ends with a sober warning about not listening. This lesson also brings together A Cornerstone in Zion, Listen and Hear.
Before you teach
This prophecy begins with a woe against the drunkards of Ephraim and their fading beauty. It then speaks of a mighty one from the Lord who will cast them down. After that, Yahweh is described as glory, justice and strength for the residue of his people. The passage closes with rebuke about hearing and teaching.
Explain the central teaching of Isaiah 28: The Captivity of Ephraim, using two details from the reading. Isaiah 28:1–13 shows that proud, drunken refusal to hear Yahweh leads to downfall, while Yahweh himself is glory, justice and strength for the residue of his people. This passage warns that false security will fail under Yahweh’s justice, while the foundation he lays in Zion is sure. This passage teaches that wise judgment uses the right method at the right time, and that such wisdom comes from Yahweh of Armies.
Welcome: Isaiah 28: The Captivity of Ephraim
5 minIntroduce “The Captivity of Ephraim”, “A Cornerstone in Zion”, “Listen and Hear” and locate Isaiah 28:1–13; Isaiah 28:14–22; Isaiah 28:23–29. Isaiah 28:1–13 shows that proud, drunken refusal to hear Yahweh leads to downfall, while Yahweh himself is glory, justice and strength for the residue of his people. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:7, Isaiah 28:13
Read and explain the passage
12 minThe Captivity of Ephraim (Isaiah 28:1–13): The passage opens with “Woe” to “the drunkards of Ephraim”. Their beauty is pictured as a crown and a flower, but it is a “fading flower”. Even though it stands over a fertile valley, this proud glory is tied to people who are overcome with wine.
A Cornerstone in Zion (Isaiah 28:14–22): Yahweh tells the scoffing rulers in Jerusalem to hear his word. They claim protection through a “covenant with death” and an “agreement with Sheol”. They say the overflowing scourge will not reach them because lies and falsehood are their refuge and hiding place.
Listen and Hear (Isaiah 28:23–29): The opening line repeats the call to hear: give ear, hear, listen, hear. The repeated words slow the reader down and make attention part of the message itself. What follows is not casual talk but instruction that must be carefully received.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “The Captivity of Ephraim”, “A Cornerstone in Zion”, “Listen and Hear”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:14, Isaiah 28:15, Isaiah 28:23
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What word pictures describe Ephraim’s glory, and what do they suggest about it?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage teaches that wise judgment uses the right method at the right time, and that such wisdom comes from Yahweh of Armies. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:4, Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 28:26, Isaiah 28:29
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Isaiah 28: The Captivity of Ephraim: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “The Captivity of Ephraim”, “A Cornerstone in Zion”, “Listen and Hear” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:15, Isaiah 28:29
Closing: return to Listen and Hear
3 minRevisit Isaiah 28:23–29. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Listen and Hear and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Isaiah 28:23, Isaiah 28:26, Isaiah 28:29
Questions to explore
What word pictures describe Ephraim’s glory, and what do they suggest about it?
Look at the crown, the fading flower and the first-ripe fig, and notice that each picture points to something attractive but short-lived.
Isaiah 28:1, Isaiah 28:4
How is the stone in Zion described, and what response is linked with believing?
List the words used for the stone, then notice the statement about the one who believes.
Isaiah 28:16
Where does the passage say this practical wisdom comes from?
Isaiah 28:26 says God instructs and teaches, and Isaiah 28:29 praises Yahweh of Armies for counsel and wisdom.
Isaiah 28:26, Isaiah 28:29
Make, think or respond
Isaiah 28: The Captivity of Ephraim: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Isaiah 28:1–13; Isaiah 28:14–22; Isaiah 28:23–29. Use “The Captivity of Ephraim”, “A Cornerstone in Zion”, “Listen and Hear” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Isaiah 28: The Captivity of Ephraim connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “The Captivity of Ephraim”, “A Cornerstone in Zion”, “Listen and Hear” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Isaiah 28:1–13; Isaiah 28:14–22; Isaiah 28:23–29. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Isaiah 28:1–13; Isaiah 28:14–22; Isaiah 28:23–29. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Isaiah 28
1 Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine!
2 Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.
3 The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot.
4 The fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley, shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer, which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it.
5 In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the residue of his people,
6 and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
7 They also reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine. They stagger with strong drink. They err in vision. They stumble in judgment.
8 For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness.
9 Whom will he teach knowledge? To whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?
10 For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.
11 But he will speak to this nation with stammering lips and in another language,
12 to whom he said, “This is the resting place. Give rest to the weary,” and “This is the refreshing;” yet they would not hear.
13 Therefore Yahweh’s word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.
14 Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:
15 “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’ ”
16 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
17 I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.
19 As often as it passes through, it will seize you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be nothing but terror to understand the message.”
20 For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.
21 For Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim. He will be angry as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his unusual work, and bring to pass his act, his extraordinary act.
22 Now therefore don’t be scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, on the whole earth.
23 Give ear, and hear my voice! Listen, and hear my speech!
24 Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he keep turning the soil and breaking the clods?
25 When he has leveled its surface, doesn’t he plant the dill, and scatter the cumin seed, and put in the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?
26 For his God instructs him in right judgment and teaches him.
27 For the dill isn’t threshed with a sharp instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned over the cumin; but the dill is beaten out with a stick, and the cumin with a rod.
28 Bread flour must be ground; so he will not always be threshing it. Although he drives the wheel of his threshing cart over it, his horses don’t grind it.
29 This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.