Isaiah 28:13
But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Cross-reference
Isaiah 28:10 uses the same mocking phrase 'precept upon precept' that verse 13 repeats as judgment. The cross-reference is the source of the quote.
In Isaiah 6:9, the commission to preach to a people who will not understand—the same hardening that results in the snare described in 28:13.
In Isaiah 6:10, God hardens hearts so they cannot understand — the same divine judgment that makes His word a snare here.
Isaiah 8:14 calls God a stone of stumbling — the same imagery of falling and being snared as in this verse.
Isaiah 8:15 uses nearly identical language: 'stumble, fall, broken, snared, taken' — a direct parallel to this verse's ending.
Isaiah 29:12 depicts a man who cannot read the book — another example of the word not being received properly, leading to ignorance.
1 Peter 2:7 cites Isaiah 8:14's stone of stumbling — directly relating to the falling and breaking in this verse.
Matthew 13:14 quotes Isaiah 6:9-10 about hearing but not understanding — the same hardening that causes stumbling here.
Ezekiel 33:31 describes people hearing the word but not doing it — parallel to those here who receive precepts yet fall.
Psalm 119:165 promises no stumbling for those who love the law — the opposite outcome of the word causing stumbling here.
Romans 11:9 cites Psalm 69:22 as a snare for Israel — the same concept of God's word becoming a trap.
Hebrews 5:12 rebukes those who remain on spiritual milk, mirroring Isaiah’s scorners who mock basic teaching and then stumble.
Psalm 69:22 prays for enemies' table to become a snare — similar imagery of judgment that Paul later applies to Israel.
In Jeremiah 23:36-38, people pervert the phrase 'burden of the Lord'—similar to how Israel twists God’s words here, leading to judgment.
Matthew 21:44 echoes Isaiah 8:14-15's stone that breaks, paralleling the falling and breaking described here.
In Hosea 6:5, God hews and slays by the prophets’ words—parallel to Isa 28:13 where the word causes fall and brokenness. Both show word as instrument of judgment.
In Hosea 8:12, God’s many laws are regarded as strange—parallel to Israel rejecting God’s instruction here, leading to their downfall.
2 Corinthians 2:16 describes the gospel as death to some — analogous to God's word causing stumbling here.