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24 Does a farmer just keep on plowing at planting time?[a]
Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?
25 Once he has leveled its surface,
does he not scatter the seed of the caraway plant,
sow the seed of the cumin plant,
and plant the wheat, barley, and grain in their designated places?[b]
26 His God instructs him;
he teaches him the principles of agriculture.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:24 tn Heb “All the day does the plowman plow in order to plant?” The phrase “all the day” here has the sense of “continually, always.” See BDB 400 s.v. יוֹם.
  2. Isaiah 28:25 tc The Hebrew text reads literally, “place wheat [?], and barley [?], and grain in its territory.” The term שׂוֹרָה (sorah) is sometimes translated “[in] its place,” but the word is unattested in the MT elsewhere. It is probably due to dittography of the immediately following שְׂעֹרָה (seoʿrah, “barley”). The meaning of נִסְמָן (nisman) is also uncertain. It may be due to dittography of the immediately following כֻסֶּמֶת (kussemet, “grain”).
  3. Isaiah 28:26 tn Heb “he teaches him the proper way; his God instructs him.”

24 When a farmer plows for planting,(A) does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?(B)
Does he not plant wheat in its place,[a]
    barley(C) in its plot,[b]
    and spelt(D) in its field?
26 His God instructs him
    and teaches(E) him the right way.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 28:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  2. Isaiah 28:25 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.