The subject of speaking in tongues has generated several debates in the body of Christ. And one of the Old Testament passages many Christians misunderstand and often use to justify their confusion is Isaiah 28:11.
But the truth remains that Isaiah 28:11 is not referring to the New Testament gift of speaking in tongues. Rather, it is part of a prophetic rebuke God delivered through Isaiah to the priests and prophets of Judah who had abandoned their calling and drowned themselves in wine.
Before we examine the real meaning of that passage, it is important to understand that the gift of speaking in tongues, as we have clearly revealed in other teachings such as
Speaking in Tongues: A Gift of the Holy Spirit,
The Meaning of Speaking in Tongues, and
The Purpose of Speaking in Tongues —
is a spiritual manifestation exclusively birthed by the Holy Spirit, not a prophecy of judgment.
What Did Isaiah 28:11 Say About Speaking in Tongues?
Isaiah 28:11 is not referring to speaking in tongues as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Instead, God used Isaiah to warn the drunk prophets and priests of Judah that because they refused to listen to His voice, He would speak to them through “stammering lips and another tongue” — meaning foreign invaders.
This is not a prophecy of the New Testament gift of tongues; it is a message of judgment toward a rebellious nation.
The Context of Isaiah 28: A Nation That Refused to Listen
The entire chapter of Isaiah 28 reveals a heartbreaking scene. The prophets and priests, who were supposed to guide the people spiritually, had “erred through wine.” Their tables were full of vomit, and they could not discern the word of the Lord. Instead of being vessels of revelation, they had become instruments of confusion.
So God sent Isaiah to confront their rebellion, but they mocked him, saying his teachings were childish — “line upon line, precept upon precept.” They despised correction. They despised instructions. They despised the voice of God.
Therefore, God declared that since they refused to listen to His clear voice, He would speak to them in a language they would not understand — through the foreign armies that would invade and punish them.
This is what “with stammering lips and another tongue” means in Isaiah 28:11.
How the Prophets of Judah Failed Their Calling
Isaiah revealed that their spiritual blindness did not come from ignorance but from indulgence. They abandoned prayer, abandoned the word, abandoned their prophetic office, and embraced drunkenness. Their spiritual senses became dull, and their prophetic sight faded.
They were supposed to be watchmen over the nation, but instead, they became stumbling blocks. The people who relied on them for direction were left without guidance.
This is why God’s judgment became inevitable. Whenever spiritual leaders abandon their calling, the people suffer. The land becomes polluted. Confusion replaces revelation.
So Isaiah 28:11 is part of God’s disciplinary message to warn Judah that their lack of spiritual sensitivity had pushed them toward destruction.
Why Isaiah 28:11 Cannot Refer to the Gift of Tongues
1. Tongues in the New Testament Is a Gift of Grace
The New Testament makes it clear — speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit given for edification, prayer, and communion with God.
This was clearly established in our teaching:
The Purpose of Speaking in Tongues.
But Isaiah 28:11 was spoken in a context of judgment and punishment, not grace. God was not empowering Judah — He was warning them.
2. The Passage Addresses Unbelief, Not Spiritual Gifts
Judah’s prophets and priests refused to hear the word of the Lord. Their unbelief caused them to stumble.
So God said that instead of speaking to them in a clear language through His prophets, He would use “another tongue” — the language of their invaders.
This has nothing to do with the speaking in tongues that edifies the believer, as explained in
Difference Between Praying in the Spirit and Speaking in Tongues.
3. The New Testament Never Quotes Isaiah 28 to Explain Tongues
No apostle ever used Isaiah 28 to teach about the gift of tongues. They explained tongues by the operation of the Holy Spirit, not by judgment passages.
This alone shows that Isaiah’s message was for a completely different purpose.
The Prophetic Warning Behind Isaiah 28:11
Isaiah 28:11 carries a sober warning — when God speaks and His people refuse to listen, He turns to judgment.
God wanted Judah to repent. He wanted the prophets to wake up from their drunken stupor. He wanted His people to return to righteousness.
But they hardened their hearts. So God turned to a foreign nation to discipline them, as He had done many times in Israel’s history.
This teaches a powerful lesson for believers today:
- When we resist the voice of God, confusion enters.
- When spiritual leaders lose their sensitivity, the people suffer.
- When we reject God’s gentle correction, harsher correction meets us.
How This Revelation Helps Us Understand Speaking in Tongues Today
Understanding Isaiah 28:11 helps believers avoid misinterpretation. Tongues is not a sign of judgment; it is a sign of God’s presence.
It is a spiritual blessing.
It is a channel of communion with God.
It is a manifestation of the Spirit, as we taught earlier in
Is Speaking in Tongues a Gift or Learned?.
But trying to use Isaiah 28:11 to define tongues only produces confusion — the same confusion Paul warned about in
The Disadvantages of Speaking in Tongues.
A Call to Discernment
The Christian must learn to rightly divide the word of truth. Not every passage is talking about spiritual gifts. Not every tongue mentioned in Scripture refers to glossolalia (speaking in tongues).
Many passages refer to languages, nations, judgments, warnings, instructions, or parables.
Isaiah 28:11 belongs to the category of judgment passages.
It carries a prophetic warning to leaders who refused to listen to God.
It has nothing to do with the beautiful gift of speaking in tongues that the Holy Spirit gives to believers today.
Conclusion
Isaiah 28:11 is a powerful scripture, but it is not a prophecy about speaking in tongues as we know it in the New Testament. It is a rebuke to a rebellious nation whose spiritual leaders had fallen into drunkenness and neglected their calling.
God warned them that since they refused to hear His voice, He would speak to them through foreign invaders — men of “stammering lips and another tongue.”
This revelation preserves the integrity of the gift of tongues and helps the believer understand its true purpose as given in the New Testament.
May this message open your understanding and deepen your walk with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Previous Message:
The Disadvantages of Speaking in Tongues