24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
24 Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground?
24 Do farmers plow and plow and do nothing but plow? Or harrow and harrow and do nothing but harrow?
24 Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?
24 Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 28:24
Commentary on Isaiah 28:23-29
(Read Isaiah 28:23-29)
The husbandman applies to his calling with pains and prudence, in all the works of it according to their nature. Thus the Lord, who has given men this wisdom, is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in his working. As the occasion requires, he threatens, corrects, spares, shows mercy, or executes vengeance. Afflictions are God's threshing instruments, to loosen us from the world, to part between us and our chaff, and to prepare us for use. God will proportion them to our strength; they shall be no heavier than there is need. When his end is answered, the trials and sufferings of his people shall cease; his wheat shall be gathered into the garner, but the chaff shall be burned with unquenchable fire.