1 Let me sing for my Beloveda love song about his vineyard:My Beloved had a vineyardon the fertile brow of a hill.
2 He cultivated it, clearing it of stones,and planted it with choice vines.He built a watchtower in its midstand hewed for it a winepress as well.Then he expected it to yield grapes,but it produced wild grapes.
3 Now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and you men of Judea,please judge between me and my vineyard!
4 What more could have been donefor my vineyard than I have done for it?When I expected it to yield grapes,why did it produce wild grapes?
5 Let me now inform youwhat I will do to my vineyard:I will have its hedge removedand let it be burned;I will have its wall broken throughand let it be trampled.
6 I will make it a desolation:it shall neither be pruned nor hoed,but briars and thorns shall overgrow it.Moreover, I will forbid the rainclouds to rain on it.
7 The vineyard of Jehovah of Hosts is the house of Israeland the people of Judah his cherished grove.He expected justice,but there was injustice;he expected righteousness,but there was an outcry.
8 Woe to those who join house to houseand link field to field till no place is left,and you are restricted to dwellin the centers of the land!
9 Jehovah of Hosts spoke this in my hearing:Surely many buildings shall lie desolate,large and fine houses unoccupied.
10 A ten-acrea vineyard shall yield but one bath,ba homerc of seed but an ephah.d
11 Woe to those who go after liquoras soon as they arise in the morning,who linger at night parties, inflamed by wine!
12 There are harps and lyres,drums, flutes, and wine at their banquets,but they regard not what Jehovah does,nor perceive his hands at work.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
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13 Therefore are my people exiledwithout knowing why;their best men die of famine,their masses perish with thirst.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
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14 Sheol becomes ravenous,opening its mouth insatiably;into it descend their elite with the masses,their boisterous ones and revelers.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
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15 Mankind is brought lowwhen men debase themselves,causing the eyes of the high-minded to be downcast.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
16 But Jehovah of Hosts will be exaltedby a just judgment,the holy God show himself holyby his righteousness.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
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17 Then shall his sheep feed in their pasture,and proselytes eat in the ruins of the affluent.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
18 Woe to those drawn to sin by vain attachments,hitched to transgression like a trailer,
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
19 who think, Let him quickly speed up his workso we may see it!Let the plan of the Holy One of Israelsoon come to pass, and we will know!
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
20 Woe to those who suppose what is evil to be goodand what is good, evil!They put darkness for lightand light for darkness;they make bitterness sweet and the sweet bitter.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyesand clever in their own view!
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
22 Woe to those who are valiant at drinking wineand champions at mixing liquor!
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
23 Woe to those who acquit the guilty for a bribebut deny justice to the innocent!
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
24 As a blazing fire consumes stubble,and as dry weeds wane before the flame,so shall their roots decay awayand their blossoms fly up like dust.For they have despised the law of Jehovah of Hostsand reviled the words of the Holy One of Israel.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
25 Therefore the anger of Jehovah is kindledagainst his people:he draws back his hand against themand strikes them;the mountains quake, and their corpseslie like litter about the streets.Yet for all this his anger is not abated;his hand is upraised still.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward his unrepentant people and the nations when Jehovah comes out in judgment against them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the hand of punishment Jehovah empowers to smite his unrepentant people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
26 He raises an ensign to distant nationsand summons them from beyond the horizon.Forthwith they come, swiftly and speedily.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward his unrepentant people and the nations when Jehovah comes out in judgment against them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the hand of punishment Jehovah empowers to smite his unrepentant people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who rallies an alliance of nations from the North against Jehovah's people and all nations as he pursues his goal of conquering the world.
red
27 Not one of them grows weary,nor does any stumble;they do not drowse or fall asleep.Their waist-belts come not loosenor their sandal thongs undone.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward his unrepentant people and the nations when Jehovah comes out in judgment against them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the hand of punishment Jehovah empowers to smite his unrepentant people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who rallies an alliance of nations from the North against Jehovah's people and all nations as he pursues his goal of conquering the world.
red
28 Their arrows are sharp;all their bows are strung.The tread of their warhorses resembles flint;their chariot wheels revolve like a whirlwind.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward his unrepentant people and the nations when Jehovah comes out in judgment against them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the hand of punishment Jehovah empowers to smite his unrepentant people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who rallies an alliance of nations from the North against Jehovah's people and all nations as he pursues his goal of conquering the world.
red
29 They have the roar of a lion;they are aroused like young lions:growling, they seize the prey, and escape,and none comes to the rescue.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward his unrepentant people and the nations when Jehovah comes out in judgment against them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the hand of punishment Jehovah empowers to smite his unrepentant people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who rallies an alliance of nations from the North against Jehovah's people and all nations as he pursues his goal of conquering the world.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, who are aroused like a lion against Jehovah's people and take prey those who don't repent in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
30 He shall be stirred up against them in that day,even as the Sea is stirred up.And should one look to the land,there too shall be a distressing gloom,for the daylight shall be darkenedby an overhanging mist.
A pseudonym of (1) Jehovah's end-time servant, and (2) his contemporary, the king of Assyria/Babylon, whom Jehovah empowers as his right hand of deliverance and his left hand of punishment.
purple
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah's agent of death, who represents the powers of death, hell, and chaos that mouth off against Jehovah and his people.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness, who acts as its exemplar to a wicked world and shepherds Jehovah's sheep to safety.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the king of Assyria/Babylon, an end-time archtyrant who typifies the powers of darkness and who deceives Jehovah's alienated people and the nations.
red
A creation motif and pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's light to the nations in a time of spiritual darkness and who instructs Jehovah's people in his law and word.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the fire that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the flame that burns up Jehovah's miscreant people and the nations in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of holocaust.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah's anger toward his unrepentant people and the nations when Jehovah comes out in judgment against them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the hand of punishment Jehovah empowers to smite his unrepentant people and the nations in his Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who rallies an alliance of nations from the North against Jehovah's people and all nations as he pursues his goal of conquering the world.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, who are aroused like a lion against Jehovah's people and take prey those who don't repent in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, a power of chaos who is stirred up like the Sea against Jehovah's people, who overflows their lands and the lands of all nations like a new Flood.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who typifies the powers of darkness and causes pollutions that overspread the earth in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 5
Much of Isaiah’s prophetic imagery comes from the agricultural environment of ancient Israel. At certain seasons of the year, such as harvest time, minstrels traveled the rounds of farms to help lighten labor. As servants trod grapes to extract their juice, musicians played instruments and sang ballads in which the workers participated, turning drudgery into a dance. In that way, the latest love song was popularized throughout the land and was soon on everyone’s lips. “My Beloved”—the subject of Isaiah’s song—represents Israel’s God in his quintessential aspect (Isaiah 43:4; 49:15-16; 54:7-8; 63:7-9).
Jehovah plants the vineyard that represents his people (v 7) in a choice land—“on the fertile brow of a hill” (v 1). With the aid of his servants the prophets, he cultivates it and clears it of “stones,” removing its former wicked occupants and preparing the ground for planting the new. He builds a watchtower so that his prophets—their watchmen—may keep vigil. He hews a winepress, an ecclesiastical or communal framework in which his people can bring forth the fruits of their labors. But instead of producing good fruit, they produce “wild fruit” (be’usim)—fruit that rots before it ripens (cf. Isaiah 3:14-15).
When Jehovah exposes his people’s actions for what they are, not for what they assume they are, his people are compelled to judge themselves. Although what Jehovah does for them lacks nothing, they fall far short of his rightful expectations. They may indeed be bringing forth fruit, even much fruit, but none of it any good: “Their watchmen are altogether blind and unaware” (Isaiah 56:10); “Their works are worthless” and “amount to nothing” (Isaiah 41:24, 29). Sinking into apostasy, they “have not wrought salvation in the earth” in order that its inhabitants “might not abort” (Isaiah 26:18).
Because Jehovah has done for his vineyard all he can possibly do, his people are left without excuse. His response to their permitting the vineyard to become derelict is to remove its “hedge”—his divine protection—and “let it be burned”; to “have its wall broken through”—its defenses violated—and “let it be trampled.” Word links identify the king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah’s fire and sword, as the one who burns and tramples Jehovah’s reprobate people: “I will commission him against a godless nation . . . to tread [them] underfoot like mud in the streets” (Isaiah 10:6; cf. 26:10-11; 34:5-8).
The idea of the land and institutions of Jehovah’s people’s becoming a desolation as a result of their apostasy permeates Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 6:11-12; 33:8-9; 64:10-11). Additional covenant curses include a lack of rain and the proliferation of “briars and thorns”—the wicked’s overrunning the land (Isaiah 7:23-25; 9:18-19; 32:12-13). Once the vineyard is no longer “pruned or hoed”—as Jehovah withdraws his spiritual ministry—his people are left to themselves. Although these evils happen to his people as a whole, not all come under this condemnation (v 17; Isaiah 3:10; 5:16-17; 8:13-14).
In an end-time context, “Israel” and “Judah” serve as codenames of those who are Jehovah’s covenant people in that day. Their depiction as “his cherished grove” infers that in the beginning Jehovah doted over them. As the vines reach fruit-bearing age, however, they deeply disappoint him. The words “He expected justice, but there was injustice; [he expected] righteousness, but there was an outcry” (wayeqaw lemispat wehinneh mispah lisdaqa wehinneh se‘aqa) use assonance and alliteration to dramatize this disenchantment. The parallel terms “injustice” and “outcry” express grave ethical violations.
A series of seven “woes” or covenant curses follows Isaiah’s vineyard allegory, detailing a cross-section of hedonistic behaviors that underscores the unjust and unprincipled standards by which Jehovah’s end-time people live. A spirit of speculation overcomes them—as manifested by oppressive zoning laws, for-profit property developments, corporate mergers, and other questionable entrepreneurial ventures—forcing the poor of his people out of rural, self-sustaining lifestyles into the cities or centers of the land. Only his people who are thus disenfranchised Jehovah acknowledges as “you.”
Whether through bankruptcy and foreclosure, anarchy and civil war, or enemy invasion, Jehovah’s people’s homes and workplaces lie “desolate,” “deserted,” or “laid waste” (lesamma) as a consequence of their predatory enterprises. Where agriculture still exists, the land fails to yield its increase for lack of rain (v 6). A ten-acre vineyard yields just one “bath” of wine, or five gallons. A “homer” of seed, or six bushels, yields only an “ephah”—less than a bushel. Just as Jehovah’s people have produced inferior fruit spiritually (vv 2-4), so their land does physically (Isaiah 7:23-25; 17:4-6; 33:9).
Drunkards, alcoholics, and persons addicted to substances; partygoers, socialites, and persons feted at banquets; the self-indulgent, pleasure-seekers, and those given to debauch—all who disregard what Jehovah is doing—bring upon themselves his covenant curse. Even as they pursue their godless lifestyles, Jehovah’s hands are at work preparing their destinies. At the very time his righthand—his servant—delivers Jehovah’s final warning (Isaiah 41:25-27; 48:12-16; 50:2-11), his left hand—the king of Assyria/Babylon—is devising ways to destroy them (vv 25-30; Isaiah 10:5-7; 54:16).
Without divine revelation—without direct knowledge communicated from Israel’s God—his people remain vulnerable to the tide of world events that determines their fate. Instead, they could have determined their own fate (Isaiah 8:13-15; 28:7-13). The word “knowledge” (da‘at)—a covenant term—further signifies that his people no longer know their God. They may know about him; but they don’t know him in the way that he manifests himself personally to his elect (Isaiah 19:21; 52:6). If they did, they would not now perish nor be taken captive by their enemies (Isaiah 10:3-4; 14:16-17).
Isaiah likens Jehovah’s people going to their death to Sheol (se’ol)—the “underworld,” “Hell,” or “spirit prison”—devouring them like a gluttonous woman. The word mouth additionally serves as a pseudonym of the archtyrant. Daniel and John depict him as “a mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:8, 20; Revelation 13:5; emphasis added). Isaiah portrays him as a beast “bellowing” and “snorting” against Jehovah (Isaiah 37:29): “Whom have you mocked and ridiculed? Against whom have you raised your voice, lifting your eyes to high heaven? Against the Holy One of Israel!” (Isaiah 37:23).
Jehovah’s answer to his people’s debasing themselves (Isaiah 2:9) is to restore justice and righteousness among them (Isaiah 1:26-27). For that purpose, he sends righteousness the person—his end-time servant (Isaiah 41:2, 25-27; 42:1-4; 46:11-13). Only when his alienated people reject his servant (Isaiah 49:7; 50:4-11) does Jehovah’s holiness compel him to execute a “just judgment” and punish them. At the same time, those whose thoughts are pure, whose eyes are downcast because of the depravity of the wicked, he liberates from the vile who oppress them. In so doing Jehovah is “exalted.”
Amidst the gloomy prospect that faces the reprobates of Jehovah’s people, Isaiah reminds Jehovah’s “sheep” and “proselytes”—his covenant people—that when his Day of Judgment is over they will inherit the wealthy estates of the wicked who perish (cf. v 9): “Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob and once again choose Israel; he will settle them in their own land, and proselytes will adhere to them and join the house of Jacob” (Isaiah 14:1; cf. 58:12; 61:4-5). The imagery of sheep feeding in their pasture additionally portrays an agrarian millennial economy (Isaiah 30:23-24; 32:15-20; 65:10).
Jehovah pronounces a third “woe” or covenant curse on his people who are obsessed with worldly pastimes that they cannot or will not give up. They compulsively haul their baggage—their beloved idols—with them wherever they go. Robbing them of Jehovah’s Spirit, their preoccupations and distractions from reality add to their sins and transgressions, diverting them away from Jehovah’s “work” and “plan” instead of participating in them (cf. v 12). They mock his people who anticipate the impending fulfillment of Jehovah’s purposes by glibly asking for signs to satisfy their curiosity (Isaiah 66:5).
Besides their literal meaning, good and evil denote covenant keeping and covenant breaking, covenant blessing and covenant curse. In one manifestation of covenant breaking, Jehovah’s people choose what is bitter—the darkness of spiritual blindness (Isaiah 59:9-10)—over what is sweet; that is, Jehovah’s light or the terms of his covenant (Isaiah 51:4). They further reject Jehovah’s servant, whom Jehovah appoints as “a light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; emphasis added) and fall prey to the king of Assyria/Babylon (Isaiah 10:3-6), who typifies the darkness of Jehovah’s Day of Judgment.
Conceited persons—those who assume they are “wise” (hakamim) and “clever” or “knowledgeable” (nebonim)—Jehovah condemns. Instead of their human knowledge teaching them that next to him they know nothing, they use it to gain acclaim or convert others to their opinion (Isaiah 32:6; 41:22-24; 50:11). In response, Jehovah “turns wise men about and makes nonsense of their knowledge” (Isaiah 44:25). As his Day of Judgment approaches, he performs “wonder upon wonder, rendering void the knowledge of their sages and the intelligence of their wise men insignificant” (Isaiah 29:14).
Those of Jehovah’s people who ought to be valiant and champions in matters of the spirit and intellect or in the defense of their land instead suffer from addictions. The terms “wine” and “liquor” form word link to the opulent of Jehovah’s people being overcome with “wine” (Isaiah 28:1) and to their prophets laboring under a “wine” of delusion: “These too have indulged in wine and are giddy with strong drink: priests and prophets have gone astray through liquor. They are intoxicated with wine and stagger because of strong drink; they err as seers, they blunder in their decisions” (Isaiah 28:7).
Crimes of injustice, typified by the administration of wrongful judgments, weigh heavily with Jehovah against his people. Giving or taking “bribes” or “gifts” (sohad) as personal favors for unjust decisions constitutes a betrayal of oneself and of the innocent victims it creates: “When integrity is lacking, they who shun evil become a prey. Jehovah saw that there was no justice, and it displeased him. When he saw it, he wondered why there was no man, no one who would intervene” (Isaiah 59:15-15); “He expected justice, but there was injustice; [he expected] righteousness, but there was an outcry” (v 7).
Covenant curses in chapter 5 culminate with the reprobates of Jehovah’s people perishing like “stubble” and “weeds” in his Day of Judgment. Together with the parallel terms “decay” and “dust,” these chaos motifs contrast the wicked of Jehovah’s people with the righteous who represent the grain and portray the wicked’s final state. As “roots” and “blossoms” signify ancestors and descendants, evildoers are cut off from all familial ties. Because they despised and reviled Jehovah’s law and words that are the terms of his covenant, the king of Assyria/Babylon—his fire and flame—will burn them up.
Although Isaiah uses the imagery of an angry parental God, the truth is that Jehovah is a loving and long-suffering God toward his people (Isaiah 43:4; 54:7-10; 63:7-9). But because he is also a just and a righteous God, he must enforce upon them the consequences of their actions. In this instance, the king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies Jehovah’s anger, acts as his hand of punishment (Isaiah 10:5). Aside from literal earthquakes, it is he who is stirred to anger, who causes the “mountains” (nations) to “quake” and who reduces the wicked to “litter” or chaos (cf. v 30; Isaiah 14:16-17; 37:26-28).
The raising of the “ensign,” which appears in parallel with the “hand” that is upraised or extended (v 25), designates the king of Assyria/Babylon (Isaiah 13:2) who rallies an alliance of hostile nations from beyond the horizon to attack Jehovah’s people and the nations of the world: “Hark! A tumult on the mountains, as of a vast multitude. Hark! An uproar among kingdoms, as of nations assembling: Jehovah of Hosts is marshaling an army for war. They come from a distant land beyond the horizon—Jehovah and the instruments of his wrath—to cause destruction throughout the earth” (Isaiah 13:4-5).
Unlike Jehovah’s reprobate people, the alien alliance is highly disciplined and launches its attack at a time when his people are undisciplined and caught off guard. Contrasting ideas in the Book of Isaiah show that it isn’t the invading army but Jehovah’s people who have grown weary (Isaiah 43:22; 50:4); who stumble (Isaiah 8:14-15; 59:10); who are drowsing and falling asleep (Isaiah 29:10; 56:10); and who dress slovenly and have loose morals (Isaiah 3:6-7, 57:12,57:12#three_col">Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 57:12-Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 16-57:12; 57:12; 57:12#three_col">Isaiah 3:6-7, 57:12, 57:12#three_col">Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 57:12-Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 16-57:12; 57:12; 57:12-Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 16-57:12; 57:12; 57:12, 57:12#three_col">Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 57:12-Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 16-57:12; 57:12; 57:12-Isaiah 3:6-7, 9, 16-57:12; 57:12; 57:12). In their corrupt spiritual and political state, his people have become easy prey to foreign invaders (Isaiah 10:3-4; 22:12-14).
Invasion by enemies (v 26-28), being devoured by wild beasts (v 29), and the darkening of the land (v 30) represent ancient Near Eastern and biblical covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:23-26). Parallel depictions of the alien army’s formidable weaponry and their arousal like lions seizing the prey nuances the maledictory connotation of the passage (vv 25-30; Isaiah 15:9). That Jehovah’s alienated people suffer essentially the same fate as Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-19) again signifies that their wickedness identifies them with Isaiah’s Babylon category that falls prey to the lion—king of Assyria/Babylon.
He who is “stirred up” or “roars” (yinhom) “in that day”—Jehovah’s Day of Judgment—is the king of Assyria/Babylon (Isaiah 37:28-29). Isaiah likens him to the Sea in commotion or a River in flood, sweeping all before it (Isaiah 8:7-8; 51:15). Paralleling the Ugaritic myth of Baal and Anath, the names Sea and River designate a god who causes chaos in the world, whom Baal, the hero god, must conquer to restore peace. Even when the wicked seek refuge in the countryside to escape the archtyrant’s devastation in the cities (Isaiah 6:11-12), there too the gloom he typifies confronts them (Isaiah 8:22).