Isaiah 3:13-15

[13] The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. [14] The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. [15] my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

What is the context of Isaiah 3:13-15?

What does Isaiah 3:13-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Yahweh is the ultimate Judge of His people, and He would contend with His human representatives who used their positions to fatten themselves rather than feeding their people (cf. Zechariah 11:1-17). Their possessions witnessed to their stealing from their neighbors. The vineyard is a common figure for Israel (cf. Isaiah 5:1; Isaiah 5:7; Psalm 80:8-18; Jeremiah 2:21; Jeremiah 12:10; Ezekiel 15:6-8; Hosea 10:1). The people belonged to the Lord, not these abusing leaders who crushed them and ground them down to get out of them as much as they could for themselves (cf. Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:20-21).