Isaiah 5:8-25

Isaiah 5:8-25

[8] Woe  unto them that join  house  that lay  field  till there be no  place,  that they may be placed  alone in the midst  of the earth!  [9] In mine ears  said the LORD  of hosts,  Of a truth  many  houses  shall be desolate,  even great  and fair,  without inhabitant.  [10] Yea,  ten  acres  of vineyard  shall yield  one  bath,  and the seed  of an homer  shall yield  an ephah.  [11] Woe  unto them that rise up early  in the morning,  that they may follow  strong drink;  that continue  until night,  till wine  inflame  [12] And the harp,  and the viol,  the tabret,  and pipe,  and wine,  are in their feasts:  but they regard  not the work  of the LORD,  neither consider  the operation  of his hands.  [13] Therefore my people  are gone into captivity,  because they have no knowledge:  and their honourable  men  are famished,  and their multitude  dried up  with thirst.  [14] Therefore hell  hath enlarged  herself,  and opened  her mouth  without measure:  and their glory,  and their multitude,  and their pomp,  and he that rejoiceth,  shall descend  into it. [15] And the mean man  shall be brought down,  and the mighty man  shall be humbled,  and the eyes  of the lofty  shall be humbled:  [16] But the LORD  of hosts  shall be exalted  in judgment,  and God  that is holy  shall be sanctified  in righteousness.  [17] Then shall the lambs  feed  after their manner,  and the waste places  of the fat ones  shall strangers  eat.  [18] Woe  unto them that draw  iniquity  with cords  of vanity,  and sin  as it were with a cart  rope:  [19] That say,  Let him make speed,  and hasten  his work,  that we may see  it: and let the counsel  of the Holy One  of Israel  draw nigh  and come,  that we may know  it! [20] Woe  unto them that call  evil  good,  evil;  that put  darkness  for light,  for darkness;  that put  bitter  for sweet,  for bitter!  [21] Woe  unto them that are wise  in their own eyes,  and prudent  in their own sight!  [22] Woe  unto them that are mighty  to drink  wine,  and men  of strength  to mingle  strong drink:  [23] Which justify  the wicked  for  reward,  and take away  the righteousness  of the righteous  from him! [24] Therefore as the fire  devoureth  the stubble,  and the flame  consumeth  the chaff,  so their root  shall be as rottenness,  and their blossom  shall go up  as dust:  because they have cast away  the law  of the LORD  of hosts,  and despised  the word  of the Holy One  of Israel.  [25] Therefore is the anger  of the LORD  kindled  against his people,  and he hath stretched forth  his hand  against them, and hath smitten  them: and the hills  did tremble,  and their carcases  were torn  in the midst  of the streets.  For all this his anger  is not turned away,  but his hand  is stretched out 

What does Isaiah 5:8-25 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Yahweh"s crop was worthless because it produced wild grapes that manifested six blights. The word "woe" (Heb. hoy), a term of lament and threat, introduces each one (cf. Amos 5:18; Amos 6:1; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 9:12).
"The word "woe" itself, appearing six times in the passage, does not just denounce our sins, it laments our sins. The same word is translated "Ah!" in Isaiah 1:4 and "Alas!" in 1 Kings 13:30. Remember that "woe" is the opposite of the word "blessed" (cf. Luke 6:20-26)." [1]
"He [2] holds up six clusters of wild grapes, as it were, to illustrate what"s going wrong, six ways we resist the grace of God, six answers to the question "Why?" Each is presented with a "Woe."" [3]
Two double "therefore" sections break the laments into two groups by concluding them ( Isaiah 5:13-14; Isaiah 5:24-25). The "woe" sections emphasize the crop produced, and the "therefore" sections the harvest (judgment) to come. In the "woes" there is a chiastic progression.
AThe property motive ( Isaiah 5:8-10)BSelf-indulgence ( Isaiah 5:11-12)CSin pursued ( Isaiah 5:18-19)C"Sin justified ( Isaiah 5:20)B"Self-conceit ( Isaiah 5:21)A"The money motive ( Isaiah 5:22-23) [4]
One writer saw saw six things the Lord hates in these sections: greed ( Isaiah 5:8), hedonism ( Isaiah 5:11-13), rebellion ( Isaiah 5:18-19), immorality ( Isaiah 5:20), pride ( Isaiah 5:21), and injustice ( Isaiah 5:22-23). [5]