Isaiah 5:8–30 and Meaning
Isaiah 5:8–30 (ESV)
8 Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!
9 The Lord of hosts has sworn in my hearing: "Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.
10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah."
11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!
12 They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands.
13 Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.
14 Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude will go down, her revelers and he who exults in her.
15 Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low.
16 But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.
17 Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, and nomads shall eat among the ruins of the rich.
18 Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes,
19 who say: "Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!"
20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own sight!
22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
24 Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them, and the mountains quaked; and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
26 He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!
27 There is none who is hungry among them, nor is there none who stumbles among them, for they are not asleep like a lion; they will not be caught unawares; they are not as the lion's whelps.
28 Their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent; their horses' hoofs are like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind.
29 Their roaring is like a lion; like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue.
30 They will growl over it in that day, like the growling of the sea. And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.
Meaning
Isaiah 5:8–30 contains a series of "woes" directed at the people of Judah, expressing God's judgment on their sinful behavior and moral corruption. The passage begins by condemning the greedy accumulation of wealth and property at the expense of community and justice. The image of people joining house to house and field to field illustrates how the wealthy and powerful were exploiting the land and displacing the poor, leading to desolation.
As the passage continues, it critiques the hedonistic lifestyle of the people who indulge in excesses of wine and revelry while ignoring the deeds of the Lord. Their ignorance and lack of knowledge result in their downfall, leading them into exile. The mention of Sheol (the grave) enlarging its appetite indicates the impending judgment that will swallow up the noble and the celebrants alike.
The latter part of the passage emphasizes the reversal of values, where good is called evil and evil is called good. This moral confusion leads to societal decay and God's judgment against those who are unjust. Ultimately, God’s righteousness will prevail, and the consequences of sin will lead to destruction.
Moral Lesson
The moral lesson from this passage highlights the dangers of greed, moral corruption, and the neglect of justice. It warns against the consequences of pursuing wealth and indulgence while ignoring the needs of others and the call to righteousness. The passage teaches that a society that prioritizes self-interest over justice will face divine judgment. It encourages individuals and communities to live in alignment with God's values, to seek justice and righteousness, and to recognize the importance of accountability to God. In a world that often confuses right and wrong, believers are called to uphold truth and justice, reflecting God's character in their lives.
