Isaiah 24 7

Isaiah 24:7 kjv

The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.

Isaiah 24:7 nkjv

The new wine fails, the vine languishes, All the merry-hearted sigh.

Isaiah 24:7 niv

The new wine dries up and the vine withers; all the merrymakers groan.

Isaiah 24:7 esv

The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh.

Isaiah 24:7 nlt

The grapevines waste away,
and there is no new wine.
All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.

Isaiah 24 verses

Isaiah 24 7 meaning

Isaiah 24:7 graphically portrays a world reeling from divine judgment, emphasizing the utter cessation of joy and prosperity. The new wine, a symbol of gladness and abundance, is said to "mourn" because its production has ceased or its intended effect (joy) is absent. The vine, the source of this wine and a common symbol of vitality and blessing, is "languishing" or withering away, indicating widespread agricultural collapse. Consequently, those whose hearts were once filled with merriment and delight are now reduced to sighs, lamenting the profound loss and desolation that has swept across the earth.

Isaiah 24 7 Context

Isaiah chapter 24 is often referred to as "the little apocalypse" due to its cosmic and universal scope of divine judgment. Unlike earlier chapters that often target specific nations or Judah, chapter 24 describes a global catastrophe affecting the entire earth and its inhabitants. The chapter speaks of the earth being laid waste, emptied, and polluted, leading to a profound reversal of creation—a return to chaos. Verse 7, embedded within this grim prophecy, focuses specifically on the human and environmental consequences of this widespread judgment, detailing the cessation of joy and agricultural bounty. Historically, ancient societies, including Israel, relied heavily on agriculture for sustenance and economy; wine, in particular, was intertwined with cultural celebration, prosperity, and religious observances. Therefore, the mourning of new wine and the languishing of the vine signify not merely economic hardship, but a profound cultural and spiritual devastation—a direct polemic against reliance on the transient pleasures and provisions of the earth, instead of the enduring faithfulness of God.

Isaiah 24 7 Word analysis

• The new wine (תִּירוֹשׁ, tîrôš):

  • This Hebrew term specifically refers to "new wine" or "fresh wine," signifying the product of the recent harvest before full fermentation.
  • Significance: New wine is consistently associated with joy, celebration, abundance, and blessing throughout Scripture (e.g., Pss 104:15; Zech 10:7). Its abundance was seen as a sign of divine favor (Prov 3:10; Joel 2:24).
  • Its mention here underlines the direct loss of immediate prosperity and the means of celebration.

• Mourns (אָבְלָה, ʾāḇəlāh):

  • Derived from the verb אָבַל (ābal), meaning "to mourn, lament, be grieved."
  • Significance: This is an anthropomorphic expression; new wine cannot literally mourn. It signifies that the source of the new wine (the grapes, the harvest) is gone, or that the joy typically associated with new wine is absent. The lack of wine induces mourning in people. It points to a profound sorrow permeating the agricultural landscape and the human spirit.

• The vine (גֶּפֶן, gefen):

  • Hebrew for "vine" or "grapevine."
  • Significance: The vine is a potent symbol in the Bible. It represents fertility, blessing, prosperity, and frequently stands as a metaphor for Israel itself (e.g., Ps 80:8; Isa 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; Hos 10:1). The destruction of the vine often signifies God's judgment upon His people or the land (e.g., Nah 3:12; Hos 2:12).

• Languishes (אֻמְלָלָה, ʾuməlālāh):

  • From the verb אָמַל (ʾāmal), meaning "to wither, fade, languish, droop."
  • Significance: Describes a state of progressive decay and loss of vitality. For the vine, it means drying up, ceasing to produce fruit, eventually dying. This term emphasizes the complete desolation of the agricultural foundation, not just a bad season, but a long-term decay.

• All the merry-hearted (כָּל־שִׂמְחֵי לֵב, kol-śimḥê-lēḇ):

  • kol means "all"; śimḥê comes from שִׂמְחָה (simchah) "joy, gladness"; lēḇ "heart." Literally, "all the joyous of heart" or "all whose hearts are merry."
  • Significance: This phrase directly links the environmental devastation to the human experience of sorrow. It implies that the judgment is so pervasive that it touches even those who were typically joyful or carefree, suggesting a universal downturn in mood. It's a contrast between former joy and current despair.

• Sigh (נֶאֶנְחוּ, neʾeḥăḵû):

  • From the verb אָנַח (ʾanach), meaning "to sigh, groan, lament."
  • Significance: An involuntary expression of deep distress, sorrow, pain, or despair. It indicates a profound, guttural reaction to overwhelming hardship and loss, confirming the depth of human suffering caused by the described judgment.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The new wine mourns, the vine languishes": These two parallel clauses use personification (wine mourning, vine languishing) to illustrate the utter breakdown of the agricultural cycle. The source of joy (wine) and its very origin (vine) are directly affected, signifying total economic and symbolic desolation. The parallelism underscores the widespread nature of the disaster.
  • "all the merry-hearted sigh": This clause presents the direct human consequence of the agricultural devastation. The transition from merriment (śimḥah) to sighing (ʾanach) powerfully conveys the complete reversal of human experience from joy to profound sorrow and lament, making the personal impact clear.

Isaiah 24 7 Bonus section

The imagery in Isaiah 24:7 and throughout chapter 24, with its focus on the reversal of agricultural blessings and the cessation of joy, strongly evokes themes reminiscent of the curse on creation following the Fall (Gen 3:17-19) and the judgments of the Flood. It presents a scene of the world being "un-created" or "de-created" in preparation for a new creation. The specific mention of new wine and the vine, alongside other agricultural references in Isaiah 24, also establishes a clear contrast with prophetic visions of messianic prosperity, where new wine and grain will abound, and God's people will eat and drink in joy (e.g., Amos 9:13-14; Zech 8:12; Joel 3:18). This juxtaposition emphasizes that the desolation depicted in Isaiah 24 is not the end of the story, but a necessary judgment leading to future restoration.

Isaiah 24 7 Commentary

Isaiah 24:7 forms part of a dramatic prophetic oracle foretelling a worldwide catastrophe of divine judgment. The imagery used is deeply rooted in the agrarian society of the ancient Near East, where the vine and its wine were potent symbols of life, prosperity, and joy. The verse declares an end to this former state of abundance. When "new wine mourns," it implies that the source of refreshment, celebration, and economic security has dried up or been removed, rendering festivity impossible. The "vine languishing" signals a broader ecological and economic collapse, as the very plant that provides the most esteemed agricultural product withers. This is not a mere temporary setback but a profound and lasting blight on the land and its resources. The impact is immediately tangible on humanity: "all the merry-hearted sigh." This isn't just the poor or downtrodden but those who had reason to be joyful, those who embodied the societal ideal of prosperity. Their transition from mirth to mournful sighs highlights the overwhelming and inescapable nature of this universal judgment. It underlines that all earthly joys and foundations are fragile before the sovereign decree of God, pushing humanity from confident pleasure to utter despair.