Isaiah 5 10

Isaiah 5:10 kjv

Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

Isaiah 5:10 nkjv

For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, And a homer of seed shall yield one ephah."

Isaiah 5:10 niv

A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of wine; a homer of seed will yield only an ephah of grain."

Isaiah 5:10 esv

For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah."

Isaiah 5:10 nlt

Ten acres of vineyard will not produce even six gallons of wine.
Ten baskets of seed will yield only one basket of grain."

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 10 Meaning

Isaiah 5:10 pronounces a severe judgment of economic devastation upon the people of Israel. It depicts an agricultural catastrophe where vast amounts of land and seed yield an extremely meager return. Specifically, it states that ten acres of vineyard will produce only one "bath" of wine, and a "homer" of seed will result in only one "ephah" of harvest. This signifies a near-total failure of crops, a direct consequence of the nation's injustices, greed, and spiritual unfaithfulness. It highlights God's withholding of His blessings and the reversal of natural productivity due to sin, leading to famine and scarcity for those who sought to amass wealth and land through illicit means.

Isaiah 5 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 5 begins with the parable of the vineyard (verses 1-7), illustrating God's loving care for Israel and His disappointment over their failure to produce justice and righteousness. Instead of good "fruit," they produced "wild grapes" – oppression, bloodshed, and injustice. Following this parable, Isaiah pronounces six "woes" (verses 8-25), each condemning a specific societal sin in Judah. Verse 10 is part of the first woe, directed at those who "add house to house and join field to field" (verse 8), effectively cornering the land market and leaving no space for the poor. This woe condemns unchecked greed and the exploitation of the disadvantaged for personal gain through land accumulation. The agricultural scarcity described in verse 10 is the divine response and judgment to this specific sin, highlighting God's direct intervention to nullify the gains acquired through unrighteousness and to demonstrate His sovereignty over creation and prosperity. Historically, this prophecy came during a time of prosperity in Judah, under King Uzziah and later Jotham, when the wealthy oppressed the poor, mirroring the very abuses condemned by Isaiah.

Isaiah 5 10 Word analysis

• For ten acres of vineyard (כִּי עֲשֶׂרֶת צִמְדֵי-כֶרֶם kî `aseret tsimdei-karem):

  • כִּי (kî): "For," or "indeed," introducing the explanation or consequence.
  • עֲשֶׂרֶת (`aseret): "Ten." A significant number in Hebrew thought often indicating completion or fullness, here emphasizing a substantial area of land.
  • צִמְדֵי (tsimdei): Plural of tsemed (צֶמֶד), meaning "yoke" or "pair." In this context, it refers to a measure of land, specifically "yoke-measure," the amount of land that a pair of oxen could plow in a day. Estimates vary, but it denotes a significant area, perhaps five or ten acres per "yoke" as used here, certainly not a small plot. This highlights the extensive effort and land involved.
  • כֶּרֶם (karem): "Vineyard." More than just land, it carries symbolic weight from the preceding vineyard parable (Isa 5:1-7), representing Israel itself or God's intended sphere of righteousness.

• will yield but one bath of wine (יַעֲשֶׂה בַּת אֶחָת יַיִן ya`aseh bat 'eḥat yayin):

  • יַעֲשֶׂה (ya`aseh): "Will yield" or "will make." Future tense, emphasizing the certainty of this judgment.
  • בַּת (bat): "Bath." A liquid measure, approximately 6-9 gallons (22-34 liters). This is an incredibly small amount for ten "yokes" of vineyard, indicating extreme unproductivity.
  • אֶחָת ('eḥat): "One." Emphasizes the singular, pitiful outcome.
  • יַיִן (yayin): "Wine." The expected produce of a vineyard.

• and a homer of seed (וְזֶרַע חֹמֶר wᵉzera` ḥomer):

  • וְזֶרַע (wᵉzera`): "And seed." Represents the effort and investment in planting.
  • חֹמֶר (ḥomer): "Homer." A large dry measure, approximately 6.5-8 bushels (220-230 liters). This is a vast quantity of seed, implying large-scale farming and the expectation of a significant harvest.

• will yield but an ephah (יַעֲשֶׂה אֵיפָה ya`aseh 'eifa):

  • יַעֲשֶׂה (ya`aseh): "Will yield." Again, certain future outcome.
  • אֵיפָה ('eifa): "Ephah." A dry measure, typically one-tenth of a homer (about 22-23 liters or 0.6 bushels).

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For ten acres of vineyard will yield but one bath of wine": This phrase meticulously quantifies the first part of the judgment. It highlights the drastic discrepancy between the vast investment (ten yoke-measures of vineyard) and the almost non-existent return (only one bath of wine). This 1:10 ratio (or even worse depending on exact tsemed size) demonstrates utter futility and severe economic loss, directly impacting a primary agricultural product.
  • "and a homer of seed will yield but an ephah": This second phrase reinforces the same principle with a different agricultural staple, grain. A "homer" is ten "ephahs." Sowing a homer and reaping only an ephah means a shocking 90% loss or 10-fold reduction in yield. The pairing of these two examples underlines the pervasive and systemic nature of the agricultural curse, showing that no major crop will escape the divine judgment, and productivity will be virtually eliminated.

Isaiah 5 10 Bonus section

The consistent 1:10 (or 10:1 inverse) ratio in both examples (10 acres to 1 bath; 1 homer to 1 ephah, where 1 homer = 10 ephahs) is significant. This repetition emphasizes the divine purpose and completeness of the judgment. It's not a minor setback but a crushing reversal of fortunes, a deliberate act of God to counter the greedy land acquisition. The very land they so covetously sought to accumulate would become a witness against them, refusing to yield its produce. This curse serves as a direct, tangible consequence of their violation of covenant and social order, revealing that material gain acquired through unrighteousness is ultimately subject to the sovereign God who governs both the earth's fruitfulness and human prosperity.

Isaiah 5 10 Commentary

Isaiah 5:10 serves as a stark proclamation of God's judicial response to the land greed and social injustice prevalent in Judah. It directly addresses the first "woe" concerning those who unlawfully consolidate land. The vivid imagery of severe crop failure and economic ruin emphasizes that God Himself will counter their illicit gains by making the land barren and unproductive. The measurements used—vast quantities of land and seed yielding negligible returns—underscore the severity and futility of their efforts. This judgment is a reversal of the covenant blessings promised for obedience (like in Deut 28:12, Zech 8:12) and an implementation of the curses for disobedience (Lev 26:20, Deut 28:38-40, Hag 1:6). It teaches that prosperity not rooted in righteousness is ultimately hollow and fleeting. It's a reminder that God controls the blessings of the earth, and those who seek to build wealth upon the exploitation of others or by neglecting justice will find their foundations crumble, illustrating that their physical harvest will reflect their spiritual barrenness.

• Example 1 (Personal greed): Someone who uses dishonest means to gain more property might find that their efforts, despite outward appearance, fail to truly prosper or bring lasting satisfaction, perhaps leading to internal strife or hidden financial burdens.
• Example 2 (Societal injustice): A society that allows the rich to dispossess the poor will ultimately experience national economic woes or internal collapse, as divine judgment impacts their natural resources and productivity, whether through natural disasters or systemic failures.