Isaiah 5 11

Isaiah 5:11 kjv

Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Isaiah 5:11 nkjv

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!

Isaiah 5:11 niv

Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.

Isaiah 5:11 esv

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!

Isaiah 5:11 nlt

What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning
looking for a drink of alcohol
and spend long evenings drinking wine
to make themselves flaming drunk.

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 11 Meaning

Isaiah 5:11 pronounces a divine "woe" or condemnation upon those who dedicate their lives to excessive drinking and revelry. It describes individuals who rise early in the morning with the intent to consume strong drink, continuing their indulgence until nightfall, allowing wine to inflame their desires and dull their senses. This behavior highlights a severe perversion of priorities, where pleasure-seeking replaces spiritual devotion, productive labor, and moral responsibility.

Isaiah 5 11 Context

Isaiah chapter 5 unfolds a powerful parable, often called "The Song of the Vineyard," detailing God's faithful care for Israel, His vineyard, and Israel's subsequent failure to produce good fruit, yielding only "wild grapes" of injustice and wickedness (Isa 5:1-7). Following this, Isaiah pronounces six "woes" (or seven in some interpretations, depending on how Isa 5:1-7 is counted), each targeting a specific social or moral transgression prevalent in Judah during his time. These woes outline the specific "wild grapes" of their sin.Isaiah 5:11 specifically targets the sin of gluttony and drunkenness, which was rampant among the affluent classes in Jerusalem and Judah. This sin was often accompanied by luxurious feasting and revelry, devoid of any contemplation of God's work (Isa 5:12). The historical context reveals a society that, despite outward religious practices, was internally corrupt, marked by social injustice, greed, moral decay, and self-indulgence. The "woe" is a divine pronouncement of impending judgment for these specific evils, reflecting God's righteous anger at the perversion of the moral order and the rejection of His covenant ways. This intemperance symbolized a larger spiritual abandonment, a failure to understand God's purposes or acknowledge His presence.

Isaiah 5 11 Word analysis

• Woe (הוֹי, hoy): An interjection signaling deep lamentation, a grave warning, or a pronouncement of judgment. It is not merely an expression of sorrow but a prophetic indictment carrying the weight of divine wrath and imminent doom. This "hoy" marks a definitive pronouncement against those who persist in the condemned behavior, indicating inevitable divine action.

• to those who rise early in the morning (מַשְׁכִּימֵי בַּבֹּקֶר, maškkimei babbōqer): Maškkimei derives from the verb "shakam," meaning "to rise early" or "to be diligent." Here, it signifies the intentionality and eagerness with which these individuals pursue their vice. Their first thoughts and efforts are directed towards intoxication, demonstrating an upside-down set of priorities. This stands in stark contrast to righteous individuals who might rise early for prayer, study, or diligent labor. Their devotion is to debauchery.

• that they may pursue strong drink (בַקֵּשׁ שֵׁכָר, baqqêš šêkār): Baqqêš (to seek, pursue, actively look for) implies a deliberate and earnest effort. Šêkār refers to any intoxicating liquor other than grape wine, often indicating something potent, such as beer or strong fermented beverages. This highlights a thirst not just for social wine, but for a powerful intoxicant, showing an advanced stage of addiction or depravity. Their day's "pursuit" is reduced to fulfilling this base desire.

• who continue until night (יְאַחֵרוּ עַד-נָשֶׁף, yĕʾaḥerû ʿaḏ-nāšeph): Yĕʾaḥerû means "to delay, linger, tarry" and ʿaḏ-nāšeph refers to "until dusk" or "twilight." This phrase emphasizes the duration and persistence of their indulgence. It's not a brief moment of excess but a lifestyle consumed from dawn to dusk. Their entire day is given over to this single, destructive activity, neglecting responsibilities and moral constraints.

• and wine inflames them (וְיַיִן יַצִיתֵם, wĕyayin yaṣṣîṯēm): Yayin is specific to grape wine. Yaṣṣîṯēm comes from tsatah, meaning "to burn, kindle, inflame, ignite." This imagery is potent. It implies that wine doesn't just intoxicate, but it metaphorically "sets them on fire." This can mean:

  • Passionate Desires: Stirring up sinful passions, lust, anger, or uncontrolled revelry.
  • Loss of Control: Kindling a destructive inner fire that consumes self-control and good judgment.
  • Insatiable Craving: Fuelling a burning desire for more alcohol, deepening addiction.This "inflammation" blinds them to spiritual truth and societal norms, preparing them for the destructive fire of God's judgment.

• Words-group Analysis: "Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink": This initial segment immediately condemns the dedication and proactive zeal exhibited by the indulgent. Their zeal is misdirected; instead of pursuing God or righteousness, their energy is consumed by the pursuit of intoxicating substances from the very start of their day, highlighting a deep-seated spiritual and moral dysfunction. This points to a chosen way of life, not merely an occasional lapse.

• Words-group Analysis: "who continue until night, and wine inflames them!": This portion elaborates on the extent and consequence of their sin. It paints a picture of total immersion and surrender to alcohol from dawn till dusk, illustrating an addictive cycle. The concluding phrase, "wine inflames them," provides a vivid image of wine not as a mild sedative, but as an agent that actively ignites and intensifies sinful passions, demonstrating the corrupting and controlling power it holds over their lives.

Isaiah 5 11 Bonus section

• The "woes" in Isaiah 5 function as divine charges or lawsuits against Judah, systematically highlighting specific societal sins that contributed to their spiritual decay and eventual judgment. Each woe focuses on a different manifestation of injustice and ungodliness.
• The phrase "inflames them" can be interpreted not just as igniting passion but also as symbolizing a burning addiction, where the internal craving matches the fire of consuming judgment to come.
• This verse provides a crucial contrast to biblical admonitions for sobriety, vigilance, and being "filled with the Spirit" (Eph 5:18). Instead of seeking God first in the morning, their first thought is drink; instead of spiritual filling, they pursue carnal satiation.
• The vivid description reveals the prophet Isaiah's deep concern for the spiritual and moral state of his nation, demonstrating how personal indulgence could have wide-reaching societal consequences, preparing a nation for divine judgment.

Isaiah 5 11 Commentary

Isaiah 5:11 stands as a stark divine judgment against a society steeped in self-indulgence and moral apathy, particularly targeting its influential classes. The "woe" underscores the severity of this lifestyle in God's eyes, not merely as a social misdemeanor but as a profound spiritual transgression. These individuals invert righteous discipline by rising early with eagerness, not for prayer or diligent work, but for continuous debauchery. Their days are consumed by drink, leading to a state where their senses and passions are inflamed, rendering them spiritually blind and unresponsive to divine truth, as noted in the subsequent verse (Isa 5:12). This persistent revelry ultimately hardens their hearts against God's deeds and justice. The verse serves as a timeless warning that a life prioritized around carnal pleasure and self-gratification inevitably leads to a separation from God's wisdom and ultimately, to His just condemnation. It vividly contrasts a life controlled by alcohol with a life yielded to divine guidance.Examples include prioritizing entertainment and partying over family and work, excessive leisure leading to financial and social ruin, and chronic intoxication dulling one's conscience to spiritual and moral duties.