Isaiah 5 25

Isaiah 5:25 kjv

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 still.

Isaiah 5:25 nkjv

Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 5:25 niv

Therefore the LORD's anger burns against his people; his hand is raised and he strikes them down. The mountains shake, and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.

Isaiah 5:25 esv

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.

Isaiah 5:25 nlt

That is why the LORD's anger burns against his people,
and why he has raised his fist to crush them.
The mountains tremble,
and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage.
But even then the LORD's anger is not satisfied.
His fist is still poised to strike!

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 25 Meaning

This verse declares the immediate consequence of the people's disobedience and sin described earlier in Isaiah 5:1-24. It vividly portrays God's fierce, active judgment against His own chosen people through war, natural calamity, and widespread death. Despite these devastating afflictions, the verse concludes with a grim pronouncement: God's anger is not appeased, and His hand remains outstretched, signifying ongoing and persistent wrath, indicative of the people's continued unrepentance.

Isaiah 5 25 Context

Isaiah chapter 5 begins with the "Song of the Vineyard," a parable describing Israel as a choice vineyard lovingly cultivated by God, yet yielding only wild grapes of unrighteousness (Isa 5:1-7). The subsequent verses (Isa 5:8-23) detail a series of "woes" pronounced against the people for specific sins: greed (v. 8-10), revelry and intemperance (v. 11-12), rebellion against God's word (v. 13-17), blatant defiance and moral inversion (v. 18-20), self-conceit (v. 21), and perversion of justice (v. 22-23). This leads to the declaration of impending judgment in verse 24, likening the people's fate to burning chaff. Verse 25 then vividly depicts the initial stages of this divine retribution, characterized by war and devastation. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with the people in Judah who faced imminent threats from the powerful Assyrian Empire, which God would use as an instrument of His wrath. The passage challenges any false sense of security derived from their covenant status, exposing the reality that sin against a holy God inevitably brings severe consequences, even upon His own chosen people. This section directly refutes any notion that Judah's special relationship with YHWH granted them immunity from the consequences of their idolatry and injustice.

Isaiah 5 25 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhēn): This word functions as a logical consequence indicator, linking the people's persistent wickedness (detailed in vv. 8-23) directly to the impending judgment. It underscores divine justice, where actions bear specific outcomes.
• the anger of the LORD (אַף יְהוָה - af YHWH): "Anger" (af) in Hebrew often literally refers to the "nose" or "nostrils," indicating the visible physical manifestation of fury, like snorting breath. When applied to God, it signifies His holy indignation and righteous wrath against sin. "LORD" (YHWH, the covenant name of God) emphasizes that this is a personal, relational judgment from the God with whom Israel had a covenant.
• was kindled (חָרָה - ḥarah): Meaning "to burn," "to grow hot," or "to glow." It depicts the intensity and fervent nature of God's wrath, likening it to a fire that is stirred up. This is not a fleeting emotion but a deliberate, consuming reaction to gross sin.
• against His people (בְּעַמּוֹ - b'ammo): Crucially highlights the target of judgment. This punishment is not aimed at foreign nations initially, but at His very own, covenant-bound people, underscoring the severity of breaking that sacred relationship and violating the terms of the covenant.
• He stretched out His hand (וַיֵּט יָדוֹ - vayyeṭ yado): This is a powerful anthropomorphism, portraying God in active judgment. An "outstretched hand" (often alongside an "outstretched arm") is a recurring motif in the Bible. In Exodus, it signifies God's powerful acts of deliverance (e.g., Exod 6:6), but here and elsewhere (e.g., Exod 9:15; Isa 10:26), it denotes active, destructive divine intervention and judgment.
• and struck them (וַיַּכֵּם - vayyakêm): A strong verb indicating a direct, decisive, and forceful blow or defeat. It conveys the impact of God's active involvement in the unfolding calamity.
• The mountains trembled (וַיִּרְגְּזוּ הֶהָרִים - vayyirggzū hehārîm): This speaks of a natural, perhaps seismic, disturbance that is so profound it makes even the stable, massive mountains shake. This hyperbole illustrates the magnitude of the divine judgment, shaking the very foundations of the earth, often associated with God's presence or judgment (e.g., Ps 18:7, Hab 3:6).
• and their corpses (וַתְּהִי נִבְלָתָם - watt'hi nivlatam): Nivlatam refers to a carcass or dead body. The mention of "corpses" indicates widespread death, likely due to battle and famine, rather than merely injury.
• were as refuse (כַּזָּבָל - kazzābāl): Zābāl refers to dung, refuse, or manure. Comparing their bodies to refuse emphasizes the utter ignominy, degradation, and defilement associated with their deaths. To be left unburied as refuse was a profound shame and curse in ancient Near Eastern culture, denoting a complete lack of dignity, honor, or lament (e.g., Ps 79:2-3, Jer 8:2).
• in the midst of the streets (בְּקֶרֶב חוּצוֹת - b'qerev ḥuṣōt): This indicates public, widespread death. The bodies are not buried in tombs but lie exposed, making the devastation visible to all, reinforcing the horror and public humiliation.
• For all this (בְּכָל זֹאת - b'khol zoʾt): A profound adversative phrase repeated often in Isaiah (e.g., Isa 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4). It signifies that despite these cataclysmic events and devastating consequences, there was no change of heart or turning back to God.
• His anger is not turned away (לֹא שָׁב יָדוֹ - lo shav yado): Literally "His hand did not turn back." It expresses the continuous and persistent nature of God's wrath due to unrepentance. It signifies an unabated, enduring judgment.
• but His hand is still stretched out (וְעוֹד יָדוֹ נְטוּיָה - v'od yado n'ṭuyah): Reaffirms the continuity of God's active punitive measure. The stretched-out hand, a symbol of divine judgment, remains poised for further blows, indicating that the consequences detailed earlier are merely initial stages of judgment for continued rebellion, with worse yet to come.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people and He stretched out His hand against them and struck them": This phrase details the divine agency in judgment. God is the active initiator and executor of the punishment, not merely a passive observer of natural events. The intense, burning anger highlights the holiness and righteousness of God, which cannot tolerate such pervasive sin among His covenant people. The anthropomorphic "stretched out His hand" underscores direct divine intervention.
• "The mountains trembled and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets": This grouping illustrates the wide-ranging and severe effects of God's judgment. The "mountains trembling" signifies a profound, destabilizing cosmic impact, affecting the very order of creation. The detail about "corpses... as refuse in the midst of the streets" vividly depicts the public, dehumanizing, and utterly defiling consequence for the people. It contrasts the loving cultivation of the vineyard with the gruesome end of its wild fruits.
• "For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out": This climactic repetition (found also in Isa 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4) delivers the starkest and most unsettling truth. Despite experiencing overwhelming devastation, the people had not repented, implying their hardened hearts. Therefore, God's righteous wrath is neither satisfied nor withdrawn; it remains active, portending continued, potentially escalating, judgment until genuine repentance occurs or until destruction is complete. This emphasizes God's holiness and unwavering justice over and above mere immediate punishment.

Isaiah 5 25 Bonus section

The recurring refrain "For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out" (Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4) creates a strong rhetorical and thematic backbone throughout this section of Isaiah. This literary device emphasizes the deep-seated nature of Israel's unrepentance. It serves not just as a statement of present judgment, but also as a prophetic warning of ongoing, progressive devastation if the people fail to return to the Lord. This motif also reinforces the understanding of God's patience; each iteration implies a further judgment, a further opportunity for repentance, but also an escalating consequence for refusal. It portrays God's justice as both severe and unyielding, extending through successive historical periods (e.g., Assyrian invasions leading to Israel's downfall and then Judah's ongoing threat) until His purpose is fully achieved—either in their complete destruction or in their eventual repentance. This motif stands as a perpetual reminder of God's ultimate sovereignty over history and His unwavering moral standards.

Isaiah 5 25 Commentary

Isaiah 5:25 is a powerful testament to the severity and justice of God's judgment against unrepentant sin, even within His covenant people. The verse is a direct consequence of Israel's pervasive iniquity, detailed in the "Woe Oracles" of Isaiah 5:8-23. God's "kindled anger" reflects His holy intolerance of evil, which leads Him to directly intervene, metaphorically stretching out His hand to strike. The ensuing devastation is comprehensive: natural order is disrupted (mountains tremble), and human life is utterly debased (corpses left as refuse). The horror of unburied bodies left for scavengers signified a complete loss of honor and a profound curse in ancient times.The chilling pronouncement "For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is still stretched out" underscores the tragic depth of their spiritual apathy and stubbornness. Despite enduring such overwhelming calamity, there was no national turning back to God. This phrase emphasizes God's enduring resolve in justice; His hand of judgment remains poised, signaling that the suffering was not the end, but merely an indication of continued divine wrath until true repentance. This verse serves as a sober warning that God's justice is neither arbitrary nor appeasable by mere suffering without genuine change of heart. It highlights that God's long-suffering can run out, leading to unrelenting discipline when sin persists.

• Practical Usage Examples:
  • Persistent Unrighteousness: When a believer or church body continues in unconfessed or unrepented sin despite clear warnings or minor disciplinary experiences, this verse highlights the escalating and unwavering nature of divine displeasure, urging genuine repentance.
  • Warning Against False Security: For those who rely on their past blessings or perceived spiritual status as an excuse for present disobedience, this verse reminds that covenant relationship does not grant immunity from God's righteous judgment against sin.
  • God's Sovereignty in Suffering: Understanding that some calamities or difficulties might be God's hand of discipline, calling individuals or communities back to Himself, prompting examination of hearts rather than solely focusing on outward circumstances.