Isaiah 5 5

Isaiah 5:5 kjv

And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

Isaiah 5:5 nkjv

And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

Isaiah 5:5 niv

Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.

Isaiah 5:5 esv

And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

Isaiah 5:5 nlt

Now let me tell you
what I will do to my vineyard:
I will tear down its hedges
and let it be destroyed.
I will break down its walls
and let the animals trample it.

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 5 Meaning

Isaiah 5:5 declares God's announcement of impending judgment upon His vineyard, representing the nation of Israel, specifically Judah. Having nurtured and protected His people with immense care, God now reveals He will actively remove His divine safeguards, the "hedge" and "wall," allowing them to be overrun, devoured, and trampled by their enemies. This signifies a devastating withdrawal of protection, leading to national ruin and desolation due to their spiritual barrenness and failure to produce righteousness.

Isaiah 5 5 Context

Isaiah 5:5 is part of the "Song of the Vineyard" (Isaiah 5:1-7), an allegorical poem where the prophet Isaiah presents God's lament and coming judgment. God, depicted as a diligent vineyard owner, describes the extraordinary effort He put into cultivating His vineyard (Israel/Judah), providing every necessary resource for a bountiful yield of good fruit. Despite this divine care, the vineyard produced only "wild grapes," representing their unrighteousness, injustice, and oppression, as revealed in Isaiah 5:7 ("He looked for justice [mishpat], but saw bloodshed; for righteousness [tzedakah], but heard a cry!"). Verse 5 thus marks a critical turning point: the compassionate vinedresser, having exhausted all care, now announces the drastic, final measure of removing His protection. Historically, this foreshadowed the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions and subsequent exiles that devastated Judah, a consequence of their persistent sin and covenant unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 5 5 Word analysis

• And now (וְעַתָּה - v'attah): A strong temporal and logical connector. It marks a shift from past actions (God's diligent care, Isa 5:1-4) to a present declaration of future, decisive action. It emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of what is to follow, signifying a pivotal moment in God's interaction with His people.
• I will tell you (אוֹדִ֣יעָה - o'di'ah): From the root yada', meaning "to know," in the Hiphil causative stem, it means "I will make known" or "I will cause you to know." This is a solemn, official pronouncement by God Himself, through His prophet, indicating a divine decree and a clear revelation of His intentions, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
• what I am going to do (אֶעֱשֶׂה - e'eseh): From ‘asah, "to do, to make, to accomplish." It conveys a definite, intentional, and sovereign act. This is not an empty threat but a determined purpose, indicating God's active involvement in the unfolding judgment, even if through withdrawal of protection.
• to My vineyard (לְכַרְמִי - l'kharmi): Karem is "vineyard," and the suffix "-i" denotes "My." The vineyard is a recurring biblical metaphor for Israel, specifically the people chosen, cultivated, and owned by God. The possessive pronoun "My" emphasizes God's personal investment, covenantal relationship, and proprietary rights, which are now being violated by its unfruitfulness.
• I will take away (אָסִיר - asir): From sur, "to turn aside, remove." It's a causative verb indicating God's direct action in removing something previously in place. This is an act of deliberate dismantling of the security and favor Israel once enjoyed.
• its hedge (מְשׂוּכָתָהּ - mesukatah): A fence, often made of thorny bushes or stakes, providing immediate, outward protection against smaller incursions (e.g., wild animals, casual passersby). In this context, it symbolizes God's direct, protective presence and the spiritual and physical boundaries He set around Israel (His Law, His blessings, His land). Its removal signifies the opening of Israel to everyday dangers and common adversaries.
• and it shall be eaten up (וְהָיְתָה לְבָעֵר - v'haytah l'va'er): Hayah means "it shall be," and l'va'er means "for burning, for consumption, to be devoured." This imagery refers to destructive consumption by wild beasts or plunderers, representing foreign invaders (Assyria, Babylon). It points to complete devastation of their produce, land, and resources.
• and I will break down (אֶפְרֹץ - efrótz): From parats, meaning "to break open, burst through, to tear down." This indicates a forceful, decisive destruction of a more formidable barrier, suggesting God's intention to fully dismantle the nation's defenses.
• its wall (גְּדֵרָהּ - g'derah): A more substantial, permanent structure, usually a stone wall, providing stronger defense against organized threats or larger invasions. This symbolizes God's stronger, overarching protection, the national security He provided, and the invincibility Israel had when in covenant with Him. Its breaking down implies an irreversible end to national security and susceptibility to large-scale devastation.
• and it shall be trodden down (וְהָיְתָה לְמִרְמָס - v'haytah l'mirmas): Hayah means "it shall be," and l'mirmas means "for trampling." This evokes images of devastation and contempt, where vineyards or fields are trampled by armies, livestock, or an unrestrained crowd, utterly ruining the land and leaving it desolate and desecrated. It implies a complete loss of dignity, honor, and fruitfulness.

Words-group analysis:

• "And now I will tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard.": This is God's solemn decree. It's a pronouncement of judgment directly from the Divine Vinedresser, making explicit His responsibility and determination to act. It signals an end to the patient nurturing phase and the beginning of judicial action.
• "I will take away its hedge, and it shall be eaten up;": This phrase highlights the immediate vulnerability upon the removal of the first layer of divine protection. The "hedge" signifies the common blessings and daily care, which when removed, leaves the people open to everyday destructive forces, small invasions, and internal decay, leading to being consumed or despoiled.
• "and I will break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down.": This second part escalates the severity of judgment. The "wall" signifies ultimate security and national integrity. Its destruction denotes a complete and catastrophic invasion by enemies, leading to widespread desolation, public shame, and an irreversible state of ruin, trampled and stripped of all value. Both phrases together illustrate a systematic, progressive, and thorough removal of God's hand of preservation, opening the way for comprehensive judgment.

Isaiah 5 5 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of Isaiah 5:5 lies in its transition from a rhetorical question posed to the hearers ("What more could have been done to My vineyard...?" Isa 5:4) to a direct, unequivocal statement of God's action. This shift underscores that the blame for the vineyard's impending destruction lies solely with its barrenness, not with any failure on the part of the Vinedresser. The use of "I" multiple times ("I will tell," "I am going to do," "I will take away," "I will break down") stresses God's absolute sovereignty and active agency in orchestrating the judgment. It highlights the divine hand in what might otherwise be perceived as mere political or natural disaster, revealing the theological truth that all significant events, including calamities, are under His ultimate control for His purposes. The "hedge" and "wall" are not just physical barriers; they represent the entire covenantal security system that God established around Israel—His presence, His law, His divine interventions, and even the natural defenses of the land. The removal signifies the profound implications of breaking covenant: spiritual exposure and ultimately, national collapse.

Isaiah 5 5 Commentary

Isaiah 5:5 encapsulates the divine sorrow and righteous indignation behind God's judgment. After recounting His extensive and tender care for Israel as His chosen vineyard (Isa 5:1-4), He unveils His determined purpose to remove His protective hand. The imagery of taking away the hedge and breaking down the wall clearly depicts the withdrawal of divine safeguard. This act of "doing nothing" in terms of protection means He will no longer intervene to prevent hostile forces (symbolized by wild beasts and tramplers) from devastating His people. This consequence is not arbitrary but directly linked to Israel's failure to bear righteous fruit (justice and righteousness, Isa 5:7). It signifies that God's patience has reached its limit; His unwavering love and diligence have been met with persistent rebellion and spiritual unfruitfulness. This verse reveals God's sovereignty over the nations, using foreign empires as instruments of His righteous judgment. It stands as a timeless warning that divine privilege without obedient faithfulness leads to devastating consequences.

• Example 1: A parent who has provided every opportunity for their child's success, only to see the child willfully destroy those opportunities through harmful choices, might eventually withdraw financial support, allowing the child to face the direct consequences of their decisions.
• Example 2: A nation protected by a powerful, watchful military force might see that force withdrawn if its citizens consistently defy the laws of the protecting power and engage in self-destructive anarchy.