Isaiah 5 9

Isaiah 5:9 kjv

In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

Isaiah 5:9 nkjv

In my hearing the LORD of hosts said, "Truly, many houses shall be desolate, Great and beautiful ones, without inhabitant.

Isaiah 5:9 niv

The LORD Almighty has declared in my hearing: "Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants.

Isaiah 5:9 esv

The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing: "Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.

Isaiah 5:9 nlt

But I have heard the LORD of Heaven's Armies
swear a solemn oath:
"Many houses will stand deserted;
even beautiful mansions will be empty.

Isaiah 5 verses

Isaiah 5 9 Meaning

(h2)

This verse proclaims a solemn, divine declaration from the LORD of hosts: that many great and beautiful houses, accumulated by those who join field to field, shall be laid desolate and left entirely without inhabitant. It is a judgment for the rampant greed and social injustice prevalent in Judah, signifying the complete reversal of human pride and ambition for material wealth.

Isaiah 5 9 Context

(h2)

Isaiah 5:9 stands within the larger prophetic message of Isaiah, specifically as part of the "Song of the Vineyard" (Isa 5:1-7) and the subsequent series of six "Woes" pronounced against the nation of Judah (Isa 5:8-23). The immediate context is verse 8, which condemns those who are "joining house to house and adding field to field, until there is no more room." This vividly depicts rampant land greed and accumulation of wealth by the elite, at the expense of the poor and the traditional tribal land allotments.

Historically, this prophecy addresses Judah during a period marked by outward prosperity but profound moral and spiritual decay, possibly during the reign of Uzziah or later kings like Ahaz. Society was plagued by social injustice, covetousness, drunkenness, and a distorted sense of values, with the wealthy exploiting the vulnerable. God, through Isaiah, confronts this injustice. The judgment described in verse 9 directly corresponds to the specific sin condemned in verse 8: the very properties acquired through oppressive means will become desolate. The "great and beautiful houses" reflect the material opulence and perceived security of those who disregarded God's covenant laws regarding land tenure and the treatment of the poor. This verse underscores God's judicial response to such ethical breaches, affirming His sovereign power over human endeavors and the ultimate transience of earthly possessions.

Isaiah 5 9 Word analysis

(h2)

• "In my ears" (בְּאָזְנָ֑י bəʾāzənay): This phrase emphasizes the direct, personal reception of the divine message by the prophet Isaiah. It signifies that the prophet did not merely perceive this truth through general revelation but received a distinct, solemn declaration from God himself. It implies the certainty and undeniable nature of the prophecy, akin to hearing an unalterable decree.
• "says the LORD of hosts" (אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹֽות ʾāmar YHWH Tsĕbāʾōṯ): This is a powerful, authoritative divine formula used to confirm the certainty and absolute authority of the statement that follows.
  • ʾāmar ("says"): A straightforward declaration, leaving no room for doubt.
  • YHWH ("LORD"): The covenant name of God, revealing His faithful, enduring relationship with His people, even in judgment. It signifies the God who reveals Himself and keeps His word.
  • Tsĕbāʾōṯ ("of hosts"): This majestic title portrays God as the supreme commander of all creation, including angelic armies and cosmic forces. It highlights His omnipotence and capacity to execute His decrees, no matter how immense or challenging. This ensures the prophecy's fulfillment; human ambition is no match for His power.
• "Many houses" (בָּתִּים רַבִּים bāttīm rabbīm):
  • bāttīm ("houses"): Refers not just to simple dwellings but to residences of substance, often estates or complexes. Given the context of Isa 5:8, these were houses acquired in abundance, representing material accumulation and perceived security.
  • rabbīm ("many"): Points to the widespread nature of both the greed that acquired them and the coming judgment that will impact them comprehensively, reflecting the scope of the sin in the nation.
• "shall be desolate" (לְשַׁמָּ֤ה ləšammāh): Derived from the root š-m-m, meaning to be desolate, ruined, or laid waste. This is a severe judgment, indicating not just emptiness but a state of utter ruin, abandonment, and desolation. It implies the breakdown of social order and human presence.
• "great and beautiful houses" (גְדֹלִים֙ וְטֹובִים֙ gəḏōlīm wəṭōḇīm): These adjectives specify the quality of the houses mentioned.
  • gəḏōlīm ("great" or "large"): Underscores their impressive size and the status they conveyed.
  • wəṭōḇīm ("and beautiful" or "fine"): Refers to their aesthetic quality, indicating they were built with luxury, costly materials, and elaborate design, showcasing the owners' pride and worldly success. The irony is poignant: that which was built with such effort and pride for human enjoyment will be rendered useless and abandoned by divine decree.
• "without inhabitant" (מֵאֵ֥ין יֹשֵֽׁב׃ mêʾēn yōšēḇ): Literally "from nothing, a dweller" or "without one dwelling." This emphasizes the completeness of the desolation. Not only will the houses be empty, but there will be no one left to occupy them. This points to a drastic reduction or removal of the population, leaving a stark emptiness that contrasts sharply with the original purpose of habitation. It is a judgment extending beyond property to human presence.

Isaiah 5 9 Bonus section

(h2)

• Divine Irony: The verse encapsulates divine irony. Those who devoted their lives to joining house to house and accumulating luxurious properties, often through exploitative means, will witness the complete voiding of their endeavors. Their hard-won gains become a testament to their folly, not their legacy.
• Certainty of Prophecy: The emphatic opening "In my ears says the LORD of hosts" conveys not merely a prediction, but a sure, divinely decreed future event. It carries the weight of an unalterable pronouncement from the sovereign God, whose word does not return void.
• Social and Spiritual Implications: Beyond the physical desolation, this judgment points to the breakdown of the very societal structures that fostered such greed. It highlights God's justice in responding to ethical abuses and warns that ignoring the principles of fairness and stewardship leads to systemic collapse and spiritual emptiness. The material void reflects a spiritual vacuum.

Isaiah 5 9 Commentary

(h2)

Isaiah 5:9 presents a direct and irreversible declaration of judgment from the Almighty. The "LORD of hosts," whose title itself conveys supreme power, ensures the fulfillment of this prophecy. The target of this judgment is precisely that which the wealthy of Judah cherished most: their grand and opulent houses, amassed through the avarice highlighted in the preceding verse. The verse underscores a profound biblical truth: human attempts to secure lasting happiness and identity through material acquisition, especially at the expense of justice and righteousness, are ultimately futile and destined for ruin by divine intervention.

The stark image of "great and beautiful houses, without inhabitant" creates a vivid contrast to the original intent of those who built them. These structures, monuments to pride and ambition, will become empty symbols of a misguided pursuit. The thoroughness of the desolation signifies God's complete rejection of the corrupt values represented by such acquisition. It serves as a potent warning against covetousness, social injustice, and reliance on earthly security, reminding us that true and lasting abundance is found only in the provisions and purposes of God.