Isaiah 56:12 kjv
Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Isaiah 56:12 nkjv
"Come," one says, "I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant."
Isaiah 56:12 niv
"Come," each one cries, "let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."
Isaiah 56:12 esv
"Come," they say, "let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure."
Isaiah 56:12 nlt
"Come," they say, "let's get some wine and have a party.
Let's all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we'll do it again
and have an even bigger party!"
Isaiah 56 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:12 | "Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant." | Echoes a reckless pursuit of earthly pleasure. |
| Jer 10:23 | "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." | Contrasts human fallibility with God's sovereignty. |
| Ezek 34:2-3 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be unto the shepherds of Israel that do even feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" | Directly addresses irresponsible shepherds. |
| Micah 3:2-3 | "Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;" | Describes corrupt leaders. |
| Matt 23:25 | "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." | Condemns hypocrisy and inner corruption. |
| Luke 12:45-46 | "But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;" | Warns against self-indulgence by stewards. |
| 1 Cor 6:10 | "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." | Lists vices that exclude from God's kingdom. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." | Lists excesses and fleshly works. |
| Eph 5:18 | "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" | Exhorts against intoxication, contrasting with the Spirit. |
| Titus 1:7-8 | "For a bishop must be blameless, as the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." | Outlines qualifications for church leaders. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock." | Admonishes leaders to care for the flock willingly. |
| Ps 1:1 | "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." | Contrasts the righteous path with the ungodly. |
| Prov 20:1 | "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." | Warns about the deceptive nature of alcohol. |
| Prov 23:20-21 | "Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." | Links indulgence with destitution. |
| Prov 31:4-5 | "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the dinance, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted." | Cautionary advice for rulers against strong drink. |
| Jer 22:17 | "But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it." | Describes a ruler focused on gain and sin. |
| Amos 6:3-7 | "Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and in chairs of state, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;" | Denounces complacency and self-indulgence. |
| Hos 4:18 | "Their drink is turned into filthy, they have used to play the whore: the shame thereof hath multiplied." | Links excess drinking with immorality. |
| Zeph 3:3 | "Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw no bones till the morning." | Describes corrupt and predatory leaders. |
| Rev 18:7 | "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." | Depicts a city luxuriating in pride and pleasure. |
Isaiah 56 verses
Isaiah 56 12 Meaning
This verse describes a harsh judgment against leaders who disregard God's law and are consumed by selfish desires. They are characterized as "shepherds" who have led their flock astray and pursued their own gain. God declares His intention to hold them accountable and remove them from their leadership positions.
Isaiah 56 12 Context
Isaiah chapter 56 moves from promises of inclusion for Gentiles and eunuchs who keep the Sabbath and God's covenant to a strong condemnation of the spiritual and political leaders of Judah. In the time of Isaiah, and certainly later in the exilic and post-exilic periods, the leadership often failed in their duty to shepherd the people of God. They were more interested in personal gain and comfort than in upholding God's law and caring for the flock. This verse specifically targets this corruption, painting a picture of leaders who indulge in revelry and live with a reckless disregard for accountability, believing their current state of prosperity will continue indefinitely.
Isaiah 56 12 Word Analysis
- "Come" (Hebrew: בֹּואוּ, bo'u): Imperative, plural form of "to come." This is an invitation to join in, signifying a collective action and participation in the described behavior.
- "ye": Refers to the addressees, likely the unfaithful leaders.
- "say they" (Hebrew: אָמַרְתִּי, amarti - should be אָמְרוּ, amru): The literal Hebrew is closer to "I said" or "they say," but in this context, "they say" is the appropriate understanding, representing the voice or pronouncements of these corrupt leaders. There might be a slight textual variant here or the meaning is implied as reported speech.
- "I will fetch" (Hebrew: אֶשְׁלָח, eshlaḥ): "I will send" or "I will stretch out" (referring to sending or extending oneself for the purpose). It implies an active decision and intent.
- "wine" (Hebrew: יַיִן, yayin): Refers to fermented grape juice, commonly known as wine.
- "and we will fill" (Hebrew: וְנַמְלִיא, vənāmli): "and we will make full," indicating complete satisfaction and excess in drinking.
- "ourselves" (Hebrew: עַצְמֵינוּ, 'atzmeynu): The reflexive pronoun emphasizing that the filling and indulgence are for their own pleasure and benefit.
- "with strong drink" (Hebrew: שֵׁכָר, shekhār): A general term for intoxicating beverage, often distilled or a strong fermented drink, distinct from regular wine.
- "and to morrow shall be as this day" (Hebrew: וּמָחָר כְּהַיּוֹם, umākhār kəhayyōm): A direct quote of their careless, materialistic philosophy – the belief that the future will be a mere repetition and continuation of the present state of abundance and pleasure.
- "and much more abundant" (Hebrew: וְיֶתֶר, śāḵər): Literally "and exceedingly," "and abundantly," indicating an expectation of even greater prosperity and indulgence in the future. The word likely modifies the implication of "as this day," suggesting "even better than this day."
Words-group Analysis
- "Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink": This phrase captures the essence of the leaders' materialistic and pleasure-seeking mindset. It's a call to communal indulgence and excess, a departure from their spiritual responsibilities. This echoes the decadence described in various prophetic contexts.
- "and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant": This represents a profound failure of faith and a dangerous overconfidence in their current circumstances. It signifies an absolute lack of foresight, wisdom, and dependence on God. They believe their prosperity is self-generated and guaranteed to continue, a stark contrast to the precariousness of life and the need for God's favor. This statement embodies a reckless pursuit of temporal pleasure, disregarding the eternal consequences.
Isaiah 56 12 Bonus Section
The sentiment expressed ("to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant") reflects a deep-seated materialism and a rejection of the idea of divine judgment or dependency. This philosophy of unbridled consumption and confidence in ongoing earthly prosperity can be seen as a form of practical atheism, where God is excluded from the daily calculations and assurances of life. It’s a spiritual arrogance that believes one's current good fortune is an entitlement and a self-sustaining reality, rather than a conditional blessing dependent on obedience and faith. This disregard for God's will and for the future spiritual state is a pattern of leadership failure seen throughout biblical history.
Isaiah 56 12 Commentary
This verse starkly portrays the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of Israel's leaders. Their words reveal a people lost in hedonism, believing that present material blessings will unfailingly continue and even increase. This outlook is fundamentally opposed to true faithfulness, which recognizes all blessings as from God and requires a sober, responsible stewardship. Their desire for "wine" and "strong drink" symbolizes an addiction to earthly pleasures and a refusal to acknowledge their spiritual poverty. The assurance that "to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant" is a testament to their deep delusion and impending judgment. They are so absorbed in their self-made comfort that they have ceased to hear or heed God's voice, nor do they care for the spiritual well-being of the people entrusted to them. This utter failure makes them deserving of God's retribution.