This chapter fascinates the true Bible student and those who are seeking deep Bible knowledge. Several verses in chapter five may need clarification or group discussion to make a better understanding. This chapter has 6 verses and sections like what one might call a series of parables/woes.

These six woes in Isaiah 5 pronounce God’s judgment on the people of Israel for various sins, including:

1. Greed/Materialism (v. 8-10) by accumulating property,

2. Hedonism and Drunkenness (v. 11-17) from a life of pleasure-seeking,

3. Falsehood and Deceit (v. 18-19) by pulling sin with “cords of vanity,”

4. Moral Relativism (v. 20) by calling evil good and good evil,

5. Arrogance and Self-Conceit (v. 21) by being wise in their own eyes.

6. Corruption and Injustice (v. 22-23) by justifying the wicked for bribes.

Stop for a moment and consider the world as we live in it right now. What factors (woes from above (list) can one see are currently happening? What trends does one see or coming? Be honest in your thoughts. Chapter five (first woe) uses a parable of a vineyard to illustrate God’s disappointment with Israel’s unfaithfulness and the consequences of their actions. Do we see an appointed (chosen) people in Israel putting their trust in God almighty? There are a few but as a nation, there are few.

Isaiah 5:2 states, And He dug it, and cleared it of stones, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in its midst, and also hewed out a wine vat in it. And He waited for it to produce grapes, but it produced rotten grapes (LITV). The “he” here is God. God created a family of Israelites through Abraham that constantly turned their backs of their God by assignment through Abraham. Israel was to be the choices of grapes, (and) a light on the hillside.

WOE! Isa 5:3  And now, O people of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I ask you, judge between Me and My vineyard. 

Isaiah 5:4  What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Who knows? I waited for it to yield grapes, but it yielded rotten grapes. 

Isaiah 5:5  And now I will make known to you what I will do then to My vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it will be burned. I will breach its wall, and it will become a trampling ground.

Isaiah 5:6  And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but briers and thorns shall come up. And I will command the clouds from raining rain on it. 

Isaiah 5:7  For the vineyard of Jehovah of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the man of Judah is His delightful plant. And He waited for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry! 

Ahabiblemoments highly recommends one read chapter five in the LIVT – Young’s Living Translation of the Holy Bible. Control/Click on the above highlight. It is from The Message (MSG) translation but is very understandable. Although it is not our recommended translation for everyday scripture reading, it is of value in this article; Isaiah 5.

One can add to the prophecies about the future Israelites found in the first 7 verses of chapter 5, then continue with verses 8-30. Each verse in Isaiah 5 is absolute and not symbolic. The need to be taken literally. Why all these curses against Israel? Read verse number 12 b.

“[the]harp, and psaltery, tabret, and pipe, And wine, have been their banquets, the work of Jehovah they behold not, Yea, the work of His hands they have not seen.” (YLT-5:12)

Verse 14 of Isaiah 5 considers Sheol, used over 60 times in the Old Testament. Verses 15 – 22 are the WOES of Isaiah.

There is much more commentary to discuss on chapter 5 of Isaiah. However, this chapter is well worth reading its entire context.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach.” (Rev David Guzik; KJV).

To better understand this 1^st verse in Isaiah 4, one can do him or herself good by reviewing the first three chapters in this infamous Old Testament book; the book that the early church depended upon to understand the facts of after the cross salvation. Women usually expect marriage. The problem within Israil, at “that Day”, the wars of others against Israel will have depleted the available men. There won’t be enough men to go around. They will have died from warfare, disease, or still in battle (see Isaiah 3:25).

In that day: This does not mean that the Messiah would appear when these judgments are taking place on the daughters of Zion. It means that the promise of the Messiah would be all the more beautiful and glorious to them in the midst of their suffering. People who claim to know the day of Christ’s return cannot be correct. The Bible in the Book of Matthew, (New King James Version). “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Such people who make such claims of knowing are, simply put, evil and without scriptural support.

The judgments of the LORD are detailed in Isaiah 3:16-26.

Isaiah 4:2 is the beginning of the renewal of Zion.

Often Zion and Jerusalem are claimed to be one and the same. Beyond its physical location, Zion also represents a symbolic idea. Zion is often used as a *metonym for Jerusalem.

* Metonym: a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated but distinct.

Verse 2 needs clarification. “In that day the Branch of the Lord…” When one thinks of a branch, a tree limb usually comes to mind. However, The Hebrew for “Branch” is tseh’mach. This means a seedling, a sprout, a bud. The renewal of Zion is part of the “all new” promise. An understanding of this helps us better understand 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Verse 4:4 “When the daughters of Zion…”  If not taken in context, one can very easily misunderstand this verse. The word “when” makes it a given. However, the Hebrew word that is translated “when” is ‘im [eem]. There are over 25 English translations for the Hebrew ‘im [eem]. We say this only to advise those who seriously study the Bible must use wisdom and caution in the word[s] translated to English.

Verse 4:5 alerts us to the fact that this is about Israel. Romans 11:26, for instance, speaks of “all Israel will be saved,” suggesting a future restoration or turning back to God. It (Bible) does not say that all people (gentiles) will get a second chance. This is a hot and debated topic. We have addressed this topic in previous posts to this site.

Verse 5 “…then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion…” Mount Zion? Hmmm?

NOTE: Daniel 9:27 is interpreted as a prophecy about a future seven-year period (the final “week” of Daniel’s prophecy) during which a powerful leader (the “prince who is to come“) will confirm a covenant with many but will ultimately break the covenant and cause desolation. This period is often associated with the tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist. This covenant does not state all peoples, but it says “SOME”.

In verse 6 of chapter 4, the word rain means rain. It does NOT mean God will once again flood the world. People seek refuge in a rainstorm.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 8/2025

Studying Isaiah provides a deeper understanding of the gospel and God’s character. Remember that the early church did not yet have the New Testament. They relied mostly on what the prophet Isaiah wrote.

The main messages of Isaiah 3:

1. Judgement on their leadership in Judah and Jerusalem
2. Isaiah describes a people on the verge of collapse and a disregard for God’s law
3. [v16+] God says, “Zion women are stuck-up, prancing around in their high heels,
   Making eyes at all the men in the street, swinging their hips, Tossing their hair, gaudy and garish in cheap jewelry.”
4. “Behold the Lord (‘adon: to be a ruler), the LORD of hosts (Yahuwah: (self-existing)) …” Two forms of the titles Lord and LORD.
5. God will remove from Judah/Jerusalem) men of war, police protection, judges and courts, pastors and teachers, captains and generals, doctors and nurses, even repairmen by trade, and those who are capable of ruling will refuse the role.

Verses 8-9: This is where today we get the statements “down for the count” and “they have made their bed now sleep in it”. Verse 9 is of particular interest. The appearance of their faces witnessed against them, And their sin, as Sodom, they declared, They have not hidden! Woe to their soul, For they have done to themselves evil (YLT; Young’s Literal Translation).

Verse 9: Have you or someone else ever said … “the look on your face tells us differently. Read verse 9a … The look on their continence (pânı̂ym; face) witnesses against them”

Verse 10-11: The righteous, will be rewarded, disaster to those who fall away or reject God’s will, doom to the wicked, what one has done to others will be done to them.

NOTE of CAUTION. This is why the Lord’s Prayer (as we call it) is for individuals, not a congregation… “forgive us our (my) trespasses JUST as we (I) forgive those who have trespassed against us (me).

Verse 12: We at ahabiblemoments did NOT write this verse. We are quoting the Bible.

“As for my people, children [analogues] are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead you cause you to err” (American Standard Version). This verse points out the surrendering of male leadership (Adam and Eve).

Verse 13,14: Have you ever hear it said that someone is acting as Judge and Jury? The Lord makes this claim in 3:13,14. “Jehovah stands up to contend and stands to judge the peoples.” He will be judge and Jury over all Israel [and mankind].

Verse 15,16: The accusations made.

Verse 15-24: The punishment here on earth to those accused in verses 15 and 16. Look closely at verse 24… (KJV) “Instead of a rich robe (WELL DRESSED) a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.” Branding is kee in the Greek. A synonym for branding/kee is tattoos. Hmmm? Wearing tattoos instead of things of beauty.

The context of verse 25 & 26 continues in the next chapter (4:1). This will be in our next article.

Isaiah 3:25  Your men shall fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle. 

Isaiah 3:26  And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall be banished; she shall sit upon the ground.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025