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