Isaiah 27:3
I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָה֙
I the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
I the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 11
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶצֳּרֶֽנָּה׃
do keep
H5341
אֶצֳּרֶֽנָּה׃
do keep
Strong's:
H5341
Word #:
3 of 11
to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
לִרְגָעִ֖ים
it every moment
H7281
לִרְגָעִ֖ים
it every moment
Strong's:
H7281
Word #:
4 of 11
a wink (of the eyes), i.e., a very short space of time
אַשְׁקֶ֑נָּה
it I will water
H8248
אַשְׁקֶ֑נָּה
it I will water
Strong's:
H8248
Word #:
5 of 11
to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to
פֶּ֚ן
H6435
פֶּ֚ן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
יִפְקֹ֣ד
lest any hurt
H6485
יִפְקֹ֣ד
lest any hurt
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
7 of 11
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
עָלֶ֔יהָ
H5921
עָלֶ֔יהָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 11
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לַ֥יְלָה
it night
H3915
לַ֥יְלָה
it night
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
Cross References
Isaiah 58:11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.1 Samuel 2:9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.Ezekiel 34:11For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.Isaiah 60:16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.Isaiah 46:9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,Ezekiel 34:24And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.Ezekiel 37:14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.Isaiah 5:6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.Isaiah 46:4And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.Psalms 46:5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Historical Context
Ancient vineyards required constant care—irrigation in dry seasons, protection from wild animals, watchmen to guard against thieves. Isaiah's audience understood the intensive labor involved. God's promise to personally tend His vineyard meant Israel wouldn't depend on unfaithful shepherds/leaders but on Yahweh Himself. For the church, this assures believers of God's preserving grace—He who began the good work will complete it (Philippians 1:6).
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing that God keeps you 'every moment' and 'night and day' affect your sense of security in salvation?
- What does God's active watering (not just watching) teach about His involvement in believers' spiritual growth?
- How should God's protective care ('lest any hurt it') shape our understanding of trials and spiritual warfare?
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Analysis & Commentary
I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. God Himself becomes the vineyard's guardian, using emphatic first-person pronouns: I the LORD (ani Yahweh notserah, אֲנִי יְהוָה נֹצְרָהּ). The verb natsar (נָצַר) means to guard, watch over, preserve—the same root used for watchman. This divine watching is comprehensive: every moment (lirega'im, לִרְגָעִים, literally "at moments" or constantly), night and day (laylah vayom, לַיְלָה וָיוֹם, continuous protection).
I will water it (ashqenah, אַשְׁקֶנָּה) shows God's active nurture, not mere passive watching. He provides what the vineyard needs for growth. Lest any hurt it (pen yifqod 'aleyha, פֶּן־יִפְקֹד עָלֶיהָ) reveals protective purpose—God intervenes to prevent harm. The contrast with chapter 5 is striking: there God removed the hedge and let the vineyard be trampled (5:5); here He personally guards it constantly. This reflects the New Covenant promise where God writes His law on hearts (Jeremiah 31:33) and keeps believers through His power (1 Peter 1:5). Jesus promises that no one can snatch His sheep from the Father's hand (John 10:28-29).