Isaiah 5:10
Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֗י
Yea
H3588
כִּ֗י
Yea
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
צִמְדֵּי
acres
H6776
צִמְדֵּי
acres
Strong's:
H6776
Word #:
3 of 11
a yoke or team (i.e., pair); hence, an acre (i.e., day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough)
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה
shall yield
H6213
יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה
shall yield
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
5 of 11
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
בַּ֣ת
bath
H1324
בַּ֣ת
bath
Strong's:
H1324
Word #:
6 of 11
a bath or hebrew measure (as a means of division) of liquids
וְזֶ֥רַע
and the seed
H2233
וְזֶ֥רַע
and the seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
8 of 11
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
חֹ֖מֶר
of an homer
H2563
חֹ֖מֶר
of an homer
Strong's:
H2563
Word #:
9 of 11
properly, a bubbling up, i.e., of water, a wave; hence, a chomer or dry measure
Cross References
Leviticus 26:26And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.Haggai 2:16Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
Historical Context
Agricultural economy made crop failure catastrophic. Such severe losses would result in famine, fulfilling prophetic warnings and demonstrating dependence on divine provision.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'vineyards' of effort in our lives yield minimal return due to lack of divine blessing?
- How does recognizing God's sovereignty over fruitfulness shape our approach to work?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The curse of agricultural futility—ten acres yielding one bath (6 gallons), a homer of seed producing only an ephah (tenth of original)—depicts covenant curse where labor proves fruitless (Deuteronomy 28:38-40). The dramatic disproportion (90% loss) shows divine judgment nullifying human effort. This illustrates the principle that apart from God's blessing, toil is vain (Psalm 127:1), and anticipates Jesus' teaching on abiding in Him for fruitfulness (John 15:4-5).