Isaiah Chapter 5 · Verse 7
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָ֤ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָאוֹת֙
of hosts
H6635
צְבָאוֹת֙
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
4 of 17
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
בֵּ֣ית
is the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
is the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
5 of 17
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 17
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְאִ֣ישׁ
and the men
H376
וְאִ֣ישׁ
and the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 17
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
8 of 17
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
נְטַ֖ע
plant
H5194
נְטַ֖ע
plant
Strong's:
H5194
Word #:
9 of 17
a plant; collectively, a plantation; abstractly, a planting
וַיְקַ֤ו
and he looked
H6960
וַיְקַ֤ו
and he looked
Strong's:
H6960
Word #:
11 of 17
to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e., collect; (figuratively) to expect
לְמִשְׁפָּט֙
for judgment
H4941
לְמִשְׁפָּט֙
for judgment
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
12 of 17
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
Cross References
James 5:4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.Isaiah 5:2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.Isaiah 3:14The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.Isaiah 3:17Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.Isaiah 1:6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.Isaiah 62:5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.Psalms 80:15And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.Psalms 147:11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.Psalms 149:4For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.Job 34:28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
Historical Context
Eighth-century Judah was marked by economic oppression, corrupt courts, and social injustice despite religious observance (Isaiah 1:11-17). The cry of the oppressed reached God's ears like Abel's blood.
Questions for Reflection
- How might you be practicing religious activities while ignoring justice and righteousness?
- What 'cries' of those you've wronged or neglected might be reaching God's ears?
Analysis & Commentary
Isaiah identifies the parable's meaning: the vineyard is Israel and Judah, 'the men of His pleasure' (literally, 'plant of His delight'). The devastating wordplay in Hebrew contrasts God's expectation with reality: He expected 'mishpat' (justice) but found 'mispach' (bloodshed/oppression); He sought 'tsedaqah' (righteousness) but heard 'tse'aqah' (a cry of distress). Similar sounds, opposite meanings emphasize the perversion.