Isa 5:22-23 | NETfull | STEP | Those who are champions at drinking wine are as good as dead, who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.

Isaiah 5:22-23

22 Those who are champions ^{▼▼ The language used here is quite sarcastic and paves the way for the shocking description of the enemy army in vv. 25–30. The rich leaders of Judah are nothing but “party animals” who are totally incapable of withstanding real warriors.} at drinking wine are as good as dead, ^{▼▼ Heb “Woe [to]….” See the note at v. 8.}
who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.
23 They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff,
they ignore the just cause of the innocent. ^{▼▼ Heb “and the just cause of the innocent ones they turn aside from him.”} ^{▼▼ In vv. 22–23 the prophet returns to themes with which he opened his speech. The accusatory elements of vv. 8, 11–12, 18–23 are arranged in a chiastic manner: (A) social injustice (8), (B) carousing (11–12a), (C) spiritual insensitivity (12b) // (C') spiritual insensitivity (18–21), (B') carousing (22), (A') social injustice (23).}