Isa 5:1-8 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 5:1-30: 5:1-30 The prophet pronounced judgment through song (5:1-7 ) and prophecies of woe (5:8-30 ). Although Israel’s future condition would be one of purity and fellowship with God (4:2-6 ), that future cannot ignore the present sinful condition of the people and their leaders. Summary for Isa 5:1-7: 5:1-7 The Song of the Vineyard expresses in poetic form God’s indictment of the wicked leadership that had ruined his vineyard, Israel. Like some wisdom literature, it presents readers with an account of a puzzling situation (5:1-2 ) before giving its spiritual significance (5:3-7 ). The theme of the vineyard’s transformation is found again in ch 27 and in Jesus’ teaching (Matt 21:33 ; Mark 12:1 ). 5:1 The one I love refers to the Lord; the prophet was singing this song on the Lord’s behalf. • At first, the song sounds like a love song, but by 5:3 readers realize it is actually a complaint. • On Israel as God’s vineyard, see also 3:14 ; Matt 21:33-46 ; John 15:1-17 .

Summary for Isa 5:1-30: 5:1-30 ^a The prophet pronounced judgment through song (5:1-7 ^b) and prophecies of woe (5:8-30 ^c). Although Israel’s future condition would be one of purity and fellowship with God (4:2-6 ^d), that future cannot ignore the present sinful condition of the people and their leaders.
Summary for Isa 5:1-7: 5:1-7 ^e The Song of the Vineyard expresses in poetic form God’s indictment of the wicked leadership that had ruined his vineyard, Israel. Like some wisdom literature, it presents readers with an account of a puzzling situation (5:1-2 ^f) before giving its spiritual significance (5:3-7 ^g). The theme of the vineyard’s transformation is found again in ch 27 ^h and in Jesus’ teaching (Matt 21:33 ⁱ; Mark 12:1 ^j). 5:1 ^k The one I love refers to the Lord; the prophet was singing this song on the Lord’s behalf.

• At first, the song sounds like a love song, but by 5:3 ^l readers realize it is actually a complaint.

• On Israel as God’s vineyard, see also 3:14 ^m; Matt 21:33-46 ⁿ; John 15:1-17 ^o.
5:2 ^p The Lord gave the best care to his vineyard, preparing and nursing it as an expert agriculturalist. He watched over it with great attentiveness, planting the best vines—ones that had the potential for abundant sweet grapes. God had great expectations of Israel as his people (see Exod 19:5-6 ^q), so the bitter grapes they produced—their unrighteous deeds—were useless and disappointing (cp. Gal 5:22-23 ^r).
Summary for Isa 5:3-4: 5:3-4 ^s Clearly, the Lord had graciously done everything possible for the vineyard. He was not to blame for the bitter grapes.

• you judge: Isaiah wanted the audience to condemn the vineyard before he revealed that in fact they were the vineyard (5:7 ^t). This rhetorical tactic is similar to the one Nathan used to confront David (2 Sam 12:1-5 ^u).
Summary for Isa 5:5-6: 5:5-6 ^v The Lord promised to make his vineyard, Israel, a desolate place because it was fit only for destruction. Later, Isaiah prophesied the gracious, glorious transformation of Israel from desolation to fruitful vitality (see 55:13 ^w).
5:6 ^x The withholding of rain was at times a divine judgment (Deut 28:23-24 ^y; Hag 1:11 ^z; 2:16 ^aa). It was especially devastating to a society that depended heavily on agriculture.
5:7 ^ab The identification of Israel as the vineyard is a surprise that resolves the riddle of this passage.

• Here, a powerful play on Hebrew words indicted Israel. The Lord expected justice (Hebrew mishpat) but saw only oppression (mispakh) of the needy. Instead of righteousness (tsedaqah), there were cries of violence (tse‘aqah) against the poor (see 1:21-23 ^ac).
Summary for Isa 5:8-23: 5:8-23 ^ad This section contains six pronouncements of sorrow—six threats of dreadful judgment (5:8 ^ae, 11 ^af, 18 ^ag, 20 ^ah, 21 ^ai, 22 ^aj). The sorrows identify some of the “bitter grapes” produced by the vineyard of Israel (5:1-7 ^ak).
Summary for Isa 5:8-10: 5:8-10 ^al What sorrow: The first threat of judgment was against oppressive greed. Properties (house and field) were being taken by illegal means. The new owners were thugs who used every avenue to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor (see 1 Kgs 21:1-29 ^am; Amos 2:6-7 ^an).