Isaiah 5:3
Isaiah 5:3 in Multiple Translations
“And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
And now, you people of Jerusalem and you men of Judah, be the judges between me and my vine-garden.
“Now, you people who live in Jerusalem and Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard.
Now therefore, O inhabitants of Ierusalem and men of Iudah, iudge, I pray you, betweene me, and my vineyarde.
And now, O inhabitant of Jerusalem, and man of Judah, Judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.
“Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye men of Juda, judge between me and my vineyard.
Now this is what Yahweh says: “You people of Jerusalem and other places in Judah, I am like the friend, and you are like my vineyard; so you judge which of us has done what is right.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 5:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 5:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/עַתָּ֛ה
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
וְ/אִ֣ישׁ
יְהוּדָ֑ה
שִׁפְטוּ
נָ֕א
בֵּינִ֖/י
וּ/בֵ֥ין
כַּרְמִֽ/י
וְ/עַתָּ֛ה
ʻattâh
H6258
now
Conj | Adv
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב
yâshab
H3427
to dwell
V-Qal
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Yᵉrûwshâlaim
H3389
Jerusalem
N-proper
וְ/אִ֣ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
Conj | N-ms
יְהוּדָ֑ה
Yᵉhûwdâh
H3063
Judah
N-proper
שִׁפְטוּ
shâphaṭ
H8199
to judge
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
נָ֕א
nâʼ
H4994
please
Part
בֵּינִ֖/י
bêyn
H996
between
Prep | Suff
וּ/בֵ֥ין
bêyn
H996
between
Conj | Prep
כַּרְמִֽ/י
kerem
H3754
vineyard
N-cs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 5:3
וְ/עַתָּ֛ה
ʻattâh
H6258
"now"
Conj | Adv
This word means now or at this time, like in Exodus when God says now is the time to act. It can also be used to connect ideas or show a change in time, as seen in the book of Isaiah.
Definition: 1) now 1a) now 1b) in phrases
Usage: Occurs in 422 OT verses. KJV: henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas. See also: Genesis 3:22; Joshua 24:23; 2 Samuel 24:13.
יוֹשֵׁ֥ב
yâshab
H3427
"to dwell"
V-Qal
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Yᵉrûwshâlaim
H3389
"Jerusalem"
N-proper
Jerusalem is the capital city of Palestine, also known as the city of peace. It was the chief city of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
Definition: § Jerusalem = "teaching of peace" the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split
Usage: Occurs in 600 OT verses. KJV: Jerusalem. See also: Joshua 10:1; 2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 24:6.
וְ/אִ֣ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
יְהוּדָ֑ה
Yᵉhûwdâh
H3063
"Judah"
N-proper
Judah is the name of the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob. It is also the name of the region where the tribe lived. The name means 'praised' and is first mentioned in Genesis.
Definition: § Judah = "praised" the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob
Usage: Occurs in 754 OT verses. KJV: Judah. See also: Genesis 29:35; 1 Samuel 23:3; 2 Kings 14:13.
שִׁפְטוּ
shâphaṭ
H8199
"to judge"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To shaphat means to judge or govern, and can also mean to vindicate or punish. In the Bible, this term is often used to describe God's role as a judge, as well as human judges and rulers.
Definition: 1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man) 1a1a) to rule, govern, judge 1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man) 1a3) to execute judgment 1a3a) discriminating (of man) 1a3b) vindicating 1a3c) condemning and punishing 1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together 1b2) to be judged 1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 182 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule. See also: Genesis 16:5; Psalms 9:5; Psalms 2:10.
נָ֕א
nâʼ
H4994
"please"
Part
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Definition: 1) I (we) pray, now, please 1a) used in entreaty or exhortation
Usage: Occurs in 374 OT verses. KJV: I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh. See also: Genesis 12:11; Judges 4:19; 1 Kings 13:6.
בֵּינִ֖/י
bêyn
H996
"between"
Prep | Suff
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Definition: : between between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), [phrase] from (the widest), [idiom] in, out of, whether (it be...or), within. See also: Genesis 1:4; Joshua 24:7; Psalms 68:14.
וּ/בֵ֥ין
bêyn
H996
"between"
Conj | Prep
Between is the meaning of this preposition, used to show a location or a choice, like either or, as seen in Exodus where it describes the space between two objects.
Definition: : between between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), [phrase] from (the widest), [idiom] in, out of, whether (it be...or), within. See also: Genesis 1:4; Joshua 24:7; Psalms 68:14.
כַּרְמִֽ/י
kerem
H3754
"vineyard"
N-cs | Suff
A vineyard, or kerem, was a garden or plot of land used for growing vines and other crops. In the Bible, vineyards were often used as a symbol of prosperity and abundance, as seen in the book of Isaiah and the parables of Jesus.
Definition: vineyard
Usage: Occurs in 81 OT verses. KJV: vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See also H1021 (בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם). See also: Genesis 9:20; Nehemiah 5:11; Psalms 107:37.
Study Notes — Isaiah 5:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 5:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 5:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 5:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 5:3
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 5:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
- Sermons on Isaiah 5:3
Context — The Song of the Vineyard
1I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
2He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour!
3“And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard.
4What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit? 5Now I will tell you what I am about to do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be consumed; I will tear down its wall, and it will be trampled.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romans 2:5 | But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. |
| 2 | Psalms 51:4 | Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge. |
| 3 | Micah 6:2–3 | Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel: ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you! |
| 4 | Psalms 50:4–6 | He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather to Me My saints, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah |
| 5 | Matthew 21:40–41 | Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?” “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.” |
| 6 | Romans 3:4 | Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.” |
| 7 | Mark 12:9–12 | What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others. Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?” At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away. |
| 8 | Jeremiah 2:4–5 | Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel. This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves? |
| 9 | Luke 20:15–16 | So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!” |
Isaiah 5:3 Summary
[In Isaiah 5:3, God is asking the people of Judah to consider His actions towards them and their response, much like a judge in a court case. He wants them to see that He has done everything for them, but they have not responded with gratitude and obedience, as seen in Psalm 103:2, where we are reminded to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits. This is a call to reflect on our own relationship with God, to consider how He has cared for us and how we have responded to His love. By examining our own hearts and actions, we can learn to produce the 'good grapes' God expects, as seen in John 15:1-5, where Jesus teaches about abiding in Him and bearing fruit.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:3?
The vineyard represents God's people, Israel, as seen in Isaiah 5:7, where it is stated that the vineyard is the house of Israel and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. This metaphor is also used in other parts of the Bible, such as Matthew 21:33-46, where Jesus teaches about the wicked tenants of the vineyard.
Who is being addressed in Isaiah 5:3?
The dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah are being addressed, emphasizing that God is speaking directly to His chosen people, calling them to account for their actions, as seen in Deuteronomy 30:19, where Moses calls the Israelites to choose between life and death.
What does God mean by 'judge between Me and My vineyard'?
God is asking the people of Judah to consider His actions towards them and their response, much like in Hosea 12:2, where God reminds His people of His faithfulness and their unfaithfulness, and to recognize the justice of His case against them, as seen in Micah 6:1-5, where God presents His case against His people.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse serves as a transition, where God invites the people to consider the evidence He will present in the following verses, specifically in Isaiah 5:4, where He asks what more He could have done for His vineyard, and in Isaiah 5:5, where He announces the consequences of their disobedience, much like in Jeremiah 2:4-13, where God laments the unfaithfulness of His people.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which God has cared for me, and how have I responded to His love and provision?
- In what ways can I, like the people of Judah, be called to account for my actions and my response to God's care?
- How can I apply the principle of judging between God and His vineyard to my own life, recognizing the justice of God's case against me when I have been unfaithful?
- What are some areas in my life where I have produced 'sour grapes' instead of the 'good grapes' God expects, and how can I repent and turn to Him?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 5:3
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah,.... All and everyone of them, who were parties concerned in this matter, and are designed by the vineyard, for whom so much had been done, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 5:3
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem ... judge. Appeal of God to themselves, as in Isaiah 1:18; Micah 6:3.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
I dare make you judges in your own cause, it is so plain and reasonable.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
Isaiah 5:3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.Ver. 3. And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem.] Here we have God’ s plea before his sentence, and therein his appeal to them, and his indictment against them. First he appealeth to the Jews themselves, and maketh them judges in their own cause. So Nathan dealt by David, and Jesus by the wicked Jews of his time. Iudicate, quaeso, only "judge a righteous judgment," and then I dare report me to the conscience of any one among you, and will therehence fetch witness. Between me and my vineyard.] With which I am now at variance. Sin is that hell-hag, makebait, trouble town, that sets odds between God and his greatest favourites.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
(3) And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem.—“The song of the vineyard” comes to an end and becomes the text of a discourse in which Jehovah, as the “Beloved” of the song, speaks through the prophet. Those to whom the parable applies are invited, as David was by Nathan, to pass an unconscious judgment on themselves. (Comp. Matthew 21:40-41, as an instance of the same method.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
Verse 3. Inhabitants] ישבי yoshebey, in the plural number; three MSS., (two ancient,) and so likewise the Septuagint and Vulgate.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 5:3
3. (Four lines.) The beginning of a new stanza is marked by the “And now” as in Isaiah 5:5. betwixt me and my vineyard] The change of person here is the first hint of a deeper meaning under the words of the song.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 5:3
And now ... - This is an appeal which God makes to the Jews themselves, in regard to the justice and propriety of what he was about to do. A similar appeal he makes in Micah 6:3 : ‘O my people, what have I done unto thee?
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 5:3
3-7. So far the parable is left unexplained to the prophet’s hearers. And to them the appeal is, “What is to be done?” Then the explanation begins, but still in a parable. The inquirer answers his own questions.
Sermons on Isaiah 5:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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"Can God Forgive Me?" by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon emphasizes the unfathomable mercy and forgiveness of God, highlighting a powerful encounter with a soldier haunted by his past sins and seeking redemption. It explores |
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Hell! by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about his father's transformation from an alcoholic to a devout believer in God. After repenting from his sinful life, his fathe |
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The Damnation of Hell - Part 1 (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the consequences of rejecting God and living a life of sin. He vividly describes the torment and despair that awaits those who die without r |
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A Tour of Hell by Rolfe Barnard | This sermon delves into the concept of memory in hell, where individuals are tormented by memories of their past actions and opportunities for salvation they missed. It emphasizes |
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The Day of Judgment by Aaron Dunlop | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the judgment of God and its various aspects. The first aspect is the event of the judgment, which is referred to as the day of the Lord. The s |
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God's Judgement by Don McClure | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the judgment of God as described in Romans 2:1-16. He emphasizes that everyone will be held accountable and without excuse before God's judgm |
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Time to Wake Up (Compilation) by Compilations | This sermon emphasizes the importance of true repentance and returning to the foundational truths of the Gospel. It challenges the modern church to move away from diluted messages |