Isaia 5:22

22 Guai a coloro che son valenti a bere il vino, e prodi a mescer la cervogia!

Isaia 5:22 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 5:22

Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine
That can bear a great deal, and not be overcome and intoxicated with it; that try their strength this way with others, and get the mastery and glory in it: not mighty to fight their enemies, as Kimchi observes, and defend their country, but to drink wine; by which their strength was weakened: wherefore some think soldiers are particularly designed, given to drinking, who are derided and mocked, as being valiant in the warfare of Bacchus, and not of Mars: and men of strength, to mingle strong drink;
in the cup, and then drink it: or "men of war"; the same with "mighty" before. The Targum interprets it, "men of riches": who can afford to drink wine and strong drink; which carries the sense not to the strength of their bodies, but of their purses: the former sense seems best. The Scribes and Pharisees loved the cup and the platter, and to be at feasts, and to have the uppermost seats there, ( Matthew 23:6 Matthew 23:25 ) and that those that sat in Moses's chair are intended appears from the following words.

Isaia 5:22 In-Context

20 Guai a coloro che dicono del male bene, e del bene male; i quali fanno delle tenebre luce, e della luce tenebre; i quali fanno dell’amaro il dolce, e del dolce l’amaro!

21 Guai a coloro che si reputano savi, e che sono intendenti appo loro stessi.

22 Guai a coloro che son valenti a bere il vino, e prodi a mescer la cervogia!

23 A coloro che giustificano l’empio per presenti, e tolgono a’ giusti la lor ragione!

24 Perciò, siccome la fiamma del fuoco divora la stoppia, e la vampa consuma la paglia, così la lor radice sarà come una cosa marcia, e i lor germogli se ne andran via come la polvere; perciocchè hanno sprezzata la Legge del Signor degli eserciti, ed han disdegnata la parola del Santo d’Israele.