Isaiah 5:25

25 That's why God flamed out in anger against his people, reached out and knocked them down. The mountains trembled as their dead bodies piled up in the streets. But even after that, he was still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.

Isaiah 5:25 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 5:25

Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his
people
His professing people; which character, as it aggravated their sin in rejecting and despising the word of the Lord, so it increased his anger and indignation against them: and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten
them;
which some understand of past judgments and afflictions upon them, under Joash, Amaziah, and Ahaz; and others of future ones, under Shalmaneser and Nebuchadnezzar: and the hills did tremble;
which Jarchi interprets of their kings and princes; or it may be only a figurative expression, setting forth the awfulness of the dispensation: and their carcasses [were] torn in the midst of the streets.
The Targum renders it, "were as dung"; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; being slain there, and lying unburied, were trampled upon, and trodden down like "clay", as the Syriac version; or like the mire of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away;
this being abundantly less than their sins deserved; which shows how great were their sins, and how much the Lord was provoked to anger by them: but his hand [is] stretched out still;
to inflict yet sorer judgments. The Targum is

``by all this they turn not from their sins, that his fury may turn from them; but their rebellion grows stronger, and his stroke is again to take vengeance on them;''
which expresses their impenitence and hardness of heart, under the judgments of God, which caused him to take more severe methods with them.

Isaiah 5:25 In-Context

23 And then line your pockets with bribes from the guilty while you violate the rights of the innocent.
24 But they won't get by with it. As fire eats stubble and dry grass goes up in smoke, Their souls will atrophy, their achievements crumble into dust, Because they said no to the revelation of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Would have nothing to do with The Holy of Israel.
25 That's why God flamed out in anger against his people, reached out and knocked them down. The mountains trembled as their dead bodies piled up in the streets. But even after that, he was still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
26 He raises a flag, signaling a distant nation, whistles for people at the ends of the earth. And here they come - on the run!
27 None drag their feet, no one stumbles, no one sleeps or dawdles. Shirts are on and pants buckled, every boot is spit-polished and tied.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.