Isaiah 5:17

17 In that day lambs will find good pastures, and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins.

Isaiah 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 5:17

Then shall the lambs feed after their manner
That is, the people of God, the disciples of Christ, either apostles and ministers of the Gospel, whom he sent forth as lambs among wolves, ( Luke 10:3 ) who fed the flock of Christ after their usual manner, and as directed by him; even with knowledge and understanding, by the ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances; or the people of God fed by them, who are comparable to lambs for their harmlessness and innocence; and who feed in green pastures, "according as they are led"; as the word used may be rendered ^F6; or "according to their word"; the doctrine of the ministers of the Gospel, by whom they are instructed and directed to feed on Christ, as he is held forth in the word and ordinances. The Targum is,

``and the righteous shall be fed as is said of them;''

and so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it of the righteous: and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat;
that is, the Gentiles, who are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise; the other sheep that were not of the Jewish fold, ( Ephesians 2:12 ) ( John 10:16 ) these shall come in the room of the fat ones of the land of Judea, the rulers, elders, Scribes, and Pharisees; and feed on those pastures which were despised and left desolate by them; enjoy the Gospel they put away from them, and the ordinances of it, which they rejected. The Targum is,

``and they shall be multiplied, and the substance of the ungodly shall the righteous possess.''

---

FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mrbdk) "juxta ductum suum", Montanus, Vatablus; "juxta verbum ipsorum", Forerius.

Isaiah 5:17 In-Context

15 Humanity will be destroyed, and people brought down; even the arrogant will lower their eyes in humiliation.

16 But the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness.

17 In that day lambs will find good pastures, and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins.

18 What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies, who drag wickedness behind them like a cart!

19 They even mock God and say, “Hurry up and do something! We want to see what you can do. Let the Holy One of Israel carry out his plan, for we want to know what it is.”

Footnotes

• [a]. As in Greek version; Hebrew reads and strangers.