Isaiah 5:26-30

26 He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily!
27 Not one of them grows tired or stumbles, not one slumbers or sleeps; not a belt is loosened at the waist, not a sandal strap is broken.
28 Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are strung; their horses’ hooves seem like flint, their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.
29 Their roar is like that of the lion, they roar like young lions; they growl as they seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue.
30 In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, there is only darkness and distress; even the sun will be darkened by clouds.

Isaiah 5:26-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 5

In this chapter, under the parable of a vineyard and its ruins, the Jews and their destruction are represented; the reasons of which are given, their manifold sins and transgressions, particularly enumerated, with the punishment threatened to them, and which is delivered in form of a song. The vineyard is described by the owner of it, a well beloved one; by the situation of it, in a fruitful hill; by the fence about it, and care and culture of it; and by its not answering the expectation of the owner, it bringing forth wild grapes instead of good ones, Isa 5:1,2 wherefore the men of Judah and Jerusalem are made judges between the owner and his vineyard, what more could have been done to it, or rather what was now to be done to it, since this was the case; and the result is, that it should be utterly laid waste, and come to ruin; and the whole is applied to the house of Israel, and men of Judah, Isa 5:3-7 whose sins, as the cause of their ruin, are mentioned in the following verses; their covetousness, with the punishment of it, Isa 5:8-10 their intemperance, luxury, and love of pleasure, with the punishment threatened thereunto, Isa 5:11-14 whereby haughty men should be humbled, the Lord be glorified, and at the same time his weak and innocent people would be taken care of, Isa 5:15-17 next, other sins are taken notice of, and woes pronounced on account of them, as, an impudent course of sinning, insolent impiety against God, confusion of good and evil, conceit of their own wisdom, drunkenness, and perversion of justice, Isa 5:18-23 wherefore for these things, and for their contempt and rejection of the law and word of the Lord, utter destruction is threatened them, Isa 5:24 yea, the anger of God had been already kindled against them, and they had felt it in some instances, Isa 5:25 but they are given to expect severer judgments, by means of foreign nations, that should be gathered against them; who are described by their swiftness, strength, and vigilance; by their armour, horses, and carriages; and by their terror and cruelty; the consequence of which would be utter darkness, distress, and calamities, in the land of Judea, Isa 5:26-30.

Cross References 19

  • 1. S Psalms 20:5
  • 2. Isaiah 7:18; Zechariah 10:8
  • 3. Deuteronomy 28:49; Isaiah 13:5; Isaiah 18:3
  • 4. Isaiah 14:31; Isaiah 40:29-31
  • 5. Isaiah 22:21; Ezekiel 23:15
  • 6. S Job 12:18
  • 7. Joel 2:7-8
  • 8. S Job 39:23; Psalms 45:5
  • 9. S Psalms 7:12
  • 10. Ezekiel 26:11
  • 11. S 2 Kings 2:1; S Job 1:19
  • 12. S 2 Kings 17:25; Jeremiah 51:38; Zephaniah 3:3; Zechariah 11:3
  • 13. Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 49:24-25
  • 14. Isaiah 42:22; Micah 5:8
  • 15. S Isaiah 2:11
  • 16. S Psalms 93:3; Jeremiah 50:42; Luke 21:25
  • 17. S 1 Samuel 2:9; S Job 21:30; Psalms 18:28; Psalms 44:19; S Psalms 82:5
  • 18. S Judges 6:2; Isaiah 22:5; Isaiah 33:2; Isaiah 8:22; Jeremiah 4:23-28
  • 19. Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 50:3; Joel 2:10
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