Isaías 5:22

22 ¡Ay de los que son valientes para beber vino, y hombres fuertes para mezclar bebida;

Isaías 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.

Isaías 5:22 In-Context

20 ¡Ay de los que á lo malo dicen bueno, y á lo bueno malo; que hacen de la luz tinieblas, y de las tinieblas luz; que ponen lo amargo por dulce, y lo dulce por amargo!
21 ¡Ay de los sabios en sus ojos, y de los que son prudentes delante de sí mismos!
22 ¡Ay de los que son valientes para beber vino, y hombres fuertes para mezclar bebida;
23 Los que dan por justo al impío por cohechos, y al justo quitan su justicia!
24 Por tanto, como la lengua del fuego consume las aristas, y la llama devora la paja, así será su raíz como pudrimiento, y su flor se desvanecerá como polvo: porque desecharon la ley de Jehová de los ejércitos, y abominaron la palabra del Santo de Israel.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.