Isaiah 5:22

22 Woe unto those that are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink;

Isaiah 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.

Isaiah 5:22 In-Context

20 Woe unto those that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto those that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe unto those that are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink;
23 who justify the wicked for bribes and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
24 Therefore as the fire devours the stubble and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go away as dust because they have cast away the law of the LORD of the hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010