Isaiah 5:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 5:18-30

Here are, I. Sins described which will bring judgments upon a people: and this perhaps is not only a charge drawn up against the men of Judah who lived at that time, and the particular articles of that charge, though it may relate primarily to them, but is rather intended for warning to all people, in all ages, to take heed of these sins, as destructive both to particular persons and to communities, and exposing men to God's wrath and his righteous judgments. Those are here said to be in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:18

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity ,.... The prophet returns to the wicked again, and goes on with the account of their sin and punishment; and here describes such, not that are drawn into sin unawares, through the prevalence of their own hearts' lusts and corruptions, through the temptations of Satan, the snares of the world, or the persuasions of others; but such who draw it to themselves, seek after it, and willingly commit it; who rush and force themselves into it; who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 5:18

With a cart-rope "As a long cable" - The Septuagint, Aquila, Sym., and Theod., for בחבלי bechabley , read כחבלי kechahley , ὡς σχοινιῳ , or σχοινιοις ; and the Septuagint, instead of שוא shau , read some other word signifying long; ὡς σχοινιῳ μακρῳ ; and so likewise the Syriac, אריכא arecha . Houbigant conjectures that the word which the Septuagint had in their copies was שרוע sarua , which is used Leviticus 21:18 , Leviticus 22:23 , for something in an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:8-24

THE SIX WOES . After the general warning conveyed to Israel by the parable of the vineyard, six sins are particularized as those which have especially provoked God to give the warning. On each of these woe is denounced. Two have special punishments assigned to them ( Isaiah 5:8-17 ); the remainder are joined in one general threat of retribution ( Isaiah 5:18-24 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:11-22

The evil and the end of intemperance. When other evils have entered and other calamities have overtaken a state, intemperance is sure to make its black and hateful mark. These verses suggest— I. ITS TYRANNY . Such is its strength that it makes its devotees, t rise up early in the morning" ( Isaiah 5:11 ) in order to worship at its shrine. It is an unnatural and detestable action; the earliness of the hour of the day might well be pleaded as a proof of innocency ( Acts 2:15 ). But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:18

Woe unto them , etc. We come here to the third woe , which is pronounced against those who openly pile up sin upon sin, and scoff at God. These men are represented as "drawing iniquity with cords of vanity," i.e. dragging after them a load of sin by cords that seem too weak; and then as "sinning with a cart-rope," which is a mere variant expression of the same idea. Mr. Cheyne quotes from the Rig-Veda, as a parallel metaphor, the phrase, "Undo the rope of sin." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:18-19

Sin in its strength. We have here some thoughts about sin. I. ITS EVIL GROWTH . Whatever the precise thought of the prophet, his words ( Isaiah 5:18 ) are strongly suggestive of the fact that sin gradually attains a terrible power. Its "pull" may at first be that of a silken thread; presently it becomes that of a strong string; then it is found to be that of a hard wire; finally it reaches that of a "cart - rope." And this, whether we regard the sinner as In the one case he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:18-23

Four grievous sins. The ungodly spirit finds very various modes of expression in willful and self-pleasing actions. Men's sins are repeated over and over again in every age, sometimes taking more open and defiant forms, and sometimes hiding behind a pleasant outward show of delicacy and refinement, but always the "abominable things which God hates." The coarse sins of Eastern peoples seem offensive to our sensitive Western nations; but the sins are here amongst us, only in a disguise which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 5:18-24

Analysis of sin. I. THE VAIN AND WANTON MIND . A singular image is used. Men are described as drawing down upon themselves, as with stout and strong ropes, the burden of sin and guilt. Such is the effect of their mocking jests and speeches. Dramatically, the hearers of the prophet are represented as exclaiming defiantly, "Let his wrath hasten, let it speed, let us see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it I" Amos alludes to the same... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 5:18

Wo unto them ... - This is a new denunciation. It introduces another form of sin, and threatens its appropriate punishment.That draw iniquity with cords of vanity - The general idea in this verse and the next, is, doubtless, that of plunging deeper and deeper into sin. The word “sin” here, has been sometimes supposed to mean “the punishment” for sin. The word has that meaning sometimes, but it seems here to be taken in its usual sense. The word “cords” means strings of any kind, larger or... read more

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