Isaiah 5:18-25

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:19

That say, let him make speed, and hasten his work ,.... Either the punishment of their sins, threatened by the prophets; which, because not speedily and immediately executed, therefore they did not believe it ever would; and in a daring and insolent manner call upon God to inflict it: that we may see it , or feel it; for, as for words or threatenings, they regarded them not; thus deriding God and his judgments, and disbelieving both, like the mockers in the last days, described in 2... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil ,.... That call evil actions good, and good actions evil; that excuse the one, and reproach the other; or that call evil men good, and good men evil; to which the Targum agrees. Some understand this of false prophets rejecting the true worship of God, and recommending false worship; others of wicked judges, pronouncing the causes of bad men good, and of good men evil; others of sensualists, that speak in praise of drunkenness, gluttony, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:21

Woe unto therm that are wise in their own eyes ,.... And yet betray such stupidity and sottishness, as to call things by their wrong names; and make such a perverse judgment of them, as before described. This is a true description of the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time; who said, "dost thou teach us? are we blind also?" John 9:34 . and prudent in their own sight ; being wise above what was written; leaving the word of God, and following the traditions of the elders. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:23

Which justify the wicked for reward ,.... This is either spoken of judges, and civil magistrates, who gave the cause in favour of the wicked, that bribed them, contrary to law, Deuteronomy 16:19 or rather of the Scribes and Pharisees, who pronounced the wicked righteous men, provided they kept the traditions of the elders, and paid tithes of all they possessed, and gave them money for their long prayers, Matthew 23:14 , and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him ; by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:24

Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble ,.... Or "tongue of fire" F8 לשון אש "lingua ignis", Vatablus. ; meaning the flame, the same as in the next clause; because it is in the form of a tongue; see Acts 2:3 , and the flame consumeth the chaff ; which is done easily, speedily, and entirely; the metaphors denote that their destruction would be easy, swift, sudden, irresistible, and irrecoverable. Reference may be had to the burning of Jerusalem, literally understood: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 5:25

Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people ,.... His professing people; which character, as it aggravated their sin in rejecting and despising the word of the Lord, so it increased his anger and indignation against them: and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them ; which some understand of past judgments and afflictions upon them, under Joash, Amaziah, and Ahaz; and others of future ones, under Shalmaneser and Nebuchadnezzar: and the... 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

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