Isaiah 5 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Bible Comments
  • Isaiah 5:1 open_in_new

    Now — I will record it to he a witness for God, and against you, as Moses did his song, Deuteronomy 31:19, Deuteronomy 32:1. To — To the Lord of the vineyard. Of my beloved — Not devised by me, but inspired by God. Vineyard — His church. Hill — Hills being places most commodious for vines.

  • Isaiah 5:2 open_in_new

    He gathered — He removed all hindrances, and gave them all the means of fruitfulness. A tower — For the residence of the keepers.

  • Isaiah 5:6 open_in_new

    Nor digged — Vine — dressers use to dig up and open the earth about the roots of the vines. The meaning is, I will remove my ministers, who used great care and diligence to make you fruitful. Thorns — I will give you up to your own lusts. No rain — I will deprive you of all my blessings.

  • Isaiah 5:7 open_in_new

    Pleasant — In whom God formerly delighted. A cry — From the oppressed, crying to men for help, and to God for vengeance.

  • Isaiah 5:8 open_in_new

    Alone — That they alone may be the lords and owners, and all others only their tenants and servants.

  • Isaiah 5:10 open_in_new

    One bath — Of wine. The bath contained about eight gallons. Thus an acre did not yield one gallon. An ephah — Which was of the same quantity with the bath, only the bath was the measure of liquid things, the ephah of dry things; and a ephah was the tenth part of an homer. So instead of the increase which that fruitful land commonly yielded, they should loose nine parts of their seed.

  • Isaiah 5:12 open_in_new

    The harp — They give up themselves wholly to luxury. The work — What God hath lately done, and is yet doing, and about to do among them; his grievous judgments, partly inflicted, and partly threatened, which required another course of life.

  • Isaiah 5:13 open_in_new

    No knowledge — No serious consideration of God's works, and of their own duty and danger. Honourable men — Who thought themselves quite out of the reach of famine.

  • Isaiah 5:16 open_in_new

    Exalted — By the execution of this just judgment. Sanctified — Shall appear to be an holy God, by his righteous judgments.

  • Isaiah 5:17 open_in_new

    Then — When God shall have finished that work of judgment. The lambs — The poor and harmless people, who shall be left in the land when the rich are carried into captivity. Manner — Or, by their fold, as this word is manifestly used, Micah 2:12, the only place of scripture, except this, in which this word is found. Waste places — The lands left by their owners. Fat ones — Of the rich and great men. Strangers — The poor Israelites, who were left to be vine — dressers and husbandmen, 2 Kings 25:12, who are called strangers, because they were so, in reference to that hand, not being the proper owners of it.

  • Isaiah 5:18 open_in_new

    That draw — That are not only drawn to sin by the allurements of the world; but are active and illustrious in drawing sin to themselves. Cords — Or, with cords of lying, as the last word frequently signifies, with vain and deceitful arguments and pretences, whereby sinners generally draw themselves to sin. A rope — With all their might, as beasts commonly do that draw carts with ropes.

  • Isaiah 5:19 open_in_new

    Let him — God, in whose name thou and other prophets are always threatening us. This was the plain language of their actions; they lived as if they were of this opinion. The Holy One — They scornfully repeated the title usually given by the prophets to God.

  • Isaiah 5:20 open_in_new

    To them — That take away the difference between good and evil; that justify wicked men and things, and condemn piety, or righteous persons.

  • Isaiah 5:22 open_in_new

    To mingle — To drink: the antecedent being put for the consequent: for they mingled it in order to drinking.

  • Isaiah 5:24 open_in_new

    Rottenness — They shall be like a tree which not only withers in its branches, but dies and rots at the roots, therefore is past recovery. Dust — Shall be resolved into dust, and yield no fruit.

  • Isaiah 5:26 open_in_new

    An ensign — To call them together for his service. From far — To the Chaldeans; for even Babylon is called a far country, Isaiah 39:3. And he saith nations, because the Chaldean army was made up of several nations. Will hiss — Or, will whistle unto, or for them: will gather them together by his word. as shepherds gather their sheep. He intimates how easily and speedily God can do this work. From the ends — Which is not to be understood strictly, but with a latitude, from very remote places.

  • Isaiah 5:27 open_in_new

    Nor sleep — They shall all be watchful and diligent to take all opportunities of executing my judgments. Nor latchet — I will take all impediments out of their way.

  • Isaiah 5:28 open_in_new

    Bent — Who are every way furnished and ready for my work, waiting only for my command. Flint — Because they shall not be broken or battered by the length or stonyness and ruggedness of the way. Whirlwind — For the swiftness of their march, and for the force and violence of their chariots in battle.

  • Isaiah 5:30 open_in_new

    Sorrow — Darkness; that is, sorrow; the latter word explains the former. The heavens — When they look up to the heavens, as men in distress usually do, they see no light there.