Isaiah 5:1

¶ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

Now will I sing {H7891} to my wellbeloved {H3039} a song {H7892} of my beloved {H1730} touching his vineyard {H3754}. My wellbeloved {H3039} hath a vineyard {H3754} in a very fruitful {H1121}{H8081} hill {H7161}:

I want to sing a song for someone I love, a song about my loved one and his vineyard. My loved one had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

Let me sing for my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

Isaiah 5:1 introduces one of the most powerful and poignant parables in the Old Testament, often referred to as "The Song of the Vineyard." The prophet Isaiah begins by setting a scene reminiscent of a tender love song, which quickly turns into a lament and a prophecy of judgment.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set in the 8th century BC, during the ministry of the prophet Isaiah to the kingdom of Judah. The imagery of a "vineyard" was deeply resonant in ancient Israel, an agrarian society where vineyards were valuable assets, representing careful cultivation and expectation of fruit. In prophetic literature, the vineyard frequently served as a powerful metaphor for the nation of Israel or Judah, symbolizing God's chosen people whom He had diligently planted, nurtured, and protected. This "song" format itself is a literary device, often used to draw the audience in before delivering a strong message, in this case, one of divine disappointment and impending judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Personal Investment: The recurring phrase "my wellbeloved" highlights the deep, intimate relationship God desired with Israel. He is depicted as a loving owner who has invested significant effort and care into His vineyard.
  • The Vineyard as Israel: The central metaphor of the vineyard unequivocally represents the nation of Israel (and specifically Judah), whom God had brought out of Egypt and established in the promised land, expecting them to produce "good fruit" of righteousness and justice. This imagery is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, such as in Psalm 80:8 and Jeremiah 2:21.
  • Anticipation of Unfruitfulness: While this verse speaks of a "fruitful hill," the subsequent verses of Isaiah 5 will reveal the tragic reality that the vineyard produced only "wild grapes," setting the stage for God's righteous judgment against His unfaithful people. This parable foreshadows the spiritual barrenness of Israel, a theme later picked up by Jesus in the parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-46) and His teaching on Himself as the true vine (John 15:1-8).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "wellbeloved" or "beloved" is dodi (דודי), a term often found in intimate love poetry, such as the Song of Solomon. Its use here underscores the tender, almost heartbroken affection God had for His people, making their eventual unfaithfulness all the more poignant. The "vineyard" (kerem, כרם) is a common biblical symbol, signifying careful tending and the expectation of a harvest.

Practical Application

Isaiah 5:1 reminds us of God's profound love and purposeful investment in His people, both ancient Israel and believers today. Just as God expected good fruit from His vineyard, He expects spiritual fruit from those who claim His name. This includes the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) and acts of righteousness and justice. We are called to be faithful stewards of the grace and blessings God has bestowed upon us, ensuring our lives reflect the character of our "wellbeloved" Lord. This passage serves as a sober warning against spiritual complacency and unfruitfulness, urging us to examine our own lives to see if we are producing the fruit God desires.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 12:1

    ¶ And he began to speak unto them by parables. A [certain] man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about [it], and digged [a place for] the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

  • Luke 20:9

    ¶ Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

  • John 15:1

    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

  • Psalms 80:8

    ¶ Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

  • Matthew 21:33

    Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

  • Jeremiah 2:21

    Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

  • Song Of Solomon 2:16

    My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his: he feedeth among the lilies.

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