Isaiah 5:10

KJV

Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

KJV (with Strong's)

Yea {H3588}, ten {H6235} acres {H6776} of vineyard {H3754} shall yield {H6213} one {H259} bath {H1324}, and the seed {H2233} of an homer {H2563} shall yield {H6213} an ephah {H374}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for a ten-acre vineyard will produce only five gallons of wine, and seed from five bushels of grain will yield but half a bushel."

Berean Standard Bible

For ten acres of vineyard will yield but a bath of wine, and a homer of seed only an ephah of grain.”

American Standard Version

For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 5:10 delivers a stark prophetic declaration of divine judgment against Judah, vividly illustrating the severity of impending agricultural and economic devastation. Through the imagery of drastically reduced yields—ten acres of vineyard producing only one bath of wine, and a homer of seed yielding merely an ephah of grain—the prophet Isaiah underscores the catastrophic consequences of the nation's unfaithfulness, injustice, and spiritual barrenness, a direct reversal of God's expected abundant blessing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 5:10 is a direct pronouncement of judgment following the poignant "Song of the Vineyard" in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard"). In this allegorical song, God portrays Himself as a diligent vineyard owner who meticulously cultivates His vineyard (Israel/Judah), expecting "good grapes" (righteousness and justice) but receiving only "wild grapes" (oppression and bloodshed). Verse 10 serves as a concrete manifestation of the judgment foreshadowed in the song, detailing the economic ruin that will befall the unfaithful nation. It precedes a series of "woes" (starting in [Isaiah 5:8](/isaiah/5-8 "Isaiah 5:8 - Woe to the Greedy")) that condemn specific societal sins—greed, drunkenness, perversion of justice, and spiritual arrogance—further establishing the moral and spiritual context for the agricultural famine.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Isaiah was delivered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, primarily in the 8th century BCE, spanning the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. While Judah experienced periods of relative prosperity, particularly under Uzziah, this affluence often led to social injustice, moral decay, and spiritual apostasy. The agricultural economy was the lifeblood of ancient Israel, making references to crop failure and famine deeply impactful. Land was central to Israelite identity and covenant blessings, with abundant harvests signifying divine favor and scarcity indicating divine displeasure ([Deuteronomy 28:15-24](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-24 - Curses for Disobedience")). The specific measures mentioned (bath, homer, ephah) were common in the ancient Near East, making the prophecy immediately understandable to the original audience as a severe economic collapse, directly tied to their covenant relationship with Yahweh.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Primarily, it highlights **Divine Judgment**, demonstrating God's righteous wrath against sin and His unwavering commitment to justice. The agricultural imagery directly links to the theme of **Spiritual Barrenness and Fruitlessness**, echoing the "wild grapes" of the vineyard song; Judah's spiritual unresponsiveness is mirrored in the physical barrenness of their land. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of **Economic Consequences of Disobedience**, showing how spiritual rebellion can lead to tangible, devastating impacts on a society's material well-being. This serves as a stark reminder that God holds nations accountable for their moral and spiritual state, often manifesting His displeasure through the removal of blessings previously enjoyed ([Leviticus 26:18-20](/leviticus/26-18 "Leviticus 26:18-20 - Consequences of Disobedience")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bath (Hebrew, _bath'_ H1324):** This term refers to a standard Hebrew liquid measure, approximately 6 gallons (or 22 liters). In the context of Isaiah 5:10, its mention signifies an incredibly meager yield of wine. Ten acres of vineyard, which would typically produce hundreds or even thousands of gallons, yielding only one bath underscores a catastrophic agricultural failure, representing an almost complete loss of the grape harvest.
* **Homer (Hebrew, _chômer'_ H2563):** A large dry measure, equivalent to about 60 gallons (or 220 liters), primarily used for grain. The "seed of an homer" indicates a substantial amount of grain sown. The disproportionate return of only an ephah highlights the extreme inefficiency and failure of the crop, emphasizing the severity of the famine.
* **Ephah (Hebrew, _ʼêyphâh'_ H374):** This is a smaller dry measure, approximately 6 gallons (or 22 liters), and notably, it is one-tenth of a homer. The prophecy states that a homer of seed will yield only an ephah, meaning that for every large quantity of seed sown, only a tenth would be harvested. This represents a devastating 90% loss, painting a stark picture of famine and economic ruin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath":** This clause pronounces a severe judgment on the wine production. "Ten acres" (literally, a "yoke" of land, the amount a pair of oxen could plow in a day, indicating a significant area) traditionally promised a bountiful harvest. However, the prophecy states that this large expanse will produce only a single "bath" of wine. This is an utterly negligible amount, signifying a near-total failure of the grape harvest, leading to extreme scarcity of wine, a staple and symbol of joy and prosperity in ancient Israel.
* **"and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah":** This second clause extends the judgment to grain crops, the primary food source. A "homer" of seed represents a substantial investment of agricultural resources. Yet, the return is a mere "ephah," which is only one-tenth of the sown amount. This depicts a catastrophic crop failure, where the effort of sowing a large quantity of grain results in only a fraction of what is needed for sustenance, leading inevitably to widespread famine and starvation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 5:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey the gravity of God's judgment. The primary device is **Hyperbole**, where the disproportionate yields (ten acres for one bath, a homer for an ephah) are exaggerated to emphasize the extreme severity of the impending agricultural disaster. This exaggeration underscores the utter devastation. There is also strong **Symbolism** present; the failure of the vineyard and grain fields symbolizes the spiritual barrenness and moral decay of Judah, which, despite God's cultivation, failed to produce righteousness. The agricultural imagery itself functions as a **Metaphor** for the nation's spiritual state and God's interaction with them. Finally, the verse is a powerful example of **Prophetic Oracle**, a divine pronouncement of future events and their underlying causes, delivered with authority and intended to provoke repentance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 5:10 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that disobedience to God's covenant leads to tangible consequences, often manifesting as a reversal of blessings. This agricultural devastation is not random misfortune but a direct act of divine judgment, demonstrating God's sovereignty over creation and His active involvement in human history to uphold justice. It serves as a powerful reminder that true prosperity, both spiritual and material, is intricately linked to faithfulness and righteousness, and that God holds His people accountable for the "fruit" they produce in their lives.

* [Deuteronomy 28:23-24](/deuteronomy/28-23 "Deuteronomy 28:23-24 - Curses for Disobedience") – Connects the withholding of rain and barrenness of the land to covenant disobedience.
* [Amos 4:6-9](/amos/4-6 "Amos 4:6-9 - God's Discipline through Famine") – Details similar judgments of famine and crop failure as God's attempts to bring His people back to Him.
* [Jeremiah 12:13](/jeremiah/12-13 "Jeremiah 12:13 - Futility of Labor") – Describes how people will sow wheat but reap thorns, a parallel to futile labor and barrenness.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 5:10 stands as a timeless warning that spiritual choices bear real-world consequences. For believers today, it prompts a profound self-examination: are we, as God's cultivated people, producing the "good grapes" of righteousness, justice, and love, or are we yielding "wild grapes" of self-interest, injustice, and spiritual apathy? This verse challenges us to consider how our faithfulness (or lack thereof) might impact not only our individual lives but also the communities and societies we inhabit. It calls us to cultivate a life that genuinely reflects God's character, understanding that true flourishing—both spiritual and, at times, material—is deeply intertwined with our obedience and devotion to Him. It encourages us to be good stewards of the spiritual and physical resources God has entrusted to us, recognizing that His blessings are contingent upon our alignment with His will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be producing "wild grapes" instead of the fruit God desires?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of God's justice and His involvement in the consequences of human actions?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater spiritual fruitfulness in my life and community?**

### FAQ
**What were the specific measures (bath, homer, ephah) and why are they significant in this verse?**

Answer: The "bath" was a liquid measure, approximately 6 gallons (22 liters), used for wine. The "homer" was a large dry measure, about 60 gallons (220 liters), for grain. The "ephah" was a smaller dry measure, about 6 gallons, and notably, one-tenth of a homer. Their significance in [Isaiah 5:10](/isaiah/5-10 "Isaiah 5:10 - Prophecy of Famine") lies in the extreme disproportion they illustrate: ten acres of vineyard yielding only one bath of wine, and a homer of seed yielding a mere ephah of grain. This depicts a catastrophic failure, a 90% loss, signifying severe famine and economic ruin as a direct consequence of God's judgment on Judah's unfaithfulness.

**How does this agricultural judgment relate to the "Song of the Vineyard" in Isaiah 5:1-7?**

Answer: [Isaiah 5:10](/isaiah/5-10 "Isaiah 5:10 - Prophecy of Famine") serves as the concrete outcome of the "Song of the Vineyard" found in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5-1 "Isaiah 5:1-7 - The Song of the Vineyard"). In the song, God portrays Himself as a diligent vineyard owner who cultivates Israel (His vineyard) expecting "good grapes" (justice and righteousness). Instead, the vineyard produced "wild grapes" (bloodshed and oppression). The judgment pronounced in verse 10—the severe agricultural failure—is the direct consequence of this spiritual fruitlessness. It illustrates that because the vineyard failed to produce the expected spiritual fruit, it would suffer physical barrenness and economic devastation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 5:10, with its depiction of a barren vineyard and fruitless land under divine judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a literal agricultural disaster for believers, but in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills God's expectations for His people. While Judah's vineyard produced "wild grapes" and faced judgment, Jesus declares Himself the "true vine" in [John 15:1](/john/15-1 "John 15:1 - Jesus the True Vine"), and His followers are the branches. The fruitfulness God desires is now found in abiding in Christ, through whom believers can bear much spiritual fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). Furthermore, the judgment for fruitlessness, which fell upon Judah, was ultimately borne by Christ on the cross. He became the "cursed" one ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems Us from the Curse")) so that those who believe in Him might receive the blessing of spiritual abundance and eternal life, transforming the curse of barrenness into the promise of abundant life and true spiritual productivity in Him ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 26:26

[And] when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver [you] your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.

Haggai 2:16

Since those [days] were, when [one] came to an heap of twenty [measures], there were [but] ten: when [one] came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty [vessels] out of the press, there were [but] twenty.

Leviticus 27:16

And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD [some part] of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed [shall be valued] at fifty shekels of silver.

Ezekiel 45:10

Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.

Ezekiel 45:11

The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.

Joel 1:17

The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.