TRV
Study This Verse
Commentary on Isaiah 5 verses 8–17
The world and the flesh are the two great enemies that we are in danger of being overpowered by; yet we are in no danger if we do not ourselves yield to them. Eagerness of the world, and indulgence of the flesh, are the two sins against which the prophet, in God's name, here denounces woes. These were sins which then abounded among the men of Judah, some of the wild grapes they brought forth (Isa 5:4), and for which God threatens to bring ruin upon them. They are sins which we have all need to stand upon our guard against and dread the consequences of.
I. Here is a woe to those who set their hearts upon the wealth of the world, and place their happiness in that, and increase it to themselves by indirect and unlawful means (Isa 5:8), who join house to house and lay field to field, till there be no place, no room for anybody to live by them. If they could succeed, they would be placed alone in the midst of the earth, would monopolize possessions and preferments, and engross all profits and employments to themselves. Not that it is a sin for those who have a house and a field, of they have wherewithal, to purchase another; but
1.Their fault is, (1.) That they are inordinate in their desires to enrich themselves, and make it their whole care and business to raise an estate, as if they had nothing to mind, nothing to seek, nothing to do, in this world, but that. They never know when they have enough, but the more they have the more they would have; and, like the daughters of the horseleech, they cry, Give, give. They cannot enjoy what they have, nor do good with it, but are constantly contriving and studying to make it more. They must have variety of houses, a winter-house, and a summer-house, and if another man's house or field lie convenient to theirs, as Naboth's vineyard to Ahab's, they must have that too, or they cannot be easy. (2.) That they are herein careless of others, nay, and injurious to them. They would live so as to let nobody live but themselves. So that their insatiable covetings may be gratified, they care not what becomes of all about them, what encroachments they make upon their neighbours' rights, what hardships they put upon those that they have power over or advantage against, nor what base and wicked arts they use to heap up treasure to themselves. They would swell so big as to fill all space, and yet are still unsatisfied (Ecc 5:10), as Alexander, who, when he fancied he had conquered the world, wept because he had not another world to conquer. Deficiente terr, non impletur avaritia - If the whole earth were monopolized, avarice would thirst for more. What! will you be placed alone in the midst of the earth? (so some read it); will you be so foolish as to desire it, when we have so much need of the service of others and so much comfort in their society? Will you be so foolish as to expect that the earth shall be forsaken for us (Job 18:4), when it is by multitudes that the earth is to be replenished? An propter vos solos tanta terra creata est?-Was the wide world created merely for you? Lyra.
2.That which is threatened as the punishment of this sin is that neither the houses nor the fields they were thus greedy of should turn to any account, Isa 5:9, Isa 5:10. God whispered it to the prophet in his ear, as he speaks in a like case (Isa 22:14): It was revealed in my ears by the Lord of hosts (as God told Samuel a thing in his ear, Sa1 9:15); he thought he heard it still sounding in his ears; but he proclaimed it, as he ought, upon the house-tops, Mat 10:27. (1.) That the houses they were so fond of should be untenanted, should stand long empty, and should yield them no rent, and go out of repair: Many houses shall be desolate, the people that should dwell in them, being cut off by sword, famine, or pestilence, or carried into captivity; or trade being dead, and poverty coming upon the country like an armed man, those that had been housekeepers were forced to become lodgers, or shift for themselves elsewhere. Even great and fair houses, that would invite tenants, and (there being a scarcity of tenants) might be taken at low rates, shall stand empty without inhabitants. God created not the earth in vain; he formed it to be inhabited, Isa 45:18. But men's projects are often frustrated, and what they frame answers not the intention. We have a saying, That fools build houses for wise men to live in; but sometimes, as the event proves, they are built for no man to live in. God has many ways to empty the most populous cities. (2.) That the fields they were so fond of should be unfruitful (Isa 5:10): Ten acres of vineyard shall yield only such a quantity of grapes as will make but one bath of wine (which was about eight gallons), and the seed of a homer, a bushel's sowing of ground, shall yield but an ephah, which was the tenth part of a homer; so that through the barrenness of the ground, or the unreasonableness of the weather, they should not have more than a tenth part of their seed again. Note, Those that set their hearts upon the world will justly be disappointed in their expectations from it.
II. Here is a woe to those that dote upon the pleasures and delights of sense, Isa 5:11, Isa 5:12. Sensuality ruins men as certainly as worldliness and oppression. As Christ pronounces a woe against those that are rich, so also against those that laugh now and are full (Luk 6:24, Luk 6:25), and fare sumptuously, Luk 16:19. Observe,
1.Who the sinners are against whom this woe is denounced. (1.) They are such as are given to drink; they make their drinking their business, have their hearts upon it, and overcharge themselves with it. They rise early to follow strong drink, as husbandmen and tradesmen do to follow their employments; as if they were afraid of losing time from that which is the greatest misspending of time. Whereas commonly those that are drunken are drunken in the night, when they have despatched the business of the day, these neglect business, abandon it, and give up themselves to the service of the flesh; for they sit at their cups all day, and continue till night, till wine inflame them - inflame their lusts (chambering and wantonness follow upon rioting and drunkenness) - inflame their passions; for who but such have contentions and wounds without cause? Pro 23:29-35. They make a perfect trade of drinking; nor do they seek the shelter of the night for this work of darkness, as men ashamed of it, but count it a pleasure to riot in the day-time. See Pe2 2:13. (2.) They are such as are given to mirth. They have their feasts, and they are so merrily disposed that they cannot dine or sup without music, musical instruments of all sorts, like David (Amo 6:5), like Solomon (Ecc 2:8); the harp and the viol, the tarbet and pipe, must accompany the wine, that every sense may be gratified to a nicety; they take the timbrel and harp, Job 21:12. The use of music is lawful in itself; but when it is excessive, when we set our hearts upon it, misspend time in it, so that it crowds our spiritual and divine pleasures and draws away the heart from God, then it turns into sin for us. (3.) They are such as never give their mind to any thing that is serious: They regard not the work of the Lord; they observe not his power, wisdom, and goodness, in those creatures which they abuse and subject to vanity, nor the bounty of his providence in giving them those good things which they make the food and fuel of their lusts. God's judgments have already seized them, and they are under the tokens of his displeasure, but they regard not; they consider not the hand of God in all these things; his hand is lifted up, but they will not see, because they will not disturb themselves in their pleasures nor think what God is doing with them.
2.What the judgments are which are denounced against them, and in part executed. It is here foretold, (1.) that they should be dislodged; the land should spue out these drunkards (Isa 5:13): My people (so they call themselves, and were proud of it) have therefore gone into captivity, are as sure to go as if they were gone already, because they have no knowledge; how should they have knowledge when by their excessive drinking they make sots and fools of themselves? They set up for wits; but because they regard not God's controversy with them, nor take any care to make their peace with him, they may truly be said to have no knowledge; and the reason is because they will have none; they are inconsiderate and wilful, and are therefore destroyed for lack of knowledge. (2.) That they should be impoverished, and come to want that which they had wasted and abused to excess: Even their glory are men of famine, subject to it and slain by it; and their multitude are dried up with thirst. Both the great men and the common people are ready to perish for want of bread and water. This is the effect of the failure of the corn (Isa 5:10), for the king himself is served of the field, Ecc 5:9. And when the vintage fails the drunkards are called upon to weep, because the new wine is cut off from their mouth (Joe 1:5), and not so much because now they want it as because when they had it they abused it. It is just with God to make men want that for necessity which they have abused to excess. (3.) What multitudes should be cut off by famine and sword (Isa 5:14): Therefore hell has enlarged herself. Tophet, the common burying-place, proves too little; so many are there to be buried that they shall be forced to enlarge it. The grave has opened her mouth without measure, never saying, It is enough, Pro 30:15, Pro 30:16. It may be understood of the place of the damned; luxury and sensuality fill these regions of darkness and horror; there those are tormented who made a god of their belly, Luk 16:25; Phi 3:19. (4.) That they should be humbled and abased, and all their honours laid in the dust. This will be done effectually by death and the grave: Their glory shall descend, not only to the earth, but into it; it shall not descend after them (Psa 49:17), to stand them in any stead on the other side death, but it shall die and be buried with them - poor glory, which will thus wither! Did they glory in their numbers? Their multitude shall go down to the pit, Eze 31:18; Eze 32:32. Did they glory in the figure they made? Their pomp shall be at an end; their shouts with which they triumphed, and were attended. Did they glory in their mirth? Death will turn it into mourning; he that rejoices and revels, and never knows what it is to be serious, shall go thither where there are weeping and wailing. Thus the mean man and the mighty man meet together in the grave and under mortifying judgments. Let a man be ever so high, death will bring him low - ever so mean, death will bring him lower, in the prospect of which the eyes of the lofty should now be humbled, Isa 5:15. It becomes those to look low that must shortly be laid low.
3.What the fruit of these judgments shall be.
(1.)God shall be glorified, Isa 5:16. He that is the Lord of hosts, and the holy God, shall be exalted and sanctified in the judgment and righteousness of these dispensations. His justice must be owned in bringing those low what exalted themselves; and herein he is glorified, [1.] As a God is irresistible power. He will herein be exalted as the Lord of hosts, that is able to break the strongest, humble the proudest, and tame the most unruly. Power is not exalted but in judgment. It is the honour of God that, though he has a mighty arm, yet judgment and justice are always the habitation of his throne, Psa 89:13, Psa 89:14. [2.] As a God of unspotted purity. He that is holy, infinitely holy, shall be sanctified (that is, shall be owned and declared to be holy) in the righteous punishment of proud men. Note, When proud men are humbled the great God is honoured, and ought to be honoured by us.
(2.)Good people shall be relieved and succoured (Isa 5:17): Then shall the lambs feed after their manner; the meek ones of the earth, who followed the Lamb, who were persecuted, and put into fear by those proud oppressors, shall feed quietly, feed in the green pastures, and there shall be none to make them afraid. See Eze 34:14. When the enemies of the church are cut off then have the churches rest. They shall feed at their pleasure; so some read it. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth, and delight themselves in abundant peace. They shall feed according to their order or capacity (so others read it), as they are able to hear the word, that bread of life.
(3.)The country shall be laid waste, and become a prey to the neighbours: The waste places of the fats ones, the possessions of those rich men that lived at their ease, shall be eaten by strangers that were nothing akin to them. In the captivity the poor of the land were left for vine-dressers and husbandmen (Kg2 25:12); these were the lambs that fed in the pastures of the fats ones, which were laid in common for strangers to eat. When the church of the Jews, those fat ones, was laid waste, their privileges were transferred to the Gentiles, who had been long strangers, and the lambs of Christ's flock were welcome to them.
(Verse 14, 15.) Therefore, hell enlarged its soul and opened its mouth without any limit, and its strong ones, and its people, and its high and glorious ones descended to it. And man will be humbled, and the man will be brought low, and the eyes of the proud will be cast down. Those who rose early to pursue wine, and remained in drunkenness until evening, and were occupied with pleasure and indulgence, did not want to consider the work of the Lord, nor did they contemplate the works of His hands. Therefore they were brought into captivity because they did not have knowledge of the Son of God, as He himself said to them, 'You neither know me nor the one who sent me' (John 8:19), and in that very captivity they died of famine and wasted away from thirst. Where Hell and death extended their souls, and opened their mouths, and devoured without number and satiety those to be punished forever: so that the princes and people, and the sublimity and glory of the land of Judah would descend to him, and all pride would be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty would be lowered, understanding themselves to be mortals; and all things were fulfilled, which the Lord had foretold through the prophets. However, Hell is said to have a soul, not that it is a living creature, according to the error of some; but that by the words of human custom, we express the impassivity of things that do not sense, that it is insatiable, and is never filled by the multitude of the dead. And in the hand of the tongue, death is spoken (Prov. XVIII), and the almighty God hates the Sabbaths, and speaks of the Jews despising their own soul (Isai. I). Whatever we have said about the Jewish people can be metaphorically applied to those who are occupied with the pleasures of the world, not looking to the works of God, they are led captive into sin, and have no knowledge of God: and therefore, they perish from hunger and thirst for good works and virtues, and are dragged into hell, where they are assigned to eternal torments, and they witness the power and pride of misery being transformed by humility.
Continue studying Isaiah 5:14 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Isaiah 5:14 delivers a stark and comprehensive prophetic warning, vividly portraying the inevitable and all-consuming judgment awaiting the unrepentant people of Judah. Through the powerful personification of "hell" (Sheol) as an insatiable, devouring entity, the verse declares that the nation's outward displays of pride, revelry, and worldly achievements—their glory, multitude, pomp, and joyous celebrations—will be utterly consumed, descending into an inescapable abyss of destruction as a direct and severe consequence of their profound moral and spiritual decay and their rejection of God's covenant.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 5:14 is profoundly rich in literary devices that amplify its powerful and terrifying message of impending doom. Personification is central to the verse, as Sheol (often translated "hell" in the KJV) is dramatically given human-like, predatory attributes: it "hath enlarged herself" and "opened her mouth." This transforms the abstract concept of the grave or underworld into a terrifying, active, and malevolent entity. Hyperbole is evident in the phrase "opened her mouth without measure," which exaggerates Sheol's capacity to emphasize the immense scale and totality of the destruction awaiting Judah. This is not merely a large grave, but an infinitely hungry maw. Furthermore, Sheol functions as a potent metaphor for the comprehensive judgment and ruin that will befall the unrighteous nation. The "mouth" and "enlarging" are also metaphorical for an insatiable appetite for destruction. The powerful asyndeton (absence of conjunctions) in the list "their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp" (though "and" is present, the rapid succession creates a similar effect) and the subsequent repetition of the possessive "their" creates a sense of accumulating loss and emphasizes that every cherished aspect of their worldly pride will be consumed. The vivid imagery creates a strong visual metaphor of a gaping abyss swallowing everything.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 5:14 stands as a profound theological statement on the certainty and severity of divine judgment against unrepentant sin. It underscores God's absolute holiness, His unwavering commitment to justice, and His covenant faithfulness, demonstrating that a nation's moral decay and persistent rejection of its covenant responsibilities inevitably lead to catastrophic consequences. The personification of Sheol as an insatiable devourer highlights the comprehensive and inescapable nature of this judgment, implying that no aspect of human glory, power, or revelry can withstand or escape God's righteous wrath. This serves as a timeless warning against spiritual apathy, materialism, and pride, urging humanity to recognize the fleeting nature of worldly pursuits in stark contrast to the eternal weight of God's moral order. The verse powerfully illustrates the biblical principle that sin, when left unchecked and unrepented of, culminates in a spiritual and often physical "death" or ruin, a separation from the life and favor of God. It is a stark reminder that God will not be mocked and that His patience has limits.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 5:14 serves as a sobering mirror for all generations, challenging us to critically examine the foundations upon which we build our individual lives and collective societies. It compels us to confront the deceptive allure of worldly glory, material accumulation, and self-indulgent pleasure, reminding us that these pursuits, when elevated above God's righteousness and justice, are ultimately ephemeral and lead to spiritual emptiness, moral decay, and eventual ruin. The prophet's vivid imagery of an insatiable grave should ignite a profound sense of urgency within us to repent of our own pride, apathy, and moral compromises, both personal and communal. True security, lasting joy, and genuine fulfillment are not found in the fleeting applause of the world, the accumulation of possessions, or the pursuit of transient pleasures, but in humble obedience to God, a life lived in accordance with His just and loving commands, and a deep, abiding relationship with Him. This verse powerfully calls us to shift our priorities from temporal delights to eternal values, to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, and to live with a sober awareness of the inevitable and devastating consequences of unrepented sin, embracing the path of humility and spiritual vitality.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "hell" mean in Isaiah 5:14, and how does it relate to the New Testament concept?
Answer: In Isaiah 5:14, "hell" is a translation of the Hebrew word Sheol (H7585). In the Old Testament, Sheol generally refers to the grave, the realm of the dead, or the underworld—a place of darkness, silence, and no return for the departed. It signifies a state of utter destruction and separation from the living, rather than a place of eternal conscious torment as often understood by the Greek word Gehenna in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 10:28). Here, Sheol is powerfully personified as an insatiable, devouring monster, emphasizing the totality and severity of the impending judgment and ruin that will consume Judah's proud and unrepentant populace. It represents the ultimate consequence of their sin, a comprehensive demise that swallows all earthly glory.
What is the significance of "without measure" in describing Sheol's mouth?
Answer: The phrase "without measure" (from Hebrew chôq, H2706, meaning "limit," "decree," or "appointed portion") emphasizes the boundless and insatiable nature of the destruction. It signifies that Sheol's capacity to swallow is limitless, exceeding any normal boundary or appointed limit. This hyperbole underscores the vastness and totality of the impending judgment, implying that no matter how many people, how much wealth, or how much glory Judah possesses, Sheol has an infinite capacity to consume it all. It highlights the inescapable and overwhelming nature of God's judgment against their profound moral decay, leaving no room for escape or survival. It suggests a divine judgment that knows no bounds in its reach.
Who are "their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth" that shall descend?
Answer: These terms collectively describe the proud, wealthy, influential, and self-indulgent elite of Judah whom Isaiah is condemning for their moral and spiritual corruption. "Their glory" (H1926, hâdâr) refers to their splendor, honor, outward magnificence, and perhaps their perceived social standing or divine favor. "Their multitude" (H1995, hâmôwn) signifies their vast numbers, their influential crowds, or their accumulated wealth and possessions. "Their pomp" (H7588, shâʼôwn) denotes their noisy revelry, ostentation, and the boisterous celebratory atmosphere of their luxurious lifestyle, often associated with their feasts and parties. "He that rejoiceth" (H5938, ʻâlêz) specifically points to those individuals who indulged in these earthly pleasures and scoffed at God's warnings and works (as seen in Isaiah 5:11-12). Together, these phrases represent the entire spectrum of Judah's worldly pursuits, pride, and revelry, all of which are depicted as being utterly consumed by the impending divine judgment.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 5:14 vividly portrays the terrifying consequences of unrepentant sin and the insatiable maw of death (Sheol) consuming all worldly glory, it ultimately points forward to Christ as the one who definitively conquers this very dominion. The grim reality that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23) is powerfully illustrated here, as humanity's fleeting glory, multitude, and pomp are indeed swallowed by the grave. However, Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death on the cross and His glorious resurrection, entered the very realm of death and emerged victorious. He "descended into the lower parts of the earth" (Ephesians 4:9), not to be consumed by Sheol, but to disarm the powers of darkness and "destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). Where Sheol "enlarged herself" to consume humanity without measure, Christ's resurrection demonstrates that death's mouth is no longer "without measure" for those who believe in Him. He is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), offering a path of redemption and escape from the judgment described in Isaiah. Ultimately, the Book of Revelation proclaims the final triumph of Christ, where Death and Hades themselves will be "thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14), signifying Christ's complete and eternal victory over the very forces that once consumed humanity's fleeting glory. In Him alone, true and eternal glory, life, and joy are found, transcending the temporary nature of all earthly pomp and pride.