Isaiah 5:25

Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Therefore is the anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} kindled {H2734} against his people {H5971}, and he hath stretched forth {H5186} his hand {H3027} against them, and hath smitten {H5221} them: and the hills {H2022} did tremble {H7264}, and their carcases {H5038} were torn {H5478} in the midst {H7130} of the streets {H2351}. For all this his anger {H639} is not turned away {H7725}, but his hand {H3027} is stretched out {H5186} still.

This is why ADONAI's anger blazed up against his people, why he stretched out his hand against them and struck them [so hard that] the hills shook, and corpses lay like trash in the streets. Even after all this, his anger remains, his upraised hand still threatens.

Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lay like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 5:25 KJV vividly describes the severe and ongoing judgment of the LORD against His disobedient people, emphasizing the devastating consequences of their rebellion.

Context of Isaiah 5:25

This verse is a powerful culmination of the "Song of the Vineyard" found in Isaiah chapter 5. The chapter begins with God depicting Israel as a carefully tended vineyard that failed to produce good fruit, yielding only wild grapes (Isaiah 5:7 identifies the vineyard as the house of Israel). Following this parable, Isaiah pronounces a series of "woes" against various sins prevalent in Judah, including greed, drunkenness, injustice, and spiritual blindness (Isaiah 5:8-23). Verse 25 directly links these transgressions to the divine wrath that has been kindled, indicating that the judgment is a direct, deserved response to their persistent unfaithfulness and covenant breaking, reminiscent of warnings found in Deuteronomy 28.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The verse powerfully conveys God's righteous anger (Hebrew: charah, "to burn" or "be enraged") against sin. It is not arbitrary but a just response to Israel's spiritual decay and moral corruption.
  • Severity of Consequences: The imagery of "hills did tremble" and "carcases torn in the midst of the streets" paints a picture of catastrophic destruction and public humiliation. This highlights the terrifying reality of opposing God's will. The trembling earth can also be found as a sign of divine presence or judgment in other prophetic texts, such as Jeremiah 4:24.
  • Unrelenting Justice: The concluding phrase, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still," is particularly stark. It implies that the initial acts of judgment have not led to repentance, and therefore, God's disciplinary hand remains active and ready to inflict further punishment. This emphasizes God's unwavering commitment to justice until His purposes are fulfilled or true repentance occurs.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "stretched forth his hand" (Hebrew: natah yad) is significant. While it can denote a gesture of blessing or help, in contexts of judgment, it signifies a powerful, direct act of divine intervention to punish. Here, it underscores the LORD's active role in bringing about the calamities upon His people. The term "smitten" (Hebrew: nakah) further emphasizes the decisive and devastating nature of this divine blow.

Practical Application

Isaiah 5:25 serves as a profound warning that God's holiness demands accountability. It reminds believers that persistent rebellion and unrepentant sin incur serious consequences. While God is rich in mercy and grace, His justice is equally true. This verse calls us to:

  • Take Sin Seriously: Understand that God's anger is a righteous response to sin, not a human emotion.
  • Seek Repentance: Acknowledge that divine judgment can be averted or mitigated through genuine turning from sin, as seen in many biblical narratives.
  • Respect God's Authority: Recognize the LORD's supreme power and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, even when it involves severe discipline for His own people.

The message of Isaiah 5:25, though grim, ultimately underscores the importance of living in obedience and reverence before a holy God, lest His hand of judgment remain "stretched out still."

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.

  • Isaiah 9:21

    Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Isaiah 10:4

    Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Isaiah 9:17

    Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • 2 Kings 9:37

    And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; [so] that they shall not say, This [is] Jezebel.

  • Jeremiah 4:24

    I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

  • Daniel 9:16

    O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] about us.

  • Jeremiah 16:4

    They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; [but] they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

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