Isaiah 5:3

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

And now, O inhabitants {H3427} of Jerusalem {H3389}, and men {H376} of Judah {H3063}, judge {H8199}, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard {H3754}.

Now, citizens of Yerushalayim and people of Y'hudah, judge between me and my vineyard.

“And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard.

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

Isaiah 5:3 is a pivotal verse within the "Song of the Vineyard" (Isaiah 5:1-7), an powerful allegory used by the prophet Isaiah to convey God's deep disappointment and impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem.

Context

This verse immediately follows God's detailed description of His loving and meticulous care for His "vineyard" – a metaphor for the nation of Israel and specifically the kingdom of Judah. Having provided everything necessary for a fruitful harvest, God now challenges the very people He tended to, the "inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah," to act as impartial judges. He asks them to weigh His actions against the vineyard's produce, implicitly demonstrating that His judgment against them is entirely just and warranted. This sets the stage for the revelation of the vineyard's failure to yield good fruit, leading to God's pronouncement of judgment in the subsequent verses.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Righteousness: God presents Himself as the wronged party, inviting His people to acknowledge the fairness of His case. This highlights God's perfect justice, demonstrating that His forthcoming judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to their unfaithfulness.
  • Accountability and Responsibility: The verse underscores the principle of human accountability. Despite God's immense provision and care, Israel failed to live up to the covenant expectations. God holds them responsible for the spiritual fruit (or lack thereof) in their lives.
  • God's Expectations: Implicit in God's question is His expectation of righteousness and justice from His people, given all He had done for them. This expectation is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, such as in Micah 6:8, where the Lord asks for justice, mercy, and humility.
  • The Vineyard Metaphor: The "vineyard" is a profound biblical symbol for Israel, representing God's chosen people. This metaphor emphasizes God's tender cultivation and His desire for them to bear spiritual fruit, a concept also seen in Psalm 80:8 and later used by Jesus to describe His followers in John 15:1.

Linguistic Insights

The core of this verse's power lies in the masterful use of the vineyard allegory. The Hebrew word for "vineyard," kerem (כֶּרֶם), is used throughout this passage. By asking the "inhabitants of Jerusalem" (יֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִַם - yoshevai Yerushalayim) to "judge" (שִׁפְטוּ - shiftu), God places the onus directly on them. It's a rhetorical question designed to elicit self-condemnation, as any honest assessment would reveal God's faithfulness and their profound unfaithfulness.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 5:3 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness and His just expectations. It prompts us to reflect on our own lives: Are we producing the "good fruit" of the Spirit that reflects God's grace and His work in us? Just as God meticulously cared for His ancient vineyard, He continues to nurture and provide for His people. This verse challenges us to examine our spiritual lives, ensuring that we are living in a way that honors His investment and fulfills His purposes, rather than yielding wild, sour grapes of sin and injustice.

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.

  • Romans 3:4

    God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

  • Psalms 51:4

    Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.

  • Jeremiah 2:4

    Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

  • Jeremiah 2:5

    Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

  • Romans 2:5

    But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

  • Psalms 50:4

    He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

  • Psalms 50:6

    And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God [is] judge himself. Selah.

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