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.
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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.
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
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.