Isaiah 5:6

And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

And I will lay {H7896} it waste {H1326}: it shall not be pruned {H2168}, nor digged {H5737}; but there shall come up {H5927} briers {H8068} and thorns {H7898}: I will also command {H6680} the clouds {H5645} that they rain {H4305} no rain {H4306} upon it.

I will let it go to waste: it will be neither pruned nor hoed, but overgrown with briars and thorns. I will also order the clouds not to let rain fall on it.

I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

Isaiah 5:6 is a powerful verse from the "Song of the Vineyard" (Isaiah 5:1-7), a parabolic lament by the prophet Isaiah. In this song, God portrays Himself as a diligent vineyard owner who has done everything possible to cultivate a fruitful vineyard, representing the nation of Israel and the men of Judah (Isaiah 5:7). Despite His immense care, the vineyard produced only "wild grapes," symbolizing injustice and oppression instead of righteousness.

Context

Following God's rhetorical question in Isaiah 5:4 about what more could have been done for His vineyard, this verse details the devastating consequences of its failure. Having already declared His intention to remove the vineyard's protective hedge and wall (Isaiah 5:5), verse 6 describes the full extent of the divine judgment: utter desolation. This passage serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual unfruitfulness and disobedience to God's covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: The central theme is God's active judgment upon His unfaithful people. He declares, "I will lay it waste," emphasizing His sovereign control over the impending destruction. The vineyard, once meticulously cared for, will become barren and wild.
  • Consequences of Neglect and Unfruitfulness: The phrases "it shall not be pruned, nor digged" highlight the withdrawal of divine care and cultivation. This cessation of tending leads to natural decay and the growth of "briers and thorns," symbolizing the painful and useless outcomes of spiritual barrenness. This imagery echoes the curse upon the ground in Genesis 3:18.
  • Withholding of Blessing: The command "I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it" signifies the removal of God's sustaining grace and blessing. In a land dependent on rain for agriculture, withholding it guaranteed drought and complete ruin, a common form of divine discipline mentioned in passages like Deuteronomy 28:23-24.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "lay it waste" (אֲשִׁיתֵהוּ שָׁמָמָה - ashitehu shamamah) conveys a sense of utter devastation and desolation. The repeated negative actions—"not be pruned, nor digged"—underscore the complete abandonment of care. The "briers and thorns" (שָׁמִיר וָשַׁיִת - shamir vashayit) are not just weeds but represent a wild, untamed, and ultimately painful environment, a stark contrast to the cultivated vineyard. The phrase "rain no rain" (מָטָר עָלָיו לֹא יַמְטִיר - matar alav lo yamṭir) is a strong rhetorical device, emphasizing the absolute cessation of life-giving water by divine decree.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 5:6 serves as a solemn reminder of God's expectation of spiritual fruitfulness. Just as Israel was called to produce justice and righteousness, Christians are called to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and to live lives that reflect God's character. This verse warns against spiritual complacency and unfruitfulness, illustrating that continued disobedience and a lack of spiritual growth can lead to the withdrawal of God's blessings and a state of spiritual barrenness. It underscores the truth that God is just and that there are serious consequences for rejecting His grace and failing to live according to His will.

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 7:23

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall [even] be for briers and thorns.

  • Isaiah 7:25

    And [on] all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

  • Jeremiah 25:11

    And this whole land shall be a desolation, [and] an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:19

    And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:21

    To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: [for] as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

  • Isaiah 24:1

    ¶ Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

  • Isaiah 24:3

    The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

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