Isaiah 5:11

"For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield an ephah.”"

Key Reflection

In Isaiah 5:11, the original audience would have immediately recognized the vivid imagery of a vineyard yielding far less than expected. This passage likely refers to Israel’s moral and spiritual condition, where despite abundant resources, the people produced only meager results. The comparison of a ten-acre vineyard producing just one bath (a measure for wine) and a homer of seed (for planting) yielding only an ephah (a smaller measure for grain) underscores the failure of the nation to live up to its potential, reflecting a broader prophetic theme of judgment and call to repentance.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Wo unto them -The prophet, having denounced “avarice,” proceeds now to another vice - that of “intemperance, or dissipation.” That rise up early ... -That rise “for this purpose,” when nothing else would rouse them. It may illustrate this somewhat, to remark, that it was not common among the ancients to become intoxicated at an early hour of the day; see the note atActs 2:15; compare1 Thessalonians 5:7. It indicated then, as it does now, a confirmed and habitual state of intemperance when a man would do this early in the morning.

More from Isaiah 5

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