Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Isaiah 5
a song. Eight sentences describe the vineyard, of which seven give the characteristics, and one (Isaiah 5:7) the result. This "song" sets forth the doom of the Vineyard: the Parable (Luke 20:9-16), the doom of the husbandmen.
hath = had.
a very fruitful = oil's son. Can it refer to David and his anointing? Compare 1 Samuel 2:10; 1 Samuel 16:13; Psalms 132:7. Compare Isaiah 5:7 -, below.
hill = horn. Hebrew. keren, always "horn" (seventy-five times). Only "hill" here.
vine. For Israel as this vine, See Isaiah 27:2-6. Jeremiah 2:21; Jeremiah 12:10. Psalms 80:8. Hosea 10:1; Hosea 14:6-7, &c. One of the three trees to which Israel is likened: the fig = national privilege; the olive = religious privilege; the vine = spiritual privilege. See note on Judges 9:8-13,
tower = a watchtower. winepress = wine-vat. Hebrew. yekeb, not gath, a winepress. See note on Proverbs 3:10.
wild grapes = bad grapes. Hebrew. beushim, from bashash, to stink. The Hebrew word occurs only in verses: Isaiah 5:2, Isaiah 5:4.
in it. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "to (or for) it".
I will, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:23, Deuteronomy 28:24. Leviticus 26:19).
the LORD of hosts. See note on Isaiah 1:9 and 1 Samuel 1:3.
house of Israel. Occurs four times in Isaiah, twice before Isa 40: (Isaiah 6:7; Isaiah 14:2), and twice after (Isaiah 46:3; Isaiah 63:7). See App-79. Note the introversion: "vineyard", "Israel", "Judah", "pleasant plant".
judgment. oppression. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia for great and solemn emphasis, to attract our attention and impress our minds. Not a "pun "or a "play" on words. Hebrew. mishpat. mishpach.
righteousness. a cry. Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. zedakah. ze"akah. See note above. These two lines may be Englished by "He looked for equity, but behold iniquity; for right, but behold might" (as used in oppression and producing a "cry"). and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Woe. Figure of speech Epibole, "Woe" repeated six times in succession (verses: Isaiah 5:8, Isaiah 5:11, Isaiah 5:18, Isaiah 8:20, Isaiah 8:21, Isaiah 8:22). Note the six subjects.
no. Hebrew. ephes. Occurs in "former" portion only here and in Isaiah 34:12; the "latter" portion in Isaiah 40:17; Isaiah 41:12, Isaiah 41:29; Isaiah 45:6, Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 46:9; Isaiah 47:8, Isaiah 47:10; Isaiah 52:4; Isaiah 54:15. App-79.
ears. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
said. Note Ellipsis of the verb "to say". See App-6and instructive examples in Psalms 109:5; Psalms 144:12. Psalms 28:9. Jeremiah 9:19, &c.
strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. App-27.
night. Hebrew. nesheph. A Homonym. Compare Isaiah 21:4 with Isaiah 59:10. See notes on Job 24:15, and 1 Samuel 30:17
tarbet = drum. Hebrew. toph. See note on 1 Samuel 10:5.
pipe = fife.
wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.
feasts = banquets.
the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
hell = Sheol. App-35.
enlarged. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6.
herself. = her soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
her. All these feminine pronouns-mean that the nouns belong to Sheol.
the mean man = commoner. Hebrew. "adam. App-14.
the mighty man = peer. Hebrew. "ish.
lofty = proud. Hebrew. gabah. See note on Isaiah 2:11.
iniquity. Hebrew. "avah. App-44.
cords, &c. Which draw on sin by the load.
cart rope. Implies sin by the cart-load.
That say, &c. Compare Jeremiah 17:15.
the Holy One of Israel. See notes on Isaiah 1:4 and Psalms 71:22.
call = are calling.
evil good. Note the Introversion in each of the three clauses of this verse.
put = give out.
sight. Hebrew "face", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for themselves, or their own view of matters.
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha".
reward = a bribe,
the righteous = righteous ones.
him = them.
stretched forth: in judgment.
torn in the midst of the streets = as the sweepings of the streets.
For all this, &c. Compare the Reference to Pent, in the fivefold consequence of Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 9:12, Isaiah 9:17, Isaiah 9:21; Isaiah 10:4, with the fivefold cause in Leviticus 26:14, Leviticus 26:18, Leviticus 26:21, Leviticus 26:24, Leviticus 26:28.
stretched out still = remains stretched out. Same word as "stretched forth (above) in judgment". Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:6. Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 9:29; Deuteronomy 11:2; Deuteronomy 26:8).
hiss unto = hiss for (as men call bees).
they shall come. Note the Figure of speech Hypotyposis in Isaiah 5:26-30.
heavens = skies.
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