Isaiah 18:5 Meaning and Explanation
“For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Before the harvest, when buds are full and grapes are flowering, God will prune away unripe growth.
The Context of Isaiah 18:5
God will prune the nation before its plans reach full development.
What Does Isaiah 18:5 Mean?
This verse describes divine pruning. The perfect bud and ripening sour grape suggest fruit in early stages—not yet mature for harvest. God's action cuts sprigs and branches, removing what has not yet reached true ripeness or value, a judgment on incomplete growth.
The timing is crucial: the pruning happens before harvest, when fruit could still be gathered. This implies that what is cut away would have been profitable or useful had it matured, yet God removes it in His wisdom, suggesting judgment on what was growing but not according to His will.
Isaiah 18:5 in the Original Language
sprigs (הַנְּטִישׁוֹת, han-netishot) — shoots or tender branches, the unripened growth to be removed by pruning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 18:5
What does Isaiah 18:5 mean?
Before the harvest, when buds are full and grapes are flowering, God will prune away unripe growth.
What is the context of Isaiah 18:5?
God will prune the nation before its plans reach full development.