Isaiah 3:14 Meaning and Explanation
“The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's judgment targets the leaders: they have devoured the nation and robbed the poor.
The Context of Isaiah 3:14
God indicts the leadership for greed, theft, and exploitation of the vulnerable.
What Does Isaiah 3:14 Mean?
God's indictment focuses on the elders and princes—the very leaders who were supposed to guide and protect. His charge is concrete: they have eaten up the vineyard (consumed the nation's resources and fertility) and filled their houses with the spoil of the poor (stolen goods taken from the vulnerable). Their sin is not abstract but material and visible.
The vineyard metaphor (Israel as God's planted vineyard) emphasizes that the leaders have stripped and consumed what belonged to God and the entire nation. By stealing from the poor, they have violated the most basic trust and covenant.
Isaiah 3:14 in the Original Language
'Vineyard' (Hebrew kerem) represents Israel itself, planted and tended by God; the leaders have ravaged what God planted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 3:14
What does Isaiah 3:14 mean?
God's judgment targets the leaders: they have devoured the nation and robbed the poor.
What is the context of Isaiah 3:14?
God indicts the leadership for greed, theft, and exploitation of the vulnerable.