Isaiah 5:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The second woe condemns those who abandon themselves to drunkenness from morning until night.
The Context of Isaiah 5:11
Second woe: against those enslaved to wine and strong drink.
What Does Isaiah 5:11 Mean?
This woe targets intemperance and the pursuit of intoxication as a way of life. Rising early to drink and continuing until night until wine inflames them describes deliberate, sustained abandonment to appetite. The structure suggests compulsion: life organized around acquiring and consuming alcohol.
Drunkenness in scripture often symbolizes spiritual blindness and loss of judgment—precisely the opposite of the discernment required to rule justly. This vice directly opposes the mind needed to execute covenant fidelity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 5:11
What does Isaiah 5:11 mean?
The second woe condemns those who abandon themselves to drunkenness from morning until night.
What is the context of Isaiah 5:11?
Second woe: against those enslaved to wine and strong drink.