Isaiah 5:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Exile comes because the people lack knowledge of the Lord; the elite and common people alike will suffer deprivation.
The Context of Isaiah 5:13
Exile as the consequence of covenant ignorance and violation.
What Does Isaiah 5:13 Mean?
'Knowledge' here is not mere information but covenant awareness—recognition of the Lord's claim, character, and requirements. The absence of this knowledge becomes the cause of exile. The causal chain is clear: covenant-breaking → loss of knowledge → judgment through captivity.
The twofold suffering—the nobility famished, the multitude parched with thirst—makes judgment universal. Those who ruled without justice will find no food; the people they oppressed will find no drink. Displacement and deprivation level all.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 5:13
What does Isaiah 5:13 mean?
Exile comes because the people lack knowledge of the Lord; the elite and common people alike will suffer deprivation.
What is the context of Isaiah 5:13?
Exile as the consequence of covenant ignorance and violation.