Isaiah 5:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After desolation, the land will recover, and strangers will occupy the estates of the destroyed wealthy.
The Context of Isaiah 5:17
A glimpse of restoration and the transfer of ill-gotten wealth.
What Does Isaiah 5:17 Mean?
This glimpse beyond judgment suggests renewal. Lambs will feed—suggesting pastoral life returning to the land, flocks and herds replacing human occupation. This echoes the promise that waste places will be restored, though not to the same people.
'The fat ones' (those who grew wealthy on oppressions) lose their land to 'strangers'—perhaps foreign occupiers, perhaps the righteous remnant. Either way, the transfer of land from the unjust to others restores what just tenure should have maintained.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 5:17
What does Isaiah 5:17 mean?
After desolation, the land will recover, and strangers will occupy the estates of the destroyed wealthy.
What is the context of Isaiah 5:17?
A glimpse of restoration and the transfer of ill-gotten wealth.