Isaiah 5:7 Meaning and Explanation
“For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The parable is unveiled: Israel is the Lord's vineyard; He expected justice but found oppression instead.
The Context of Isaiah 5:7
The revelation of the parable's true subject and God's disappointed expectation.
What Does Isaiah 5:7 Mean?
Isaiah names the subject explicitly. The vineyard belongs to the Lord of hosts (the God of armies, the sovereign ruler). Israel and Judah are the plantings through which the Lord expected to see His character reflected in justice and righteous rule.
The word-pairs highlight the inversion: judgment/oppression (Hebrew mishpat/mispach, perhaps a play on words), righteousness/cry (tzedakah/tzeakah). The people cried out with complaint instead of practicing justice; oppression instead of covenant faithfulness characterized their leadership.
Isaiah 5:7 in the Original Language
mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט), 'judgment' — rightly ordered justice; tzeakah (צְעָקָה), 'cry' — the wail of the oppressed, the very opposite of justice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 5:7
What does Isaiah 5:7 mean?
The parable is unveiled: Israel is the Lord's vineyard; He expected justice but found oppression instead.
What is the context of Isaiah 5:7?
The revelation of the parable's true subject and God's disappointed expectation.