Isaiah 5:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The first woe condemns those who hoard land, driven by desire for solitary wealth and power.
The Context of Isaiah 5:8
First woe: against those who accumulate land at others' expense.
What Does Isaiah 5:8 Mean?
This begins a series of five woes naming specific covenant violations. Land consolidation—buying up neighboring properties until one person owns vast estates—represented covenant betrayal. In Israel, land was apportioned by God and was meant to anchor families and support all.
The phrase 'placed alone' reveals the motive: personal grandeur and isolation from community. The accumulation destroys the social fabric of covenant community where land serves the household and the clan, not personal empire-building.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 5:8
What does Isaiah 5:8 mean?
The first woe condemns those who hoard land, driven by desire for solitary wealth and power.
What is the context of Isaiah 5:8?
First woe: against those who accumulate land at others' expense.