What is the meaning of Isaiah 5:3? And now • The phrase pivots from the vineyard song’s imagery (Isaiah 5:1-2) to a direct, urgent call for response. • It signals that a verdict cannot be postponed; the moment of accountability has arrived (2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:7-8). • “And now” frames the Lord’s words as the climax of a settled case, similar to the summons in Isaiah 1:18—“Come now, let us reason together…”—where mercy and justice are both on the table. O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah • The address pinpoints the covenant community—those with Scripture, temple, and promises (Romans 3:1-2). • By naming both city and tribe, God embraces every social layer: leaders, priests, merchants, laborers (Jeremiah 17:25-26). • The reminder echoes Isaiah 1:2-3, where Judah is rebuked for knowing less than an ox or donkey; privilege heightens responsibility (Luke 12:48). I exhort you • The Lord does not merely accuse; He invites participation in the court (Micah 6:1-2). • “Exhort” conveys strong urging, yet still offers grace—He wants them to see His righteousness before judgment falls (Ezekiel 33:11). • The tone recalls Psalm 50:4-6, where God summons His people to witness His justice. To judge • Judah is asked to function as jury, evaluating whether God or the nation is at fault—an appeal that exposes their own conscience (Romans 2:1-3). • The challenge anticipates objections that the LORD has been unfair (Ezekiel 18:25). • By putting the decision in their hands, He strips away excuses and prepares the ground for the next verse’s question, “What more was there to do…?” (Isaiah 5:4). Between Me and My vineyard • “My vineyard” ties back to Isaiah 5:1-2: God planted, protected, and expected fruit, yet it yielded only wild grapes. • The relationship is intimate—owner and possession—making the vineyard’s failure a personal affront (Psalm 80:8-16). • Jesus later echoes this courtroom scene in the parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-41), where Israel likewise condemns itself by pronouncing judgment. • The underlying principle: divine investment warrants fruit (John 15:1-2; Hebrews 6:7-8). Refusal reveals willful rebellion, not divine neglect. summary Isaiah 5:3 is God’s courtroom summons. Having sung the parable, He now calls His own covenant people to weigh His dealings with them. By addressing Judah directly, urging them to judge, and placing His vineyard relationship on display, He proves His care is flawless and their fruitlessness inexcusable. The verse invites honest self-examination, stripping away every defense so that God’s justice and Judah’s responsibility stand unmistakably clear. |
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