Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Read it in contextThe Woes Against Israel and Judah
Start reading at Isaiah 5:1 (Isaiah 5:1 to Isaiah 5:30).
The chapter begins with the 'Song of the Vineyard' which sets the stage for the subsequent woes and judgments against Israel and Judah, making the entire chapter a cohesive unit of prophetic warning and condemnation.
5:1Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
5:2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
5:3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
5:4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
5:5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:
5:6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
5:7For 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.
5:8Woe 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!
5:9In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
5:10Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
5:11Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
5:12And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
5:13Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
5:14Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
5:15And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
5:16But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
5:17Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
5:18Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
5:19That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
5:20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
5:21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
5:22Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
5:23Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
5:24Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
5:25Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
5:26And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
5:27None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:
5:28Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:
5:29Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.
5:30And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Isaiah son of Amoz is the named prophet and the traditional author. The New Testament attributes passages from both earlier and later portions to Isaiah; scholars differ about the book's later composition and collection. Biblical references: Isaiah 1:1; John 12:38; John 12:39. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Isaiah 1:1–5:30): Judah and Jerusalem are the principal hearers of Isaiah's warnings; rulers, worshippers, and the people are challenged concerning their conduct. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem are the principal named audience, with messages also concerning Israel and other nations. Later portions address God's people in the horizon of exile, return, and restoration. Biblical references: Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 48:20. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is God's righteous judgment upon Israel and Judah for their unfaithfulness and various sins. The passage begins with the 'Song of the Vineyard,' illustrating God's care for His people and their failure to produce righteousness. This sets the stage for a series of 'woes' pronounced against specific sins, including covetousness, drunkenness, moral perversion, and self-exaltation in wisdom. The woe in Isaiah 5:21 specifically condemns those who rely on their own understanding and wisdom rather than God's.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His profound disappointment with His chosen people, Israel and Judah, who, despite His diligent care, have yielded 'wild grapes' of sin instead of righteousness. He reveals His righteous anger and impending judgment against their specific transgressions, including their intellectual pride and self-sufficiency. He also reveals His sovereign plan to use a distant nation as an instrument to execute this judgment upon them.
What is the literary style? The passage begins with an allegorical 'Song of the Vineyard' (Isaiah 5:1-7), followed by a series of prophetic 'woes' (condemnations) against the people's sins (Isaiah 5:8-25), and concludes with a vivid description of the impending judgment and the foreign nation God will use (Isaiah 5:26-30).
When
When was it written? The book of Isaiah was written between approximately 700 and 680 B.C. book background
When does the event take place? The events described are prophetic judgments against Judah and Jerusalem, which would occur during the period of Isaiah's ministry (c. 740 to 680 B.C.) and beyond, culminating in the Babylonian exile. book background
Where
Where did it happen? The judgments are directed towards 'Jerusalem' and 'Judah,' indicating that the events described would primarily take place in the land of Judah. stated in the text
Where was the author located? The author, Isaiah, was located in Jerusalem when he wrote this prophecy. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The Woes Against Israel and Judah (Isaiah 5:1 to Isaiah 5:30).
Start reading at Isaiah 5:1. The chapter begins with the 'Song of the Vineyard' which sets the stage for the subsequent woes and judgments against Israel and Judah, making the entire chapter a cohesive unit of prophetic warning and condemnation.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Isaiah 5:21 is one of six 'woes' pronounced against the moral and spiritual corruption of Judah, following the 'Song of the Vineyard' (Isaiah 5:1-7) which established God's disappointment with His people. This specific woe condemns intellectual pride and self-reliance, a root cause of many other sins listed in the chapter. It sets the stage for the severe judgment described later in the chapter, demonstrating that their self-proclaimed wisdom led them away from God's law and into destruction. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? This passage, by condemning those 'wise in their own eyes,' highlights the human tendency to reject divine wisdom and rely on flawed human understanding. This makes evident the profound need for Christ, who is the embodiment of true wisdom, in whom 'are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' (Colossians 2:3). He alone can grant true spiritual discernment and humility, redeeming us from the folly of self-exaltation. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Today, believers must guard against intellectual pride and self-sufficiency, recognizing that true wisdom comes from God, not from our own limited understanding (Proverbs 3:7). We are called to humble ourselves, seek God's counsel through His Word and prayer, and acknowledge Him in all our ways, rather than trusting in our own sight or the world's deceptive wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:18-20). interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book opens with the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz and names him throughout. The New Testament quotes both the earlier and later chapters as Isaiah's words. Isaiah 1:1Isaiah 6:1John 12:38John 12:39
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition holds the whole book to be Isaiah's.
What is debatedMany critical scholars propose a second and third author for chapters 40 and following, based on setting and style. John 12 quoting both sections as Isaiah is a significant argument against that view.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Isaiah 5
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Isaiah's opening locates his vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in named royal reigns. The book includes warnings, narratives, and promises addressed to different settings. Identify the immediate audience before extending a promise or judgment to later readers. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The opening visions confront Judah's rebellion while joining judgment with promises concerning the remnant and the Davidic ruler.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The opening visions confront Judah's rebellion while joining judgment with promises concerning the remnant and the Davidic ruler.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Isaiah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Isaiah's opening locates his vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in named royal reigns. The book includes warnings, narratives, and promises addressed to different settings. Identify the immediate audience before extending a promise or judgment to later readers.
Connection to the wholeThe opening visions confront Judah's rebellion while joining judgment with promises concerning the remnant and the Davidic ruler.
Connection to the wholeThe narratives connect trust and deliverance with an announcement concerning Babylon, bridging earlier warnings and later words of comfort.
Connection to the wholeThe movement announces comfort, challenges idols, and develops the servant passages and invitations to receive the LORD's provision.