The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just describing the lack of wine and grapes, but personifies them as mourning and languishing. This vivid imagery highlights how even the non-living elements of creation are depicted as suffering and expressing sorrow due to the profound spiritual and national calamity. It underscores the deep impact of sin and judgment, affecting the very produce of the land.
The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage unfolds within a prophecy of impending judgment and desolation that will sweep across the land, affecting all aspects of life and society. The verses preceding this one describe the complete emptying and overturning of the earth, a curse that consumes the land and leaves few inhabitants. This verse, therefore, vividly depicts the tangible impact of that judgment on the very sources of joy and prosperity, showing how even the vital elements of life like wine and crops will fail, leading to widespread sorrow.
Why would wine and vines weep? In this passage, nature itself reflects the deep sorrow and devastation caused by human disobedience.
Isaiah uses powerful personification to paint a picture of a land under judgment. The "new wine mourneth" and the "vine languisheth" not because of a natural blight, but because the people who would have enjoyed them are gone or broken by sin.
A Land Under a Curse
This isn't just bad weather; it's a consequence. The commentaries point out that the land itself suffers when its inhabitants turn from God's laws and covenant. The joy that wine and harvests were meant to bring is replaced by a profound sadness, mirroring the spiritual emptiness of the people.
Sympathy of Creation
It’s like the whole world is groaning under the weight of sin. This imagery helps us understand that God’s judgment isn't confined to just people; it impacts the very fabric of creation when humanity rebels.
What happens when even the most joyful souls can only sigh? This verse shows the silencing of celebration and the deep despair that follows judgment.
The phrase "all the merry-hearted do sigh" is a stark contrast to the usual sounds of celebration. Wine, grapes, music – these were symbols of joy, feasting, and prosperity.
Joy Replaced by Sorrow
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When God's judgment falls, the sources of earthly happiness become reminders of loss. The wine can't be drunk with a song; the harp's melody is silenced. Even those who once reveled in pleasure are now reduced to a deep sigh, overwhelmed by the desolation.
A Divine Silence
This isn't just personal sadness; it's a sign that the "merry-hearted" have lost their reason to celebrate. Their mirth is extinguished by the consequences of sin and the presence of God's judgment. The vibrant sounds of life are replaced by a heavy silence, broken only by sighs of despair.
Understand the original words
yayin · Hebrew Noun
A fermented beverage often used as a symbol of joy, celebration, and God’s blessing in Scripture. Conversely, its withdrawal or corruption serves as a potent symbol of desolation and the removal of God's favor.
This prophecy vividly captures the devastating aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. The imagery of mourning wine and languishing vines reflects a land stripped bare, where the usual joys of harvest and celebration are replaced by deep sorrow and sighing, a direct consequence of divine judgment for societal and covenantal betrayal.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian invasions and deportations
The Assyrian Empire, a dominant force in the Near East, conducted campaigns against the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. These invasions led to significant destruction and the forced removal of populations, disrupting the social and economic fabric of the land.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian siege of Jerusalem
Under King Sennacherib, the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem. While the city was not captured, the surrounding areas were devastated, and a heavy tribute was imposed on Judah, causing widespread hardship and fear.
605 BC
First Babylonian deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Judah, initiating a series of deportations of its people and the plundering of Jerusalem. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy. This event represents a catastrophic turning point, leading to widespread mourning and a sense of utter desolation for the Jewish people.
c. 586-538 BC
Babylonian Exile
The majority of the Jewish population was exiled to Babylon. During this period, the land of Judah lay largely desolate, and the vibrant life of its cities and countryside was brutally suppressed.
This passage directly parallels Isaiah's imagery of desolation, describing the failure of grain, wine, and oil and the sorrow of those who tend the land. It highlights the deep connection between the land's fruitfulness and the people's joy.
Jeremiah 48:31-33Similar to Isaiah's lament, Jeremiah uses personification to describe the mourning of Moab due to destruction and loss of joy, specifically mentioning the silencing of the songs of the vintners. This shows how this theme of nature reflecting human calamity is a recurring prophetic motif.
Luke 10:34While Isaiah describes the mourning of the vine and the sighing of the merryhearted due to judgment, this parable offers a contrast by showing compassion and restoration brought by the Good Samaritan. It highlights how God's people are called to a different kind of response in times of suffering.
Revelation 18:9-11This passage describes a future judgment on a symbolic 'Babylon,' where those who indulged in her luxury will mourn and lament, directly echoing Isaiah's theme of lost mirth and joy due to divine judgment.
bensonIsaiah 24:7: "The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh."
Isaiah 24:7-9 . The new wine mourneth, &c. — In these verses we have a description, in metaphorical language, of the ruin and desolation brought on a once flourishing land by a destructive enemy. The wine, figuratively speaking, mourns, because there are none, or none but enemies to God and Israel, to drink it. The vine languisheth — Because there are no people left to dress it, or gather its grapes; or be…
cambridgeIsaiah 24:7: "The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh."
7 . Cf. Joel 1:10 ; Joel 1:12 . 7–9 . Joy has vanished from the earth.
The verse isn't just describing the lack of wine and grapes, but personifies them as mourning and languishing. This vivid imagery highlights how even the non-living elements of creation are depicted as suffering and expressing sorrow due to the profound spiritual and national calamity. It underscores the deep impact of sin and judgment, affecting the very produce of the land.
This passage unfolds within a prophecy of impending judgment and desolation that will sweep across the land, affecting all aspects of life and society. The verses preceding this one describe the complete emptying and overturning of the earth, a curse that consumes the land and leaves few inhabitants. This verse, therefore, vividly depicts the tangible impact of that judgment on the very sources of joy and prosperity, showing how even the vital elements of life like wine and crops will fail, leading to widespread sorrow.
This passage unfolds within a prophecy of impending judgment and desolation that will sweep across the land, affecting all aspects of life and society. The verses preceding this one describe the complete emptying and overturning of the earth, a curse that consumes the land and leaves few inhabitants. This verse, therefore, vividly depicts the tangible impact of that judgment on the very sources of joy and prosperity, showing how even the vital elements of life like wine and crops will fail, leading to widespread sorrow.
"The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh." — The verse isn't just describing the lack of wine and grapes, but personifies them as mourning and languishing. This vivid imagery highlights how even the non-living elements of creation are depicte…
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Last reviewed October 2026