Isaiah 5:11-13
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The verse doesn't just condemn drinking; it highlights the deliberate and exhaustive pursuit of intoxication. The phrase "rise early... to follow" shows that this isn't a casual indulgence, but a planned activity, consuming their entire day from morning until night.
Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands. Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes immediately after Isaiah denounces greedy landowners who are isolating themselves in their pursuit of wealth. Now, the prophet turns his attention to a different kind of excess: the pursuit of pleasure and intoxication. He highlights a life consumed by drinking, from early morning until late at night, showing a complete disregard for anything beyond immediate gratification.
Imagine the sun barely up, and people are already deep into their cups. This wasn't just a late-night party gone too long; it was a deliberate choice to start the day with intoxication.
Isaiah calls out a specific kind of destructive behavior: rising early to pursue strong drink. This wasn't a casual habit, but an intentional, all-day affair. It was considered shameful, a sign of being completely enslaved to indulgence, far removed from the healthy rhythm of work and rest that God intended. This isn't about enjoying a drink with friends; it's about a life consumed by the pursuit of intoxicating pleasure, a pattern that starts before the day's work has even begun.
What does it mean for wine to 'inflame' someone? It's more than just a warm feeling; it speaks to a dangerous, consuming desire.
The phrase 'wine inflames them' paints a vivid picture of a destructive passion. It suggests a burning desire, a consuming fire within that drives these individuals. This isn't about a momentary lapse in judgment, but a deep-seated craving that fuels their actions from morning till night. This 'inflammation' represents the escalating, insatiable nature of addiction and excessive pursuit of pleasure. It blinds them to consequences and drives them deeper into a cycle of self-destruction, neglecting their responsibilities and their relationship with God.
Understand the original words
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hôy · Hebrew Interjection
An interjection expressing grief, impending doom, or judgment. It signifies the prophet's declaration of God's coming wrath upon the wicked.
šēkār · Hebrew Noun
Intoxicating drink, often referring to beer or date wine, distinguished from fermented grape wine. In Scripture, it is often associated with debauchery, loss of self-control, and neglect of spiritual duties.
yayin · Hebrew Noun
Fermented grape juice used for drinking. While sometimes a symbol of joy, here it represents the instrument of the revellers' obsession and moral inflammation.
pōʿal · Hebrew Noun
The totality of God’s redemptive and judicial acts in history. It refers to what God is actively doing in the world, which the wicked fail to perceive because of their spiritual blindness.
gālâ · Hebrew Noun
The forced removal of God's people from their land as a consequence of covenant disobedience. It signifies divine judgment and separation from the presence of God in the Promised Land.
daʿat · Hebrew Noun
The critical discernment or experiential acquaintance with God and His will. Its absence leads to covenantal failure and divine judgment, as the people have rejected the revelation of the Law.
Late 8th century BC
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah
Isaiah prophesies during a tumultuous period for the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, warning against social injustice, idolatry, and moral decay.
c. 730s BC - 701 BC
Assyrian Imperial Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire aggressively expands its territory, leading to significant political and military pressure on the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyria, with many inhabitants deported. This serves as a stark warning to Judah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem. While the city ultimately survives, the event highlights Judah's vulnerability and the consequences of disobedience.
This proverb directly warns against the deceptive nature of wine and strong drink, mirroring Isaiah's condemnation of those who are 'inflamed' by it.
1 Thessalonians 5:7Paul uses the imagery of being drunk and sleeping at night to describe those unaware of God's coming judgment, echoing Isaiah's theme of uncontrolled indulgence and its disastrous consequences.
Amos 6:4-6Amos also denounces luxury and excessive drinking among the elite, highlighting their indifference to the suffering of others, a sentiment similar to Isaiah's indictment of those consumed by pleasure.
Romans 13:13-14This passage calls believers to 'walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,' directly contrasting the behavior Isaiah condemns and urging a life of self-control and righteousness.
barnesIsaiah 5:11: "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!"
Wo unto them - The prophet, having denounced "avarice," proceeds now to another vice - that of "intemperance, or dissipation." That rise up early ... - That rise "for this purpose," when nothing else would rouse them. It may illustrate this somewhat, to remark, that it was not common among the ancients to become intoxicated at an early hour of the…
gillIsaiah 5:11: "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!"
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning,.... To rise up early in the morning is healthful, and to rise to do business is commendable; but to spend the day in drunkenness and intemperance is very criminal, which is here meant: that they may follow, strong drink; not only drink it, but follow on to drink; diligently seek after it, where the…
The verse doesn't just condemn drinking; it highlights the deliberate and exhaustive pursuit of intoxication. The phrase "rise early... to follow" shows that this isn't a casual indulgence, but a planned activity, consuming their entire day from morning until night.
This passage comes immediately after Isaiah denounces greedy landowners who are isolating themselves in their pursuit of wealth. Now, the prophet turns his attention to a different kind of excess: the pursuit of pleasure and intoxication. He highlights a life consumed by drinking, from early morning until late at night, showing a complete disregard for anything beyond immediate gratification.
This passage comes immediately after Isaiah denounces greedy landowners who are isolating themselves in their pursuit of wealth. Now, the prophet turns his attention to a different kind of excess: the pursuit of pleasure and intoxication. He highlights a life consumed by drinking, from early morning until late at night, showing a complete disregard for anything beyond immediate gratification.
"Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts,…" — The verse doesn't just condemn drinking; it highlights the deliberate and exhaustive pursuit of intoxication. The phrase "rise early... to follow" shows that this isn't a casual indulgence, but a p…
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Last reviewed October 2026
