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)
The verse highlights that exile comes not just from political or military failures, but from a profound "lack of knowledge," meaning a disconnect from God's ways and truth. This absence of discernment leads directly to the physical suffering of hunger and thirst for both the leaders and the common people.
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)
In the preceding verses, God, through Isaiah, has lamented the luxurious and self-indulgent lifestyle of His people, particularly their leaders, who are consumed by their feasts and disregard God's judgments. This verse explains the dire consequence of that unrepentant behavior: they will be taken into exile, not just hungry, but utterly parched and famished, a stark contrast to their current excesses.
Why would God send His people into exile? This verse points to a surprising reason: a fundamental 'lack of knowledge.'
The prophet Isaiah is delivering a stark warning. Because of their blindness and willful ignorance, God's people are destined for exile.
The 'Lack of Knowledge'
This isn't about not knowing basic facts. It's a deeper, spiritual ignorance:
This 'lack of knowledge' isn't passive; it's an active rejection of truth that seals their fate.
The people are reveling in luxury, but God's judgment paints a grim picture of hunger and thirst. How does this contrast serve as a warning?
Isaiah paints a stark contrast between the people's current indulgence and their future suffering.
The Price of Hedonism
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This isn't just a physical punishment; it's a direct reversal of their current lifestyle. They are feasting and drinking excessively (Isaiah 5:11-12), and their judgment involves the very opposite: extreme deprivation. Their deportation into exile will take them through desolate lands where sustenance is scarce, mirroring their spiritual emptiness.
Understand the original words
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.
The exile wasn't a random tragedy but a direct consequence of a deep-seated ignorance of God, His ways, and the resulting devastation that befell both the common people and their leaders.
c. 734 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Israel
King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria invades the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the deportation of many citizens and the installation of an Assyrian governor. This event highlights the vulnerability of the Israelite kingdoms to larger empires due to internal divisions and a lack of godly wisdom.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Destruction of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital, Samaria. This marks the end of the ten northern tribes as a distinct entity and serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many of its fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the kingdom is severely weakened, and many people are taken captive or flee.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Death
King Josiah of Judah institutes major religious reforms based on the rediscovered Book of the Law. However, his death in battle against the Egyptians at Megiddo signals a turning point towards instability and decline for the kingdom.
605 BC— this verse
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting its elite, including young men like Daniel, to Babylon. This event marks the start of the Babylonian exile, a period of profound loss and judgment for the people of Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, bringing the Babylonian exile to its devastating climax. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon, fulfilling the prophetic warnings about the consequences of their disobedience and lack of knowledge.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's theme of 'lack of knowledge' leading to destruction, stating 'my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge' and highlighting the consequences of rejecting God's instruction.
Luke 19:41-44Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, lamenting that they did not recognize the 'time of their visitation,' leading to their destruction, which parallels Isaiah's people being taken into exile because they lacked understanding.
Matthew 22:1-14The parable of the wedding feast illustrates how those who were invited (God's people) rejected the king's invitation, leading to judgment and their exclusion, mirroring how Isaiah's people's disobedience results in their downfall.
Jeremiah 5:4-5This passage describes a similar situation where the leaders and the people are ignorant of God's ways and judgments, leading to severe consequences, directly aligning with the 'lack of knowledge' mentioned in Isaiah.
barnesIsaiah 5:13: "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst."
Therefore my people are gone - This is evidently used with reference to the "future." The prophet described events as "passing before his eyes" as a vision (note, Isaiah 1:1 ); and he here seems to "see" the people going into captivity, and describes it as an event actually occurring. Into captivity - Referring, doubtless, t…
clarkeIsaiah 5:13: "Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst."
And their honorable men "And the nobles" - These verses have likewise a reference to the two preceding. They that indulged in feasting and drinking shall perish with hunger and thirst; and Hades shall indulge his appetite as much as they had done, and devour them all. The image is strong and expressive in the highest degree.…
The verse highlights that exile comes not just from political or military failures, but from a profound "lack of knowledge," meaning a disconnect from God's ways and truth. This absence of discernment leads directly to the physical suffering of hunger and thirst for both the leaders and the common people.
In the preceding verses, God, through Isaiah, has lamented the luxurious and self-indulgent lifestyle of His people, particularly their leaders, who are consumed by their feasts and disregard God's judgments. This verse explains the dire consequence of that unrepentant behavior: they will be taken into exile, not just hungry, but utterly parched and famished, a stark contrast to their current excesses.
In the preceding verses, God, through Isaiah, has lamented the luxurious and self-indulgent lifestyle of His people, particularly their leaders, who are consumed by their feasts and disregard God's judgments. This verse explains the dire consequence of that unrepentant behavior: they will be taken into exile, not just hungry, but utterly parched and famished, a stark contrast to their current excesses.
"Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst." — The verse highlights that exile comes not just from political or military failures, but from a profound "lack of knowledge," meaning a disconnect from God's ways and truth. This absence of discernmen…
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Last reviewed October 2026