Isaiah 5:22
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The prophecy here doesn't just condemn drunkenness; it highlights a twisted sense of "strength" and "valor" dedicated entirely to intoxicating pursuits, not to defense or righteous action. It’s a stark contrast, pointing out how this misplaced pride in their capacity for excess made them ineffective and morally bankrupt when it truly mattered.
This verse is part of a series of "woes" Isaiah pronounces against various sins. Following earlier judgments on greed and idolatry, Isaiah now denounces the self-indulgent and corrupt leaders who are "heroes" in their excessive drinking. These verses, 22-23, are closely linked, as their revelry fuels their unjust decisions.
Who are these 'heroes' and 'valiant men' Isaiah is talking about? It turns out their strength isn't for defending the weak, but for a much more destructive pursuit.
Isaiah uses a powerful contrast here. The people he denounces are 'mighty' and 'valiant' – terms we usually associate with strength, courage, and positive character. But in this context, these titles are twisted.
Misplaced Might
A Warped Reality
The commentators highlight that this 'strength' is the opposite of what true strength should be. It's not about fighting enemies or defending their land, but about succumbing to and boasting in vice. Their 'valiance' is in the pursuit of harmful pleasures, a dangerous self-deception where their greatest efforts are poured into what ultimately weakens and destroys them and society.
What's the connection between a night of heavy drinking and the perversion of justice? Isaiah links these vices directly, revealing a deeper rot within the nation's leadership.
Isaiah doesn't just condemn drunkenness in isolation. In this passage, he links the indulgence of the powerful directly to their corrupt actions, particularly in their roles as judges.
The Price of Pleasure
This verse is part of a series of pronouncements against the corrupt elite of Judah. The 'heroes' and 'men of strength' in drinking are not lauded for their prowess, but condemned for wasting their capabilities on self-indulgence instead of leading justly. This sin is directly linked to the perversion of justice described in the following verse.
8th century BC
Prophetic Ministry of Isaiah
Isaiah, a prophet of God, delivered messages of judgment and hope to the kingdoms of Judah and Israel during a turbulent period marked by Assyrian expansion and internal corruption.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Commission
Isaiah receives his prophetic commission, marking the beginning of his public ministry. He is tasked with confronting the people's sins, including social injustice and idolatry.
Mid-8th century BC
Assyrian Expansion and Influence
The Neo-Assyrian Empire grows in power, posing a significant threat to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. This geopolitical pressure influences the political and spiritual landscape.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, falls to the Assyrians, leading to the deportation of its people. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah.
This passage directly warns against the deceptive nature of wine and strong drink, echoing Isaiah's condemnation by highlighting that 'wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.'
Isaiah 28:7This verse shows the spiritual leaders of Israel were also caught in the same destructive cycle of drunkenness, demonstrating that this was a widespread problem affecting even those who should have known better.
Luke 21:34Jesus directly warns his followers against being weighed down by 'dissipation and drunkenness,' which aligns with Isaiah's woe against those whose strength is dedicated to such pursuits.
Romans 13:13Paul exhorts believers to 'walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness,' reinforcing the biblical view that such indulgence is contrary to a life lived in light and righteousness.
gillIsaiah 5:22: "Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:"
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine,.... That can bear a great deal, and not be overcome and intoxicated with it; that try their strength this way with others, and get the mastery and glory in it: not mighty to fight their enemies, as Kimchi observes, and defend their country, but to drink wine; by which their strength was weakened: wherefore some think soldiers are particularly desig…
barnesIsaiah 5:22: "Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:"
Wo unto them that are mighty ... - This is the sixth specification of crime. He had already denounced the intemperate in Isaiah 5:11 . But probably this was a prevailing sin. Perhaps there was no evidence of reform; and it was needful to "repeat" the admonition, in order that people might be brought to regard it. The prophet repeats a similar denunciation in Isaiah 56:12 . Mighty - Perhaps th…
The prophecy here doesn't just condemn drunkenness; it highlights a twisted sense of "strength" and "valor" dedicated entirely to intoxicating pursuits, not to defense or righteous action. It’s a stark contrast, pointing out how this misplaced pride in their capacity for excess made them ineffective and morally bankrupt when it truly mattered.
This verse is part of a series of "woes" Isaiah pronounces against various sins. Following earlier judgments on greed and idolatry, Isaiah now denounces the self-indulgent and corrupt leaders who are "heroes" in their excessive drinking. These verses, 22-23, are closely linked, as their revelry fuels their unjust decisions.
This verse is part of a series of "woes" Isaiah pronounces against various sins. Following earlier judgments on greed and idolatry, Isaiah now denounces the self-indulgent and corrupt leaders who are "heroes" in their excessive drinking. These verses, 22-23, are closely linked, as their revelry fuels their unjust decisions.
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A Society Undermined
When those in power are consumed by self-indulgence, the consequences ripple outward. Their inability to discern right from wrong, their willingness to be swayed by personal gain, leads to a breakdown of society's moral and legal foundations. The 'heroes' of drinking are actively participating in the downfall of their nation by corrupting the very system meant to uphold righteousness.
Late 8th century BC— this verse
Isaiah's 'Song of the Vineyard'
Isaiah delivers his famous 'Song of the Vineyard' (Isaiah 5:1-7), using an allegory to illustrate God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. This is followed by a series of 'woes' against various sins.
Late 8th century BC
Woes Against Social and Moral Corruption
Following the vineyard song, Isaiah pronounces specific judgments ('woes') on the people of Judah for their greed, indulgence, corrupt leadership, and perversion of justice.
"Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink," — The prophecy here doesn't just condemn drunkenness; it highlights a twisted sense of "strength" and "valor" dedicated entirely to intoxicating pursuits, not to defense or righteous action. It’s a sta…
