Isaiah 5:22-23
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The verse uses "mighty" and "valiant," words usually associated with strength in battle, to ironically describe those who excel only in consuming alcohol. This highlights the inversion of true strength and courage, showing their might is sadly directed towards destructive self-indulgence rather than noble pursuits.
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a series of "woes" that Isaiah pronounces against the people of Judah. Building on the vineyard allegory of the chapter's beginning, these woes condemn specific sins like greed, luxury, and injustice, detailing the corrupt practices of leaders and the general moral decay of the nation. The prophet directly links these behaviors to impending divine judgment and destruction, emphasizing the consequences of their unfaithfulness.
The verse speaks of being 'mighty' and 'valiant' – words usually associated with courage and skill in battle. But here, they're twisted to describe drinking habits. What does this powerful language reveal about their priorities?
Isaiah uses 'mighty' and 'valiant' with heavy irony. These aren't qualities of warriors defending their nation or leaders upholding justice. Instead, they describe individuals who have developed an impressive, almost heroic, capacity for consuming alcohol.
A Twisted Measure of Strength
This isn't about enjoying a drink; it's about excelling in a destructive habit. Their 'valor' is reserved for the goblet, not for righteousness or responsibility. It highlights how sin can distort values, making the most destructive habits seem like achievements.
The pronouncement of 'woe' is serious business. This verse doesn't just condemn personal habits; it links these drinkers to a larger societal problem. Who were these 'heroes,' and what was the consequence of their drinking?
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The commentators highlight a crucial connection: these individuals weren't just party-goers; they were often the very people in positions of authority. Their 'heroism' in drinking had direct implications for their leadership and for the people they governed.
The Corrupt Judge
Isaiah's 'woe' is a warning against leaders whose personal indulgences lead to public injustice. Their strength in drinking directly undermined their strength to lead justly.
Understand the original words
ṣaddîq · Hebrew Adjective
Moral integrity or being free from guilt. It refers to those who are righteous in their conduct and legally innocent in the eyes of God’s law.
This verse emerges during a time when Judah, despite outward prosperity and divine favor, was deeply mired in social and moral decay. The 'heroes' lauded here are not warriors defending the nation, but those excelling in the debauchery that was eroding its moral fabric, making it ripe for judgment.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah during a period of relative peace but growing internal corruption and external threats.
c. 740-730 BC— this verse
The 'Woes' in Isaiah 5
Isaiah delivers a series of 'woes' against the people of Judah, detailing their sins including greed, drunkenness, injustice, and pride.
c. 734 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria attack Judah. Isaiah advises King Ahaz to trust God, not Assyria, but Ahaz seeks Assyrian aid, marking Judah's increasing entanglement with foreign powers.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Samaria, falls to the Assyrian Empire. This serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is miraculously spared, the event highlights Judah's vulnerability.
This proverb directly warns against the deceptive nature of wine and strong drink, echoing Isaiah's woe by highlighting that these pleasures lead to ruin, not strength.
Luke 21:34Jesus warns his followers to be watchful, lest their hearts be 'heavyized' by dissipation and drunkenness, directly paralleling the warning in Isaiah against the dangers of excessive drinking.
Romans 13:13This passage calls believers to live honorably, avoiding 'carousing and drunkenness,' which aligns with Isaiah's condemnation of those who pride themselves on their ability to consume strong drink.
1 Corinthians 6:10This verse lists drunkards among those who will not inherit God's kingdom, emphasizing the severe spiritual consequences of the very behavior Isaiah denounces with a 'woe'.
Ephesians 5:18Paul contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit, urging believers to avoid the former and embrace the latter, reinforcing Isaiah's condemnation of those given over to wine.
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 verse uses "mighty" and "valiant," words usually associated with strength in battle, to ironically describe those who excel only in consuming alcohol. This highlights the inversion of true strength and courage, showing their might is sadly directed towards destructive self-indulgence rather than noble pursuits.
This passage is part of a series of "woes" that Isaiah pronounces against the people of Judah. Building on the vineyard allegory of the chapter's beginning, these woes condemn specific sins like greed, luxury, and injustice, detailing the corrupt practices of leaders and the general moral decay of the nation. The prophet directly links these behaviors to impending divine judgment and destruction, emphasizing the consequences of their unfaithfulness.
This passage is part of a series of "woes" that Isaiah pronounces against the people of Judah. Building on the vineyard allegory of the chapter's beginning, these woes condemn specific sins like greed, luxury, and injustice, detailing the corrupt practices of leaders and the general moral decay of the nation. The prophet directly links these behaviors to impending divine judgment and destruction, emphasizing the consequences of their unfaithfulness.
"Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!" — The verse uses "mighty" and "valiant," words usually associated with strength in battle, to ironically describe those who excel only in consuming alcohol. This highlights the inversion of true streng…
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Last reviewed October 2026
