God, presenting Himself as the owner of a vineyard, invites the very people who represent the vineyard to act as judges in His case against them. This is a powerful rhetorical move, essentially asking them to convict themselves by acknowledging the obvious injustice of their actions against His care.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks a shift from a poetic song about God's relationship with His people to a direct, judicial appeal. God, presented as the owner of a meticulously cared-for vineyard, calls on the very inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah to act as judges in a dispute between Him and this vineyard, which represents them. This sets the stage for God to present His case and for them to implicitly pass sentence on themselves for their failure to produce the expected fruit.
Imagine being asked to judge a case where you are one of the parties involved. That's exactly what God proposes here. Why would He do that?
In Isaiah 5:3, God doesn't just declare judgment; He invites the people of Jerusalem and Judah to act as judges.
A Courtroom in Ancient Judah
God meticulously prepared a vineyard. What did He pour into it, and what disappointing harvest did He find?
The invitation to judge in Isaiah 5:3 isn't made in a vacuum. It follows a detailed description of God’s immense investment in His 'vineyard'—the nation of Israel.
Ask a follow-up
God's Labor of Love
Understand the original words
šāp̱aṭ · Hebrew Verb
The act of discerning between good and evil, or right and wrong, according to God's standard; God invites His people to recognize the reality of their sin and His justice.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his public prophetic ministry during a period of relative peace and prosperity in Judah, but with growing external threats from Assyria and internal spiritual decay.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria attack Judah, seeking to force them into an anti-Assyrian alliance. King Ahaz of Judah appeals to Assyria for help, marking a significant shift towards Assyrian dominance.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire, under Shalmaneser V and Sargon II, destroys the northern kingdom of Israel and deports its population, serving as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion under Sennacherib
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This invasion marks a critical point of judgment and deliverance for Judah, as prophesied by Isaiah.
This passage mirrors Isaiah's approach by having God ask His people, 'O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me,' inviting them to judge the fairness of His actions.
Matthew 21:33-43Jesus directly uses the vineyard imagery and even echoes Isaiah's plea by having the chief priests and Pharisees pass judgment on themselves when asked what the owner of the vineyard would do to the wicked tenants.
Deuteronomy 32:6This verse shows God appealing to His people's own understanding and conscience, 'Is not he thy father that hath bought thee?... to whom ye have shown yourselves thus requited? Do ye thus requite the LORD?' similar to Isaiah's call for judgment.
Luke 19:22In the Parable of the Minas, Jesus states, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant!' echoing the principle of individuals being judged by their own admissions, as God prompts Jerusalem and Judah to judge themselves.
barnesIsaiah 5:3: "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard."
And now ... - This is an appeal which God makes to the Jews themselves, in regard to the justice and propriety of what he was about to do. A similar appeal he makes in Micah 6:3 : 'O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me.' He intended to "punish" them Isaiah 5:5-6 , and he appeals to them for the justice of it. He would do to th…
gillIsaiah 5:3: "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard."
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah,.... All and everyone of them, who were parties concerned in this matter, and are designed by the vineyard, for whom so much had been done, and so little fruit brought forth by them, or rather so much bad fruit: judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard; between God and themselves; they are made judges in their own cause; t…
God, presenting Himself as the owner of a vineyard, invites the very people who represent the vineyard to act as judges in His case against them. This is a powerful rhetorical move, essentially asking them to convict themselves by acknowledging the obvious injustice of their actions against His care.
This verse marks a shift from a poetic song about God's relationship with His people to a direct, judicial appeal. God, presented as the owner of a meticulously cared-for vineyard, calls on the very inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah to act as judges in a dispute between Him and this vineyard, which represents them. This sets the stage for God to present His case and for them to implicitly pass sentence on themselves for their failure to produce the expected fruit.
This verse marks a shift from a poetic song about God's relationship with His people to a direct, judicial appeal. God, presented as the owner of a meticulously cared-for vineyard, calls on the very inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah to act as judges in a dispute between Him and this vineyard, which represents them. This sets the stage for God to present His case and for them to implicitly pass sentence on themselves for their failure to produce the expected fruit.
"And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it…" — God, presenting Himself as the owner of a vineyard, invites the very people who represent the vineyard to act as judges in His case against them. This is a powerful rhetorical move, essentially askin…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
