And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "go to" isn't just a casual invitation; it's a strong call to pay close attention, like saying "Listen up!" God is about to reveal a serious consequence: He'll remove the protective "hedge" and "wall" He established, leaving His vineyard (His people) vulnerable to complete destruction and trampling.
And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God has shown himself to be a loving owner who cared for his vineyard, Israel, with meticulous attention, the prophet now shifts to God's judgment. God declares he will remove the protective hedge and wall, leaving the vineyard vulnerable to destruction and trampling. This signifies the withdrawal of divine protection and the impending devastation of the people and their land by enemies.
God didn't just have one fence around His people; He had two. What does it mean when both are taken away?
In Isaiah 5:5, God describes the removal of a "hedge" and a "wall" from His vineyard. This wasn't just a simple fence, but a layered protection.
When God says He will "remove its hedge" and "break down its wall," He's illustrating the complete withdrawal of His protective presence and defense. This wasn't just a passive abandonment, but an active removal of the safeguards that kept Israel secure. It left them utterly vulnerable to whatever enemies or destructive forces lay outside.
Removing protection isn't just about taking something away; it's about what happens because it's gone. What awaits the unprotected vineyard?
The immediate consequence of God removing the hedge and wall is utter ruin. The verse states the vineyard "shall be devoured" and "shall be trampled down."
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This isn't just physical destruction; it's a profound loss of identity and security. For Israel, this meant invasion, exile, and the loss of their status as God's specially protected people. It signifies a complete yielding to external forces that were previously held at bay by divine intervention.
Understand the original words
mĕśûkâ · Hebrew Noun
A protective enclosure around the vineyard, representing the covenantal boundary and the hedge of divine protection that God places around His people.
gādēr · Hebrew Noun
A physical barrier representing security and separation; in a theological sense, it symbolizes the divine defense that shields God's people from enemies when they are faithful.
Isaiah's prophecy of judgment on Judah's 'vineyard' directly reflects historical patterns of divine discipline. The imagery of removed hedges and broken walls foreshadows the devastating consequences of their spiritual unfaithfulness, as later experienced through Assyrian and Babylonian invasions and exiles.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire's Northern Kingdom Conquest
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and scattering them, a severe judgment that serves as a warning to Judah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah and besieks Jerusalem. Though the city is miraculously spared, the surrounding towns are devastated, highlighting Judah's vulnerability and the consequences of its unfaithfulness.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and many prominent Judeans, including Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a consequence of Judah's continued disobedience.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, culminating the judgment on Judah. The remaining population is exiled, fulfilling God's warnings for their persistent unfaithfulness.
This Psalm uses the same vineyard imagery, pleading with God to turn back and restore the vineyard that has been ravaged, emphasizing the removal of protection.
Jeremiah 1:17This passage shows God's prophetic warning and the need to declare His judgment against a people who have strayed, paralleling Isaiah's role in announcing consequences.
Ezekiel 34:18-22This prophecy describes the judgment upon shepherds who have exploited the flock and the subsequent fate of the flock when God withdraws His protection, echoing the trampling and devouring described in Isaiah.
Matthew 21:33-43Jesus directly retells the parable of the vineyard owner and his tenants, making it clear that the rejection of His messengers and His ultimate claim to the vineyard are a fulfillment of this judgment.
Luke 13:6-9This parable of the fruitless fig tree, and the gardener's plea for one more year before cutting it down, speaks to the theme of a period of grace followed by judgment for those who bear no good fruit, much like God's treatment of His 'vineyard'.
barnesIsaiah 5:5: "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:"
Go to - The Hebrew word here is one that is commonly rendered, 'I pray you,' and is used "to call the attention to" what is said. It is the word from which we have derived the adverb "now," נא nā'. I will take away the hedge - A "hedge" is a fence of thorns, made by suffering thorn-bushes to gro…
jfbIsaiah 5:5: "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:"
- go to—that is, attend to me.hedge … wall—It had both; a proof of the care of the owner. But now it shall be trodden down by wild beasts (enemies) (Ps 80:12, 13).
The phrase "go to" isn't just a casual invitation; it's a strong call to pay close attention, like saying "Listen up!" God is about to reveal a serious consequence: He'll remove the protective "hedge" and "wall" He established, leaving His vineyard (His people) vulnerable to complete destruction and trampling.
After God has shown himself to be a loving owner who cared for his vineyard, Israel, with meticulous attention, the prophet now shifts to God's judgment. God declares he will remove the protective hedge and wall, leaving the vineyard vulnerable to destruction and trampling. This signifies the withdrawal of divine protection and the impending devastation of the people and their land by enemies.
After God has shown himself to be a loving owner who cared for his vineyard, Israel, with meticulous attention, the prophet now shifts to God's judgment. God declares he will remove the protective hedge and wall, leaving the vineyard vulnerable to destruction and trampling. This signifies the withdrawal of divine protection and the impending devastation of the people and their land by enemies.
"And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down." — The phrase "go to" isn't just a casual invitation; it's a strong call to pay close attention, like saying "Listen up!" God is about to reveal a serious consequence: He'll remove the protective "hedge…
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Last reviewed October 2026