New English Translation
Isaiah 5:12
12They have stringed instruments, tambourines, flutes, and wine at their parties. So they do not recognize what the Lord is doing, they do not perceive what he is bringing about.
Isaiah 5:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.
- New International Version (NIV)They have harps and lyres at their banquets, pipes and timbrels and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the Lord, Nor consider the operation of His hands.
Context of Isaiah 5:12
10Indeed, a large vineyard will produce just a few gallons, and enough seed to yield several bushels will produce less than a bushel.” 11Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine. They have stringed instruments, tambourines, flutes, and wine at their parties. So they do not recognize what the Lord is doing, they do not perceive what he is bringing about. 13Therefore my people will be deported because of their lack of understanding. Their leaders will have nothing to eat, their masses will have nothing to drink. 14So Death will open up its throat, and open wide its mouth; Zion’s dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her.
Read all of Isaiah 5Isaiah 5:12 word by word
וְהָיָ֨ה כִנּ֜וֹר וָנֶ֗בֶל תֹּ֧ף וְחָלִ֛יל וָיַ֖יִן מִשְׁתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת פֹּ֤עַל יְהוָה֙ לֹ֣א יַבִּ֔יטוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א רָאֽוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the harpכִּנּוֹרkinnôr · lyreH3658
- and the violנֵ֫בֶלnebel nêbel · harpH5035
- the tabretתֹּףtôph · tambourineH8596
- and pipeחָלִילchâlîyl · fluteH2485
- and wineיַ֫יִןyayin · wineH3196
- are in their feastsמִשְׁתֶּהmishteh · feastH4960
- but they regardנָבַטnâbaţ · to lookH5027
- not the workפֹּ֫עַלpô‛al · workH6467
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- neither considerרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- the operationמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
- of his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
Cross-references for Isaiah 5:12
- Isaiah 22:13But look, there is outright celebration! You say, “Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
- Genesis 31:27Why did you run away secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me so I could send you off with a celebration complete with singing, tambourines, and harps?
- Job 21:11They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about.
- Daniel 5:1King Belshazzar prepared a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of them all.
- Amos 6:4They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen.
- Luke 16:19“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
- Jude 1:12These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted;
- Isaiah 5:19They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, so we can see; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take shape and come to pass, then we will know it!”
- Job 34:27because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,
- Psalms 28:5For they do not understand the Lord’s actions, or the way he carries out justice. The Lord will permanently demolish them.
- Psalms 92:5How great are your works, O Lord! Your plans are very intricate!
- Hosea 4:10They will eat, but not be satisfied; they will engage in prostitution, but not increase in numbers; because they have abandoned the Lord by pursuing other gods.
Commentaries on Isaiah 5:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The prophet proceeds to state still further the extent of their crimes. This verse contains an account of their dissipated habits, and their consequent forgetfulness of God. That they commonly had musical instruments in their feasts, is evident from many passages of the Old Testament; see Amos 6:5-6. Their feasts, also, were attended with songs; Isaiah 24:8-9. The harp - - כנור kinnôr This is a well-known stringed instrument, employed commonly in sacred…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-23Verses 8-23 Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth of the world. Not that it is sinful for those who have a house and a field to purchase another; but the fault is, that they never know when they have enough. Covetousness is idolatry; and while many envy the prosperous, wretched man, the Lord denounces awful woes upon him. How applicable to many among us! God has many ways to empty the most populous cities. Those who set their hearts…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12These people are self-indulgent and content. They do not think about the Lord. They are too busy enjoying their drunken parties to consider why things went wrong. They do not reflect on why God sent no rain or why they lost a battle.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Music was common at ancient feasts (Is 24:8, 9; Am 6:5, 6). viol--an instrument with twelve strings [Josephus, Antiquities, 8.10]. tabret--Hebrew, toph, from the use of which in drowning the cries of children sacrificed to Moloch, Tophet received its name. Arabic, duf. A kettle drum, or tambourine. pipe--flute or flageolet: from a Hebrew root "to bore through"; or else, "to dance" (compare Job 21:11-15). regard not ... Lord--a frequent effect of…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 5:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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