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The LORD’s Vineyard
Isaiah 27:1–13 is a prophetic passage that moves from Yahweh’s victory over a great threat, to his care for his vineyard, to forgiveness, judgement, and the gathering of Israel for worship.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The repeated phrase “in that day” ties this passage together. It begins with Yahweh punishing leviathan, then turns to a song about a pleasant vineyard, explains Jacob’s forgiveness and the removal of false worship, and ends with Israel being gathered to worship Yahweh at Jerusalem.
Isaiah 27:1–13Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh judges what opposes him, removes Jacob’s sin, and gathers the children of Israel to worship him.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh defeats what is threateningThe passage opens with Yahweh’s “hard and great and strong sword”. He punishes leviathan, called both a fleeing serpent and a twisted serpent, and kills the dragon in the sea.
Explanation
The passage opens with Yahweh’s “hard and great and strong sword”. He punishes leviathan, called both a fleeing serpent and a twisted serpent, and kills the dragon in the sea. The text does not explain these figures further here, but it clearly presents Yahweh as victorious over a powerful enemy.
02Yahweh keeps his vineyard and invites peaceThe next words are a song: “A pleasant vineyard!” Yahweh says he is its keeper, watering it continually and guarding it night and day.
Explanation
The next words are a song: “A pleasant vineyard!” Yahweh says he is its keeper, watering it continually and guarding it night and day. He is ready to fight briers and thorns, yet he also says, “Let him make peace with me.” The passage joins protection, judgement, and an offered peace.
03Jacob will grow, and sin will be taken awayThe future for Jacob is described with plant language: taking root, blossoming, budding, and filling the world with fruit.
Explanation
The future for Jacob is described with plant language: taking root, blossoming, budding, and filling the world with fruit. Then the passage asks whether Jacob was struck like his attackers. Yahweh contends “in measure”, and the fruit of forgiveness is the removal of sinful worship, with altar stones crushed and Asherah poles gone.
04Judgement is followed by gathering for worshipA fortified city is left solitary and deserted, with branches broken and burned. The reason given is lack of understanding, and the maker shows no favour.
Explanation
A fortified city is left solitary and deserted, with branches broken and burned. The reason given is lack of understanding, and the maker shows no favour. After this, the scene changes. Yahweh gathers the children of Israel one by one, and a great trumpet marks their return to worship him at Jerusalem.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Yahweh say he does for the vineyard?
Look for the three actions he names himself: keeping it, watering it, and guarding it.
02How does verse 9 describe the fruit of taking away Jacob’s sin?
Answer from the details about the altar stones, Asherah poles, and incense altars.
03What happens to the children of Israel at the end of the passage?
Notice both parts of the answer: they are gathered one by one, and they come to worship Yahweh in Jerusalem.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 27:1–13
1In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan, the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea.
2In that day, sing to her, “A pleasant vineyard!
3I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I will keep it night and day.
4Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together.
5Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Let him make peace with me.”
6In days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will blossom and bud. They will fill the surface of the world with fruit.
7Has he struck them as he struck those who struck them? Or are they killed like those who killed them were killed?
8In measure, when you send them away, you contend with them. He has removed them with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
9Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in pieces, so that the Asherah poles and the incense altars shall rise no more.
10For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness. The calf will feed there, and there he will lie down, and consume its branches.
11When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off. The women will come and set them on fire, for they are a people of no understanding. Therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them, and he who formed them will show them no favor.
12It will happen in that day that Yahweh will thresh from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, children of Israel.
13It will happen in that day that a great trumpet will be blown; and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt, shall come; and they will worship Yahweh in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.