Bible Strands
Isaiah 5:4
What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses the dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah immediately after calling them to judge between Him and His vineyard. He speaks at the precise moment of transition from explanation to impending judgment.
The words — The Hebrew מַדּוּעַ (ma.Du.a') translates literally as "why?" and introduces God's rhetorical question regarding the vineyard's failure. קִוֵּיתִי (ki.Vei.ti) means "I waited" or "I expected," highlighting the contrast between divine expectation and the vineyard's actual yield.
The thread — This pattern of divine expectation met with failure runs through Micah 6:3, where God questions what He has done to weary His people, and Jeremiah 2:5, which asks what fault Israel's fathers found in Him.
Why it lands — The text requires a direct accounting of responsibility, forcing the reader to confront the gap between provided care and resulting failure without evasion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Cross-references
- Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
- Micah 6:3 ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you!
- Jeremiah 2:5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.
- Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Isaiah 1:5 Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted.
- Jeremiah 2:30 “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- Jeremiah 6:29 The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged.
- Ezekiel 24:13 Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
- 2 Chronicles 36:14 Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, following all the abominations of the nations, and they defiled the house of the LORD, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.