This verse warns us, in one sentence, not to let the pursuit of pleasure draw us away from a life devoted to the LORD.
Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them! (v. 11) In this section, the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the kingdom of Judah between about 740 BC and 681 BC, proclaims a warning to those who devote themselves excessively to drinking. By describing people who start their day with strong drink and continue late into the night, Isaiah paints a vivid picture of an indulgence that replaces righteous living with perpetual inebriation. This warning represents God’s disapproval of a lifestyle that prioritizes self-gratification above devotion to Him.
In ancient Judah, where the prophet Isaiah resided, wine was a common beverage, but it could become a means for people to evade responsibility and abandon heartfelt worship. Isaiah’s words underscore the consequence of letting physical desires overshadow one’s spiritual focus. Instead of seeking the LORD’s guidance, those who “rise early” for wine reveal their downward path—something that can lead to spiritual ruin and social strife (Ephesians 5:18). Their actions distance them from God and place them under divine rebuke.
This verse also foreshadows a broader judgment on the people of Judah for their refusal to remain faithful to God’s covenant. Isaiah repeatedly calls them to genuine repentance, emphasizing that their moral decay is reflected in an uncontrolled pursuit of pleasure. Through this indictment, Isaiah exposes the danger of elevating worldly indulgences over a God-centered life. His warning is timeless, beckoning believers in every era to resist captivity to their appetites and embrace wholehearted trust in God.
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Isaiah 5:11 meaning
Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them! (v. 11) In this section, the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the kingdom of Judah between about 740 BC and 681 BC, proclaims a warning to those who devote themselves excessively to drinking. By describing people who start their day with strong drink and continue late into the night, Isaiah paints a vivid picture of an indulgence that replaces righteous living with perpetual inebriation. This warning represents God’s disapproval of a lifestyle that prioritizes self-gratification above devotion to Him.
In ancient Judah, where the prophet Isaiah resided, wine was a common beverage, but it could become a means for people to evade responsibility and abandon heartfelt worship. Isaiah’s words underscore the consequence of letting physical desires overshadow one’s spiritual focus. Instead of seeking the LORD’s guidance, those who “rise early” for wine reveal their downward path—something that can lead to spiritual ruin and social strife (Ephesians 5:18). Their actions distance them from God and place them under divine rebuke.
This verse also foreshadows a broader judgment on the people of Judah for their refusal to remain faithful to God’s covenant. Isaiah repeatedly calls them to genuine repentance, emphasizing that their moral decay is reflected in an uncontrolled pursuit of pleasure. Through this indictment, Isaiah exposes the danger of elevating worldly indulgences over a God-centered life. His warning is timeless, beckoning believers in every era to resist captivity to their appetites and embrace wholehearted trust in God.