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Selected Verse: Isaiah 27:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 27:2	Strong Concordance	In that day [03117] sing [06031] ye unto her, A vineyard [03754] of red wine [02561] [02531].
	King James	In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
In that day when leviathan shall be destroyed, the vineyard (Psa 80:8), the Church of God, purged of its blemishes, shall be lovely in God's eyes; to bring out this sense the better, LOWTH, by changing a Hebrew letter, reads "pleasant," "lovely," for "red wine." sing--a responsive song [LOWTH]. unto her--rather, "concerning her" (see on Isa 5:1); namely, the Jewish state [MAURER].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

In that day when leviathan shall be destroyed, the vineyard (Psa 80:8), the Church of God, purged of its blemishes, shall be lovely in God's eyes; to bring out this sense the better, LOWTH, by changing a Hebrew letter, reads "pleasant," "lovely," for "red wine."

sing--a responsive song [LOWTH].

unto her--rather, "concerning her" (see on Isa 5:1); namely, the Jewish state [MAURER].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Sing ye unto her - That is, sing unto, or respecting the vineyard. The word rendered 'sing' (ענוּ ‛anû) signifies properly, "answer, respond to;" and then, sing a responsive song, where one portion of the choir responds to another (see Exo 15:21). This has been well expressed here by Lowth in his translation: 'To the beloved Vineyard, sing ye a responsive song.' It is the commencement of a song, or hymn respecting Judea, represented under the image of a vineyard, and which is probably confirmed to the close of the chapter. A vineyard - (see the notes at Isa 5:1 ff) The Hebrew phrase rendered 'a vineyard of red wine' is the title to the song; or the responsive song respects the 'vineyard of red wine.' Of red wine - (חמר chemer). Lowth proposes to read instead of this, חמד chemed, pleasantness, beauty, or beloved." He observes that many manuscripts have this meaning, and that it is followed by the Septuagint and the Chaldee. The Septuagint reads it: Ἀμπελών καλλὸς Ampelōn kallos - 'Beautiful vineyard.' This would well suit the connection, and this slight error in transcribing might have easily occurred. But the authority in the manuscripts for the change is not conclusive. The word which now occurs in the text denotes properly "wine," from חמר châmar, to "ferment." The word חמר châmar also has the signification "to be red" Psa 75:9; Job 16:16; and according to this, our translators have rendered it 'of red wine.' Bochart (Geog. Sac. ii. 1, 29) renders it, 'A vineyard fertile in producing wine.' The correct translation would be one that would not seem very congruous in our language, 'a vineyard of wine,' or 'a wine-vineyard.'

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The prophecy here passes for the fourth time into the tone of a song. The church recognises itself in the judgments upon the world, as Jehovah's well-protected and beloved vineyard. In that day a merry vineyard - sing it! I, Jehovah, its keeper, Every moment I water it. That nothing may come near it, I watch it night and day. Wrath have I none; O, had I thorns, thistles before me! I would make up to them in battle, Burn them all together. Men would then have to grasp at my protection, Make peace with me, Make peace with me. Instead of introducing the song with, "In that day shall this song be sung," or some such introduction, the prophecy passes at once into the song. It consists in a descending scale of strophes, consisting of one of five lines (Isa 27:2, Isa 27:3), one of four lines (Isa 27:4), and one of three lines (Isa 27:5). The thema is placed at the beginning, in the absolute case: cerem chemer. This may signify a vineyard of fiery or good wine (compare cerem zaith in Jdg 15:5); but it is possible that the reading should be cerem chemed, as in Isa 32:12, as the lxx, Targum, and most modern commentators assume. ענּה ל signifies, according to Num 21:17; Psa 147:7 (cf., Exo 32:18; Psa 88:1), to strike up a song with reference to anything - an onomatopoetic word (different from ענה, to begin, literally to meet). Cerem (the vineyard) is a feminine here, like בּאר, the well, in the song of the well in Num 21:17-18, and just as Israel, of which the vineyard here is a symbol (Isa 3:14; Isa 5:1.), is sometimes regarded as masculine, and at other times as feminine (Isa 26:20). Jehovah Himself is introduced as speaking. He is the keeper of the vineyard, who waters it every moment when there is any necessity (lirgâ‛im, like labbekârim in Isa 33:2, every morning), and watches it by night as well as by day, that nothing may visit it. על פּקד (to visit upon) is used in other cases to signify the infliction of punishment; here it denotes visitation by some kind of misfortune. Because it was the church purified through afflictions, the feelings of Jehovah towards it were pure love, without any admixture of the burning of anger (chēmâh). This is reserved for all who dare to do injury to this vineyard. Jehovah challenges these, and says, Who is there, then, that gives me thorns, thistles! עיתּנני = לי יתּן, as in Jer 9:1, cf., Jos 15:19.) The asyndeton, instead of ושׁית שׁמיר, which is customary elsewhere, corresponds to the excitement of the exalted defender. If He had thorns, thistles before Him, He would break forth upon them in war, i.e., make war upon them (bâh, neuter, upon such a mass of bush), and set it all on fire (הצית = הצּית). The arrangement of the strophes requires that we should connect כּמּלחמה with אפשׂעה (var. אפשׂעה), though this is at variance with the accents. We may see very clearly, even by the choice of the expression bammilchâmâh, that thorns and thistles are a figurative representation of the enemies of the church (Sa2 23:6-7). And in this sense the song concludes in Isa 27:5 : only by yielding themselves to mercy will they find mercy. או with a voluntative following, "unless," as in Lev 26:41. "Take hold of:" hechezik b', as in Kg1 1:50, of Adonijah, who lays hold of the horns of the altar. "Make peace with:" ‛âsâh shâlōm l', as in Jos 9:15. The song closes here. What the church here utters, is the consciousness of the gracious protection of its God, as confirmed in her by the most recent events.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The prophecy here passes for the fourth time into the tone of a song. The church recognises itself in the judgments upon the world, as Jehovah's well-protected and beloved vineyard.

In that day a merry vineyard - sing it!

I, Jehovah, its keeper,

Every moment I water it.

That nothing may come near it,

I watch it night and day.

Wrath have I none;

O, had I thorns, thistles before me!

I would make up to them in battle,

Burn them all together.

Men would then have to grasp at my protection,

Make peace with me,

Make peace with me.

Instead of introducing the song with, "In that day shall this song be sung," or some such introduction, the prophecy passes at once into the song. It consists in a descending scale of strophes, consisting of one of five lines (Isa 27:2, Isa 27:3), one of four lines (Isa 27:4), and one of three lines (Isa 27:5). The thema is placed at the beginning, in the absolute case: cerem chemer. This may signify a vineyard of fiery or good wine (compare cerem zaith in Jdg 15:5); but it is possible that the reading should be cerem chemed, as in Isa 32:12, as the lxx, Targum, and most modern commentators assume. ענּה ל signifies, according to Num 21:17; Psa 147:7 (cf., Exo 32:18; Psa 88:1), to strike up a song with reference to anything - an onomatopoetic word (different from ענה, to begin, literally to meet). Cerem (the vineyard) is a feminine here, like בּאר, the well, in the song of the well in Num 21:17-18, and just as Israel, of which the vineyard here is a symbol (Isa 3:14; Isa 5:1.), is sometimes regarded as masculine, and at other times as feminine (Isa 26:20). Jehovah Himself is introduced as speaking. He is the keeper of the vineyard, who waters it every moment when there is any necessity (lirgâ‛im, like labbekârim in Isa 33:2, every morning), and watches it by night as well as by day, that nothing may visit it. על פּקד (to visit upon) is used in other cases to signify the infliction of punishment; here it denotes visitation by some kind of misfortune. Because it was the church purified through afflictions, the feelings of Jehovah towards it were pure love, without any admixture of the burning of anger (chēmâh). This is reserved for all who dare to do injury to this vineyard. Jehovah challenges these, and says, Who is there, then, that gives me thorns, thistles! עיתּנני = לי יתּן, as in Jer 9:1, cf., Jos 15:19.) The asyndeton, instead of ושׁית שׁמיר, which is customary elsewhere, corresponds to the excitement of the exalted defender. If He had thorns, thistles before Him, He would break forth upon them in war, i.e., make war upon them (bâh, neuter, upon such a mass of bush), and set it all on fire (הצית = הצּית). The arrangement of the strophes requires that we should connect כּמּלחמה with אפשׂעה (var. אפשׂעה), though this is at variance with the accents. We may see very clearly, even by the choice of the expression bammilchâmâh, that thorns and thistles are a figurative representation of the enemies of the church (Sa2 23:6-7). And in this sense the song concludes in Isa 27:5 : only by yielding themselves to mercy will they find mercy. או with a voluntative following, "unless," as in Lev 26:41. "Take hold of:" hechezik b', as in Kg1 1:50, of Adonijah, who lays hold of the horns of the altar. "Make peace with:" ‛âsâh shâlōm l', as in Jos 9:15. The song closes here. What the church here utters, is the consciousness of the gracious protection of its God, as confirmed in her by the most recent events.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
In that day - When this enemy shall be destroyed. A vineyard - My church and people, of red wine, of the choicest and best wine, which in those parts was red.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Sing ye unto her - אנו לה anu lah. Bishop Lowth translates this, Sing ye a responsive song; and says that ענה anah, to answer, signifies occasionally to sing responsively; and that this mode of singing was frequently practiced among the ancient Hebrews. See De Poes. Sac. Hebrews Prael. xix., at the beginning. This, indeed, was the ancient method of singing in various nations. The song was divided into distinct portions, and the singers sang alternately. There is a fine specimen of this in the song of Deborah and Barak; and also in the Idyls of Theocritus, and the Eclogues of Virgil. This kind of singing was properly a dialogue in verse, sung to a particular tune, or in the mode which is now termed recitativo. I have seen it often practiced on funeral occasions among the descendants of the aboriginal Irish. The poems of Ossian are of this kind. The learned Bishop distinguishes the parts of this dialogue thus: - 3. Jehovah. It is I, Jehovah, that preserve her; I will water her every moment: I will take care of her by night; And by day I will keep guard over her. 4. Vineyard. I have no wall for my defense: O that I had a fence of the thorn and brier! Jehovah. Against them should I march in battle, I should burn them up together. 5. Ah! let her rather take hold of my protection. Vineyard. Let him make peace with me! Peace let him make with me! 6. Jehovah. They that come from the root of Jacob shall flourish, Israel shall bud forth; And they shall fill the face of the world with fruit. A vineyard of red wine - The redder the wine, the more it was valued, says Kimchi. Bishop Lowth translates, To the beloved vineyard. For חמר chemer, red, a multitude of MSS. and editions have חמד chemed, desirable. This is supported by the Septuagint and Chaldee.

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¹ Now will I sing [07891] to my wellbeloved [03039] a song [07892] of my beloved [01730] touching his vineyard [03754]. My wellbeloved [03039] hath a vineyard [03754] in a very fruitful [01121] [08081] hill [07161]:

⁸ Thou hast brought [05265] a vine [01612] out of Egypt [04714]: thou hast cast out [01644] the heathen [01471], and planted [05193] it.

¹⁶ My face [06440] is foul [02560] with weeping [01065], and on my eyelids [06079] is the shadow of death [06757];

⁹ But I will declare [05046] for ever [05769]; I will sing praises [02167] to the God [0430] of Jacob [03290].

²¹ And Miriam [04813] answered [06030] them, Sing [07891] ye to the LORD [03068], for he hath triumphed [01342] gloriously [01342]; the horse [05483] and his rider [07392] hath he thrown [07411] into the sea [03220].

¹⁵ And Joshua [03091] made [06213] peace [07965] with them, and made [03772] a league [01285] with them, to let them live [02421]: and the princes [05387] of the congregation [05712] sware [07650] unto them.

⁵⁰ And Adonijah [0138] feared [03372] because [06440] of Solomon [08010], and arose [06965], and went [03212], and caught hold [02388] on the horns [07161] of the altar [04196].

⁴¹ And that I also have walked [03212] contrary [07147] unto them, and have brought [0935] them into the land [0776] of their enemies [0341]; if then [0176] their uncircumcised [06189] hearts [03824] be humbled [03665], and they then accept [07521] of the punishment of their iniquity [05771]:

⁵ Or let him take hold [02388] of my strength [04581], that he may make [06213] peace [07965] with me; and he shall make [06213] peace [07965] with me.

⁶ But the sons of Belial [01100] shall be all of them as thorns [06975] thrust away [05074], because they cannot be taken [03947] with hands [03027]:
⁷ But the man [0376] that shall touch [05060] them must be fenced [04390] with iron [01270] and the staff [06086] of a spear [02595]; and they shall be utterly [08313] burned [08313] with fire [0784] in the same place [07675].

¹⁹ Who answered [0559], Give [05414] me a blessing [01293]; for thou hast given [05414] me a south [05045] land [0776]; give [05414] me also springs [01543] of water [04325]. And he gave [05414] her the upper [05942] springs [01543], and the nether [08482] springs [01543].

¹ Oh that [05414] my head [07218] were waters [04325], and mine eyes [05869] a fountain [04726] of tears [01832], that I might weep [01058] day [03119] and night [03915] for the slain [02491] of the daughter [01323] of my people [05971]!

² O LORD [03068], be gracious [02603] unto us; we have waited [06960] for thee: be thou their arm [02220] every morning [01242], our salvation [03444] also in the time [06256] of trouble [06869].

²⁰ Come [03212], my people [05971], enter [0935] thou into thy chambers [02315], and shut [05462] thy doors [01817] about thee: hide [02247] thyself as it were for a little [04592] moment [07281], until the indignation [02195] be overpast [05674].

¹⁴ The LORD [03068] will enter [0935] into judgment [04941] with the ancients [02205] of his people [05971], and the princes [08269] thereof: for ye have eaten up [01197] the vineyard [03754]; the spoil [01500] of the poor [06041] is in your houses [01004].

¹⁷ Then Israel [03478] sang [07891] this song [07892], Spring up [05927], O well [0875]; sing [06030] ye unto it:
¹⁸ The princes [08269] digged [02658] the well [0875], the nobles [05081] of the people [05971] digged [03738] it, by the direction of the lawgiver [02710], with their staves [04938]. And from the wilderness [04057] they went to Mattanah [04980]:

¹ A Song [07892] or Psalm [04210] for the sons [01121] of Korah [07141], to the chief Musician [05329] upon Mahalath [04257] Leannoth [06031], Maschil [04905] of Heman [01968] the Ezrahite [0250]. O LORD [03068] God [0430] of my salvation [03444], I have cried [06817] day [03117] and night [03915] before thee:

¹⁸ And he said [0559], It is not the voice [06963] of them that shout [06030] for mastery [01369], neither is it the voice [06963] of them that cry [06030] for being overcome [02476]: but the noise [06963] of them that sing [06031] do I hear [08085].

⁷ Sing [06030] unto the LORD [03068] with thanksgiving [08426]; sing praise [02167] upon the harp [03658] unto our God [0430]:

¹⁷ Then Israel [03478] sang [07891] this song [07892], Spring up [05927], O well [0875]; sing [06030] ye unto it:

¹² They shall lament [05594] for the teats [07699], for the pleasant [02531] fields [07704], for the fruitful [06509] vine [01612].

⁵ And when he had set [01197] the brands [03940] on fire [0784], he let them go [07971] into the standing corn [07054] of the Philistines [06430], and burnt up [01197] both the shocks [01430], and also the standing corn [07054], with the vineyards [03754] and olives [02132].

⁵ Or let him take hold [02388] of my strength [04581], that he may make [06213] peace [07965] with me; and he shall make [06213] peace [07965] with me.

⁴ Fury [02534] is not in me: who would set [05414] the briers [08068] and thorns [07898] against me in battle [04421]? I would go [06585] through them, I would burn [06702] them together [03162].

³ I the LORD [03068] do keep [05341] it; I will water [08248] it every moment [07281]: lest any hurt [06485] it, I will keep [05341] it night [03915] and day [03117].

² In that day [03117] sing [06031] ye unto her, A vineyard [03754] of red wine [02561] [02531].