Isaiah 5 · Verse 22

Isaiah 5:22

Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

Isaiah 5:22, King James Version

Isaiah 5:22 in other translations

BSB	Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink,
WEB	Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;
ASV	Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink;
YLT	Woe to the mighty to drink wine, And men of strength to mingle strong drink.
DARBY	Woe unto them that are mighty for drinking wine, and men valiant to mix strong drink;
BBE	Cursed are those who are strong to take wine, and great in making mixed drinks!
Webster	Woe to them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

What does Isaiah 5:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 5:22-23

22-23. Sixth Woe--against corrupt judges, who, "mighty" in drinking "wine" (a boast still not uncommon), if not in defending their country, obtain the means of self-indulgence by taking bribes ("reward"). The two verses are closely joined [Maurer]. mingle strong drink--not with water, but spices to make it intoxicating (Pr 9:2, 5; So 8:2). take away the righteousness--set aside the just claims of those having a righteous cause.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 22 Mighty to drink wine - "They show not," says Kimchi, "their strength in combating their enemies, but in drunkenness and debauchery."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 5:8-23

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…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 5:8-23 →

Isaiah 5:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ה֕וֹיHowoe to!H1945

גִּבּוֹרִ֖יםgi.bo.Rim[men] mightyH1368

לִשְׁתּ֣וֹתlish.Totfor drinkingH8354

יָ֑יִןYa.yinwineH3196

וְאַנְשֵׁי\־ve.'an.shei-and people ofH582

חַ֖יִלCha.yilabilityH2428

לִמְסֹ֥ךְlim.Sokhfor mixingH4537

שֵׁכָֽר\׃she.Kharstrong drinkH7941

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 5:22

Isaiah 5:11
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Habakkuk 2:15
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
Isaiah 28:7
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
Isaiah 56:12
Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Proverbs 23:19-20
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
Isaiah 28:1-3
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

mighty.
11; 28:1-3,7; Pr 23:19,20; Hab 2:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Isaiah 5:21
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:22
Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isaiah 5:23
Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

Read all of Isaiah 5

Isaiah 5:22 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¡Ay de los que son valientes para beber vino, y hombres fuertes para mezclar bebida;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Malheur à ceux qui sont forts pour boire du vin, et hommes vaillants pour mêler les boissons fortes;
German Elberfelder 1871	Wehe denen, die Helden sind, um Wein zu trinken, und tapfere Männer, um starkes Getränk zu mischen;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Væ qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum, et viri fortes ad miscendam ebrietatem!