And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard.
- BSB “And now, O dwellers of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I exhort you to judge between Me and My vineyard.
- NKJV “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.
- NASB ¶“And now, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, Judge between Me and My vineyard.
- NLT Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The vineyard owner asks the people of Jerusalem and Judah to judge between Him and His vineyard. It invites the hearers to pronounce judgment, not realizing they are condemning themselves.
Overview
By calling for a verdict, God appeals to the people's own sense of justice, much as legal disputes were settled before witnesses. The hearers are drawn to agree that the vineyard is at fault, which then turns against them when the parable is unveiled. This rhetorical move underscores the justice and patience of God in dealing with His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ps 51:4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
- Ps 50:4–6He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
- Luke 20:15–16So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
- Mic 6:2–3Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
- Rom 2:5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- Matt 21:40–41When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
- Jer 2:4–5Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
- Mark 12:9–12What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
- Rom 3:4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 5:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.