Isaiah 27:2-6 Meaning: God's Song for His Vineyard
2In that day, sing to her, “A pleasant vineyard!
3I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I will keep it night and day.
4Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together.
5Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Let him make peace with me.”
6In days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will blossom and bud. They will fill the surface of the world with fruit.
2In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.
3I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
4Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.
5Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.
6He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
2In that day: A vineyard of wine, sing ye unto it.
3I Jehovah am its keeper; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.
4Wrath is not in me: would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! I would march upon them, I would burn them together.
5Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; yea, let him make peace with me.
6In days to come shall Jacob take root; Israel shall blossom and bud; and they shall fill the face of the world with fruit.
2In that day, `A desirable vineyard,' respond ye to her,
3I, Jehovah, am its keeper, every moment I water it, Lest any lay a charge against it, Night and day I keep it!
4Fury is not in Me; Who giveth Me a brier--a thorn in battle? I step into it, I burn it at once.
5Or--he doth take hold on My strength, He doth make peace with Me, Peace he doth make with Me.
6Those coming in He causeth to take root, Jacob doth blossom, and flourished hath Israel, And they have filled the face of the world with increase.
2In that day [there shall be] a vineyard of pure wine; sing concerning it:
3I Jehovah keep it, I will water it every moment; lest any harm it, I will keep it night and day.
4Fury is not in me. Oh that I had briars [and] thorns in battle against me! I would march against them, I would burn them together.
5Or let him take hold of my strength; let him make peace with me: [yea,] let him make peace with me.
6In the future Jacob shall take root; Israel shall blossom and bud, and they shall fill the face of the world with fruit.
Meaning in one sentence
In Isaiah 27:2-6, God tenderly cares for his people like a vineyard, offering constant protection and an invitation to peace after judgment.
Context
Isaiah had been speaking of judgment. The chapter opens with a promise that God will punish Leviathan, the great enemy. But then the tone shifts completely. The prophet breaks into a song about a vineyard. This is not the angry song of Isaiah 5, where the vineyard produced wild grapes and faced ruin. Here God calls it a vineyard of delight. He is its keeper, watching it night and day. The people of God, once judged, are now cared for and safe. The passage ends with a vision of Israel taking root and filling the world with fruit.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for the vineyard in verse 2 is chemed, which means delight or desire. This is the same root used for a pleasant plant in Isaiah 5:7, but now it is restored to its full meaning: a vineyard that brings joy to its owner. God calls it a pleasant vineyard because he takes pleasure in his people.
In verse 3, God says he is the notser of the vineyard. That verb, natsar, means to watch over, guard, and keep. It is the word used for a watchman who protects a city. God is not a distant owner. He is the constant guardian, watering it every moment and guarding it night and day.
In verse 5, the invitation is to take hold of God's ma'oz, his strength or refuge. That noun carries the idea of a safe place, a fortress. And the word for peace is shalom, which means far more than an absence of conflict. It means completeness, wellbeing, wholeness. God offers not just a truce but a full restoration of life.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, this passage is read as a promise of restoration after judgment. Many see the vineyard as the people of God, whether Israel or the Church, and the song as a response to the defeat of evil. Some traditions emphasize the vineyard as a picture of the Church kept safe by Christ, while others focus on the future ingathering of Israel. The offer of peace in verse 5 is often understood as a universal invitation. Throughout, the emphasis falls on God's care: he guards, waters, and protects, not because the vineyard deserves it, but because he delights in it.
A common misunderstanding
It is easy to read 'Fury is not in me' and think God never gets angry. In fact, the next lines show he will still burn the briers and thorns, those who oppose him. The point is that he is no longer angry with his vineyard. For his people, his anger is gone. He offers protection and peace. The anger is reserved for the enemies who persist.
Living This Out
This week, you might feel like you are under attack. Or you might feel exposed, as if no one is watching out for you. The song says God waters his vineyard every moment. He keeps it night and day. That is the kind of attention he gives to you. If you feel more like a brier than a vine, the invitation still stands: take hold of his strength. You do not have to clean yourself up first. You can make peace with him right now, and that peace will hold.
Main takeaway: God guards his people with constant care, inviting even enemies to take hold of his strength and make peace.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God takes care of his special vineyard, that's his people. He waters it and keeps it safe day and night. You are like that vineyard, and God watches over you.
For ages 9, 12
In this song, God describes his people as a vineyard he loves. He protects it constantly and waters it. When we mess up, he doesn't stay angry. Instead, he invites us to take hold of his strength and make peace with him. He wants us to grow and bear fruit for him, and one day his people will fill the whole world with good things.
Questions People Ask
What is the vineyard of delight?
The vineyard is God's people, the community he loves and cares for. The word 'delight' shows that God takes pleasure in them. After judgment, the vineyard is restored and becomes a source of joy.
Why does God say 'Fury is not in me'?
God is speaking specifically to his vineyard, his people. He has finished his anger toward them. But he still has fury for the briers and thorns, which represent enemies who oppose him. For his own people, his anger is gone.
What does it mean to take hold of God's strength?
It means to grab onto God as your refuge, like a person running to a fortress. In the Old Testament, people sometimes grabbed the horns of the altar for safety. Here, God invites even enemies to find safety in him and make peace.
How does this passage connect to Leviathan in verse 1?
Verse 1 says God will punish Leviathan, the great sea dragon, representing evil powers. Then the song begins: after the enemy is defeated, God's people are safe. The vineyard song is the joyful result of that victory.
Will God's people really fill the whole world with fruit?
The verse pictures a future where Israel blesses the whole earth. Many Christians see this as a promise that God's people will spread his blessings everywhere, like a vine that fills the world with fruit. It points to a time of great harvest for God's kingdom.
For pastors & researchers
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