Isaiah 5:17
New International Version
Then sheep will graze as in their own pasture; lambs will feed among the ruins of the rich.

New Living Translation
In that day lambs will find good pastures, and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins.

English Standard Version
Then shall the lambs graze as in their pasture, and nomads shall eat among the ruins of the rich.

Berean Standard Bible
Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy.

King James Bible
Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

New King James Version
Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture, And in the waste places of the fat ones strangers shall eat.

New American Standard Bible
Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, And strangers will eat in the ruins of the wealthy.

NASB 1995
Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, And strangers will eat in the waste places of the wealthy.

NASB 1977
Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, And strangers will eat in the waste places of the wealthy.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, And sojourners will eat in the waste places of the wealthy.

Amplified Bible
Then the lambs will graze [among the ruins] as in their own pasture, And strangers will eat in the desolate places of the [exiled] wealthy.

Christian Standard Bible
Lambs will graze as if in their own pastures, and resident aliens will eat among the ruins of the rich.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Lambs will graze as if in their own pastures, and strangers will eat among the ruins of the rich.

American Standard Version
Then shall the lambs feed as in their pasture, and the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat.

Contemporary English Version
His people will be like sheep grazing in their own pasture, and they will take off what was left by others.

English Revised Version
Then shall the lambs feed as in their pasture, and the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then lambs will graze as if they were in their own pasture, and foreigners will eat among the ruins of the rich.

Good News Translation
In the ruins of the cities lambs will eat grass and young goats will find pasture.

International Standard Version
Then the lambs will graze in their pasture; fatlings and foreigners will eat among the waste places of the rich."

Majority Standard Bible
Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy.

NET Bible
Lambs will graze as if in their pastures, amid the ruins the rich sojourners will graze.

New Heart English Bible
Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and kids will eat the ruins of the rich.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

World English Bible
Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and strangers will eat the ruins of the rich.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And lambs have fed according to their leading, "" And sojourners consume wastelands of the fat ones.

Young's Literal Translation
And fed have lambs according to their leading, And waste places of the fat ones Do sojourners consume.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the lambs feed according to their word, and the deserts of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the lambs shall feed according to their order, and strangers shall eat the deserts turned into fruitfulness.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the lambs will pasture in proper order, and new arrivals will eat from the deserts turned into fertile lands.

New American Bible
Lambs shall graze as at pasture, young goats shall eat in the ruins of the rich.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the lambs shall graze as in their pasture, fatlings and kids shall feed among the ruins.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then shall the lambs feed there in their usual fashion, and the waste places that shall be rebuilt shall be the property of the rightful owners.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the lambs shall feed in their portion, and the inhabitants shall consume the ruins that are rebuilt
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then shall the lambs feed as in their pasture, And the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they that were spoiled shall be fed as bulls, and lambs shall feed on the waste places of them that are taken away.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes to the Wicked
16But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. 17Lambs will graze as in their own pastures, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy. 18Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,…

Cross References
Psalm 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Ezekiel 34:14
I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

Psalm 22:26
The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. / The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. / The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. ...

Micah 7:14
Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. They live alone in a woodland, surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

Jeremiah 23:3
Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply.

Zephaniah 3:12-13
But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD. / The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.”

Matthew 25:34
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 7:16-17
‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’ / For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Ezekiel 36:11
I will fill you with people and animals, and they will multiply and be fruitful. I will make you as inhabited as you once were, and I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Isaiah 30:23-24
Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures. / The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.

John 10:14-16
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, / just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. / I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Isaiah 65:13
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.

Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

shall the lambs

Isaiah 7:21,22,25
And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; …

Isaiah 17:2
The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Isaiah 32:14
Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

the waste

Isaiah 10:16
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.

Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Psalm 17:10,14
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly…

strangers

Isaiah 1:7
Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

Deuteronomy 28:33
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

Nehemiah 9:37
And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.

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Cattle Consume Eat Fat Fatlings Feasting Fed Feed Food Grass-Lands Graze Kids Lambs Manner Ones Pasture Places Rich Ruins Sheep Sojourners Strangers Wanderers Waste Wealthy
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Cattle Consume Eat Fat Fatlings Feasting Fed Feed Food Grass-Lands Graze Kids Lambs Manner Ones Pasture Places Rich Ruins Sheep Sojourners Strangers Wanderers Waste Wealthy
Isaiah 5
1. Under the parable of a vineyard, God excuses his severe judgment
8. His judgments upon covetousness
11. Upon lasciviousness
13. Upon impiety
20. And upon injustice
26. The executioners of God's judgments














Then the lambs
The imagery of lambs is often used in Scripture to symbolize innocence, purity, and the people of God. In Hebrew, the word for lamb is "kebes," which conveys a sense of gentleness and vulnerability. This phrase suggests a return to peace and simplicity, where God's people, like lambs, will find safety and sustenance. Historically, lambs grazing freely would indicate a time of peace and restoration, contrasting with the judgment and destruction previously described in Isaiah.

will graze
The act of grazing implies a natural, unhurried feeding, symbolizing provision and contentment. In Hebrew, "ra'ah" means to pasture or tend, often used to describe God's care for His people, as a shepherd tends to his flock. This word evokes the pastoral scenes of Psalm 23, where the Lord is the Shepherd who provides for His sheep. It signifies a divine provision and care that is both physical and spiritual.

as in their own pastures
This phrase suggests a return to a rightful place, a restoration of what was lost. The Hebrew word "mire'eh" refers to a place of feeding, a pasture. It implies ownership and belonging, indicating that the people will once again inhabit the land given to them by God. Historically, this reflects the covenant promise of God to Israel, where the land is a significant aspect of their identity and blessing.

and strangers
The term "strangers" in Hebrew is "zarim," often referring to foreigners or those outside the covenant community. This phrase indicates a reversal of fortunes, where those who were once outsiders now partake in the blessings of the land. It can also imply judgment on those who were once wealthy and powerful, as their possessions are now consumed by others.

will feed
The word "feed" here is "akal" in Hebrew, meaning to eat or consume. It suggests a taking over or utilization of resources that once belonged to others. This feeding by strangers indicates a shift in possession and control, often seen as a divine retribution or justice in the biblical narrative.

in the ruins of the wealthy
The "ruins" signify destruction and desolation, a common theme in prophetic literature where judgment leads to the downfall of the proud and powerful. The Hebrew word "chorbah" denotes a state of waste or desolation. The "wealthy," or "ashir" in Hebrew, refers to those who were affluent and possibly oppressive. This phrase highlights the transient nature of earthly wealth and power, serving as a reminder of the ultimate justice and sovereignty of God. Historically, it reflects the fate of nations and individuals who turn away from God's ways, emphasizing the biblical principle that true security and prosperity come from obedience to God.

(17) Then shall the lambs feed after their manner.--Better, feed even as on their pasture. The meaning is clear enough. The lands that have been gained by oppression shall, in the day of retribution, become common pasture ground instead of being reserved for the parks and gardens of the rich; and strangers--i.e., invaders, Philistines, Assyrians, or nomadic tribes--shall devour the produce (Isaiah 1:7). Possibly, however, the "lambs" may stand for the poor and meek, as in contrast with the "fat ones" of the earth. The LXX. version follows a different reading in the second clause, and gives "kids" instead of "strangers."

Verse 17. Then shall the lambs feed. Dr. Kay takes the "lambs" to be the remnant of Israel that survived the judgment, who will feed freely, cared for by the good Shepherd; but the parallelism so generally affected by Isaiah seems to require a meaning more consonant with the later clause of the verse. Most commentators, therefore, expound the passage literally, "Then shall lambs feed [on the desolated estates of the covetous]" (see vers. 8-10). After their manner; or, after their own guidance; i.e. at their pleasure, as they list (so Lowth and Rosenmüller). And the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat. Goim, i.e. nomad tribes, shall consume the produce of the wasted fields once possessed by the Hebrew grandees. Ewald proposes to make the verse immediately follow ver. 10; but this is not necessary. The occupation of their lands by wandering tribes, Arabs and others, was a part of the punishment that fell on all the nobles, not on those only who accumulated large estates.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Lambs
כְבָשִׂ֖ים (ḵə·ḇā·śîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3532: A lamb

will graze
וְרָע֥וּ (wə·rā·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

as in their own pastures,
כְּדָבְרָ֑ם (kə·ḏā·ḇə·rām)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1699: A pasture

and strangers
גָּרִ֥ים (gā·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1481: To turn aside from the road, sojourn, to shrink, fear, to gather for, hostility

will feed
יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (yō·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

in the ruins
וְחָרְב֥וֹת (wə·ḥā·rə·ḇō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 2723: Waste, desolation, ruin

of the wealthy.
מֵחִ֖ים (mê·ḥîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4220: Fat, rich


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 5:17 Then the lambs will graze as (Isa Isi Is)
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