Isaiah 5:17 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 5:17 mean?

Isaiah 5:17 describes a scene where lambs will graze as usual, and strangers will eat in the ruined places that once belonged to the wealthy. The verse paints a picture of reversal: after judgment, the land once owned by the powerful becomes pasture for simple animals and food for outsiders.

Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, warning them about the consequences of their injustice and pride. In this verse, he shows that after God’s judgment on the corrupt leaders (“the fat ones”), their abandoned lands will no longer be exclusive but open to animals and foreigners. This highlights both the loss for the proud and the unexpected provision for others.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 5:17

• “lambs” (כֶּבֶשׂ, keves): This word refers to young sheep, often seen as innocent and vulnerable. Their presence in these fields suggests peace and simplicity returning to places once marked by excess.
• “strangers” (גֵּר, ger): This term means foreigners or non-Israelites. The fact that strangers will eat in the waste places shows a complete overturning of previous privilege and ownership.
• “waste places” (חָרְבָּה, chorbah): This word means ruins or desolate areas. It emphasizes the total destruction left after judgment, places that were once prosperous now lying in ruin.

Why Isaiah 5:17 matters

• Isaiah 5:17 clarifies that God’s judgment leads to a total reversal of fortunes, where the powerful lose their privileges and outsiders benefit from what remains.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the consequences of ignoring justice and righteousness, which Isaiah has been warning about throughout chapter 5.
• Understanding the use of “lambs” and “strangers” helps the reader see the depth of the reversal: not just a loss for the corrupt, but a new opportunity for the humble and the outsider.