Isaiah 5

Lord of the Vineyard

Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: Isaiah 5:1–7

The Beloved plants, fences, and tends a vineyard, but it yields wild grapes. The owner is the LORD of hosts, and His question, what more could I have done, shows how completely He gives Himself for His people. Jesus retold this parable about Himself.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alluded to by Matthew 21:33-41 — Jesus' parable of the householder who planted a vineyard, hedged it, dug a winepress, and built a tower.
• alluded to by Jacob 5:41 — The Lord of the vineyard weeps: What could I have done more for my vineyard?
• a parallel account in 2 Nephi 15:1-7 — Nephi's copy.

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the holy God who made covenants with Israel

That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Isaiah 5:19

Mockers dare the Holy One of Israel to hurry up and prove Himself. Their scorn still names Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in 2 Nephi 15:19 — Nephi's copy.

Holy One of Israel

Holy One of Israel — the holy God who made covenants with Israel

Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 5:24

Israel's ruin comes from despising the word of the Holy One of Israel, the premortal Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in 2 Nephi 15:24 — Nephi's copy.

His hand stretched out still

Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Isaiah 5:25

In context this is the Lord's hand raised in judgment, but Book of Mormon prophets use the same image for His arm of mercy, stretched out to His people all the day long if they will return.

• alluded to by 2 Nephi 28:32 — Mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
• alluded to by Jacob 6:4 — He stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long.

The Lord's ensign of gathering

And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: Isaiah 5:26

The Lord raises a banner and whistles for His people from far away, and they come quickly. Latter-day Saints see this in the latter-day gathering to Christ through the restored gospel.

• alluded to by 2 Nephi 29:2 — The Lord's words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth for a standard unto His people.
• a parallel account in 2 Nephi 15:26 — Nephi's copy.