Jacob 5

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord. Jacob 5:2–3

Zenos speaks as a prophet for the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole allegory that follows is the Lord's own word about His covenant people, and Jacob calls it prophecy.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• interpreted by Jacob 6:1 — Jacob declares Zenos's allegory a prophecy that must come to pass.

Lord of the Vineyard

And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw that his olive tree began to decay; and he said: I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish not. Jacob 5:4–5

The master (Lord) of the vineyard is the Lord who owns and cares for Israel. He does not give up on the decaying tree but works personally to save it, a picture of Christ's patient care for His people.

• interpreted by Jacob 6:4 — Jacob explains the Lord remembers the house of Israel, roots and branches.

Lord of the Vineyard

And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild olive tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned. Jacob 5:7

The Lord's repeated words 'it grieveth me' (also verses 11, 13, 32, 46, 47, 51, 66) show that He feels real sorrow at losing any of His people. His love is personal, not distant.

Lord of the Vineyard

And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard? Jacob 5:41

The Lord of the vineyard weeps over His corrupted vineyard. It is one of the most tender pictures of the Savior in scripture: He has done everything, and still He mourns for those who reject Him, as Jesus later wept over Jerusalem.

Lord of the Vineyard

But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard? Jacob 5:47

The Lord's hand stretched out 'all the day long' is His constant offer of mercy. Jacob picks up this exact image and applies it to God's dealings with Israel.

• interpreted by Jacob 6:4 — 'He stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long' applies the image to the Lord's mercy toward Israel.

Lord of the Vineyard

But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a little longer. Jacob 5:50–51

Even after saying He has done all, the Lord agrees to spare the vineyard. It shows the long-suffering mercy of Christ, who gives His people one more chance.

Lord of the Vineyard

Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit. Jacob 5:61–62

The Lord calls servants for a final pruning, the latter-day gathering of Israel. Jacob identifies this as the day the Lord sets His hand the second time to recover His people.

• interpreted by Jacob 6:2 — The last-time labor is the Lord's second recovery of His people.
• alluded to by D&C 33:3 — The Lord calls laborers into His vineyard 'for the last time' in the eleventh hour.

Lord of the Vineyard

And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. Jacob 5:72

The Lord does not just send His servants; He works right beside them. Christ labors with His missionaries and members in gathering Israel.

Lord of the Vineyard

And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard. Jacob 5:75

The Lord shares His joy with those who labored with Him. Those who serve Christ in gathering souls will rejoice with Him.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

Judgment

And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire. Jacob 5:77

The allegory ends with the Lord separating good from bad and the burning of the vineyard, the final judgment and end of the earth. Christ is the one who gathers and judges.

• interpreted by Jacob 6:3 — Jacob: the cursed are cast out into their own place and the world shall be burned with fire.