the First Week of Lent
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World English Bible
Isaiah 5:4
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What more could I have done for my vineyardthan I did?Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes,did it yield worthless grapes?
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes?
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
"What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?
What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have already done? Although I expected good grapes to grow, why were there only bad ones?
"What more could have been done for My vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to produce good grapes, why did it yield worthless ones?
What coulde I haue done any more to my vineyard that I haue not done vnto it? why haue I looked that it should bring foorth grapes, and it bringeth foorth wilde grapes?
What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it?Why, when I hoped for it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?
What more could have been done for My vineyard that I did not already do in it? Why, when I waited for it to yield good grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?
What more could I have done for my vineyard? I hoped for sweet grapes, but bitter grapes were all that grew.
What more could I have done for my vineyard that I haven't already done in it? So why, when I expected good grapes, did it produce sour, wild grapes?
What was there yet to do to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?—
What more could I do for my vineyard? I did everything I could. I hoped for good grapes to grow, but there were only rotten ones. Why did that happen?
What more could have been done to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I expected that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes.
Is there anything I failed to do for it? Then why did it produce sour grapes and not the good grapes I expected?
What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why did I hope for it to yield grapes, and it yielded wild grapes?
What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Who knows? I waited for it to yield grapes, but it yielded rotten grapes.
What more coude haue bene done for it, that I haue not done? Wherfore then hath it geuen thornes, where I loked to haue had grapes of it?
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
Is there anything which might have been done for my vine-garden which I have not done? why then, when I was hoping for the best grapes did it give me common grapes?
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
What could haue beene done more to my Uineyard, that I haue not done in it? Wherefore when I looked that it should bring foorth grapes, brought it foorth wilde grapes?
What more coulde haue ben done for it, that I haue not done? Wherfore then hath it geuen wylde grapes, where I loked to haue had grapes of it?
What shall I do any more to my vineyard, that I have not done to it? Whereas I expected it to bring forth grapes, but it has brought forth thorns.
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
What is it that Y ouyt to do more to my vyner, and Y dide not to it? whether that Y abood, that it schulde bere grapis, and it bare wielde grapis?
What more could have been done to my vineyard, that I haven't done in it? why, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?
What more could have been done to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected that it would bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done? When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead?
What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes?
What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?
What more was there to do for My grape-field that I have not done for it? When I expected it to give good grapes, why did it give wild grapes?
What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
What could have been done further to my vineyard, That I had not done in it? Why then - When I had waited that it should bring forth grapes, Brought it forth, wild grapes?
What is there that I ought to do more to my vineyard, that I have not done to it? was it that I looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it hath brought forth wild grapes?
What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
What -- to do still to my vineyard, That I have not done in it! Wherefore, I waited to the yielding of grapes, And it yieldeth bad ones!
"What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Isaiah 1:5, 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, Jeremiah 2:30, Jeremiah 2:31, Jeremiah 6:29, Jeremiah 6:30, Ezekiel 24:13, Matthew 23:37, Acts 7:51-60
Reciprocal: Genesis 6:3 - My Exodus 37:22 - beaten work Deuteronomy 32:32 - their grapes 1 Samuel 12:7 - reason 2 Kings 4:39 - a wild vine 2 Chronicles 34:24 - I will bring Isaiah 27:8 - thou wilt Isaiah 28:10 - For precept Jeremiah 2:5 - What Jeremiah 2:21 - into the degenerate Jeremiah 8:13 - there Jeremiah 24:2 - naughty Hosea 6:4 - what Amos 2:11 - Is it Zephaniah 3:7 - Surely Matthew 13:12 - from Matthew 21:19 - and found Matthew 21:34 - that Matthew 21:37 - They Mark 4:19 - unfruitful Mark 11:20 - General Luke 6:43 - General Luke 20:13 - What Luke 24:47 - beginning Hebrews 12:15 - any root
Cross-References
God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God's likeness.
Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters
Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?.... Or "ought", as the Vulgate Latin: this is generally understood of good things done to it in time past; as what better culture could it have had? what greater privileges, blessings, and advantages, natural, civil, and religious, could have been bestowed on this people? what greater favour could have been shown them, or honour done them? or what of this kind remains to be done for them? they have had everything that could be desired, expected, or enjoyed: though it may be rendered, "what is further or hereafter to be done to my vineyard" u, and "I have not done in it?" that is, by way of punishment; I have reproved and chastised them, but all in vain; what remains further for me, and which I will do, because of their ingratitude and unfruitfulness? I will utterly destroy them as a nation and church; I will cause their civil and ecclesiastical state to cease. The sense may be gathered from the answer to the question in the following verse Isaiah 5:5,
wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? that is, why have these people acted so ill a part, when such and so many good things have been bestowed upon them; on account of which it might have been reasonably expected they would have behaved in another manner? or rather the words may be rendered, "why have I looked or expected w that it should bring forth grapes, seeing it brought forth wild grapes?" why have I been looking for good fruit, when nothing but bad fruit for so long a time has been produced? why have I endured with so much patience and longsuffering? I will bear with them no longer, as follows. The Targum is for the former sense,
"what good have I said to do more to my people, which I have not done to them? and what is this I have said, that they should do good works, and they have done evil works?''
u מה לעשות עוד לכרמי "quid faciendum amplius fuit", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "et quid ultra faciendum erat"; so some in Vatablus, Montanus. w מדוע קויתי "quare expectavi?" Cocceius.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
What could I... - As a man who had done what is described in Isaiah 5:2, would have done all that “could” be done for a vineyard, so God says that he has done all that he could, in the circumstances of the Jews, to make them holy and happy. He had chosen them; had given them his law; had sent them prophets and teachers; had defended them; had come forth in judgment and mercy, and he now appeals “to them” to say what “could” have been done more. This important verse implies that God had done all that he could have done; that is, all that he could consistently do, or all that justice and goodness required him to do, to secure the welfare of his people. It cannot, of course, be meant that he had no physical ability to do anything else, but the expression must be interpreted by a reference to the point in hand; and that is, an appeal to others to determine that he had done all that could be done in the circumstances of the case. In this respect, we may, without impropriety, say, that there is a limit to the power of God. It is impossible to conceive that he “could” have given a law more holy; or that he could append to it more solemn sanctions than the threatening of eternal death; or that he could have offered higher hopes than the prospect of eternal life; or that he could have given a more exalted Redeemer. It has been maintained (see the “Princeton Bib. Repert.,” April 1841) that the reference here is to the future, and that the question means, ‘what remains now to be done to my vineyard as an expression of displeasure?’ or that it is asked with a view to introduce the expression of his purpose to punish his people, stated in Isaiah 5:5. But that the above is the meaning or the passage, or that it refers to what God had actually done, is evident from the following considerations:
(1) He had specified at length Isaiah 5:2 what he had done. He had performed “all” that was usually done to a vineyard; in fencing it, and clearing it of stones, and planting in it the choicest vines, and building a wine-press in it. Without impropriety, it might be said of a man that, whatever wealth he had, or whatever power he had to do “other” things, he “could do nothing more to perfect a vineyard.”
(2) It is the meaning which is most naturally suggested by the original. Literally, the Hebrew is, ‘What to do more?’ עוד מה־לעשׂות mah-la‛ăs'ôth ‛ôd. Coverdale renders this, as it is in our translation, ‘What more could have been done for it?’ Luther, ‘What should one do more to my vineyard, that I have not done for it?’ Was sollte man doth mehr thun an meinem Weinberge, das ich nicht gethun babe an illin? Vulgate, Quid est quod debui ultra facere. ‘What is there which I ought to do more?’ Septuagint, Τί ποιήσω ἔτι Ti poiēsō eti, ‘What shall I do yet?’ implying that he had done all that he could for it. The Chaldee renders it, ‘What good thing - טבא מה mah ṭâbâ' - shall I say that I will do to my people that I have not done for them?’ implying that he had done for them all the good which could be spoken of. The Syriac, ‘What remains to be done to my vineyard, and I have not done it?’ In all these versions, the sense given is substantially the same - that God had done all that could be done to make the expectation that his vineyard would produce fruit, proper. There is no reference in one of these versions to what he “would” do afterward, but the uniform reference is to what he “had” done to make the expectation “reasonable,” that his vineyard would produce fruit.
(3) That this is the fair interpretation is apparent further, because, when, in Isaiah 5:5, he says what he “would do,” it is entirely different from what he said he “had done.” He “had” done all that could be done to make it proper to expect fruit; he now “would” do what would be a proper expression of his displeasure that no fruit had been produced. He would take away its hedge; break down its walls, and lay it waste. But in the interpretation of the passage proposed by the “Princeton Repert.,” there is an entire omission of this part of the verse - ‘that I have not done in it.’ It is not improper, therefore, to use this passage to show that God had done all that could be consistently done for the salvation of man, and the same appeal may now be made to sinners everywhere; and it may be asked, what God “could” have done for their salvation more than has been done? “Could” he have given them a purer law? “Could” he present higher considerations than have been drawn from the hope of an “eternal” heaven, and the fear of an “eternal” hell? Could he have furnished a more full atonement than has been made by the blood of his own Son? The conclusion to which we should come would be in accordance with what is said in the prophet, that God has done “all” for the salvation of sinners that in the circumstances of the case could be done, and that if they are lost, they only will bear the blame.
