Isaiah 5:4
ESV
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?
NIV
What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?
NASB
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?
CSB
What more could I have done for my vineyard than I did? Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes, did it yield worthless grapes?
NLT
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?
KJV
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?
NKJV
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 does Isaiah 5:4 mean?
At this point in Isaiah's parable, his beloved calls out to the men of Jerusalem and Judah. He specifically asks if there was anything more he could have done to avoid this outcome. The answers of those who hear these questions are not recorded. In a region with so many vineyard workers, it's likely that many men would have had opinions about what could have been done differently or what should be done next.The great strength of a parable like this is that it could get the reader thinking about how he or she would answer these questions. Parables are most helpful when they engage the audience and have the reader put themselves inside the story. This will likely cause the impact to be that much stronger when Isaiah reveals the true meaning behind the song in Isaiah 5:7. In this case, the question is more of a statement: I did everything correctly, so the blame is not mine.
