King James Version

What Does Isaiah 32:10 Mean?

Isaiah 32:10 in the King James Version says “Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. M...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Many: Heb. Days above a year”

Isaiah 32:10 · KJV

Context

8

But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. stand: or, be established

9

Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

10

Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. Many: Heb. Days above a year

11

Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.

12

They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. pleasant: Heb. fields of desire

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women (יָמִים עַל־שָׁנָה תִּרְגַּזְנָה בֹּטְחוֹת, yamim al-shanah tirgaznah botechot)—for days upon years you'll רָגַז (ragaz, tremble, be troubled, agitated). For the vintage shall fail (כִּי כָּלָה בָצִיר, ki khalah batsir)—the בָּצִיר (batsir, grape harvest, vintage) will כָּלָה (khalah, fail, cease, be finished). The gathering shall not come (אֹסֶף בְּלִי־יָבוֹא, osef beli-yavo)—the אֹסֶף (osef, ingathering, harvest) won't come.

Isaiah specifies the judgment: agricultural failure. Ancient Near Eastern life depended on successful harvests—grape vintage for wine, ingathering for grain/fruit. Crop failure meant economic collapse, famine, and vulnerability to enemies. The phrase 'days upon years' (יָמִים עַל־שָׁנָה, yamim al-shanah) indicates prolonged suffering, not brief discomfort. Deuteronomy 28:38-40 lists failed harvests among covenant curses: 'Thou shalt plant vineyards... but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes.' What was promised blessing for obedience becomes curse for rebellion.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Sieges caused agricultural devastation—fields couldn't be worked, orchards were cut down for siege works. When Assyria invaded (701 BC), Judean agriculture was destroyed. Later Babylonian invasions (605, 597, 586 BC) caused sustained agricultural collapse. Lamentations 5:9-10 describes post-siege famine: 'We gat our bread with the peril of our lives... Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.'

Reflection Questions

  1. How does economic or agricultural collapse function as divine warning or judgment?
  2. What modern equivalents to 'failed vintage'—loss of expected provision—might God use to wake the complacent?
  3. How should awareness of potential loss affect stewardship and spiritual priorities?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
יָמִים֙1 of 11

“Many days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

עַל2 of 11
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

שָׁנָ֔ה3 of 11

“and years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

תִּרְגַּ֖זְנָה4 of 11

“shall ye be troubled”

H7264

to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)

בֹּֽטְח֑וֹת5 of 11

“ye careless women”

H982

properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure

כִּ֚י6 of 11
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

כָּלָ֣ה7 of 11

“shall fail”

H3615

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

בָצִ֔יר8 of 11

“for the vintage”

H1210

clipped, i.e., the grape crop

אֹ֖סֶף9 of 11

“the gathering”

H625

a collection (of fruits)

בְּלִ֥י10 of 11
H1097

properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc

יָבֽוֹא׃11 of 11

“shall not come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 32:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 32:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 8:13Isaiah 7:23Hosea 2:12Jeremiah 25:10-11Zephaniah 1:13Habakkuk 3:17

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