What Does Isaiah 27:2 Mean in the King James?

In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.

Isaiah 27:2 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew word for “sing” also carries the sense of “answer,” making song a response directed toward the vineyard.

THE MEANING

This verse speaks of you as a vineyard whose ripening can be met with song. Its image holds fruitfulness and joy together: the vineyard is named by the wine it bears.

THE ROOT

עַנּוּ

ʿannû

GROWS FROM

ענה

ʿ-n-h

Answer, respond; in this form, sing out.

The verb ⁨עַנּוּ⁩ (ʿannû, “sing”) belongs to ⁨ענה⁩ (ʿ-n-h), a root that can mean answering or responding as well as singing out. That overlap lets the song read as a response directed toward the vineyard, not merely a tune laid over it.

ALSO GROWS

ʿānāh: answered, responded

עָנָה

This common use of the root makes the vineyard’s song sound like an answering voice.

maʿăneh: answer, response

מַעֲנֶה

This noun keeps the root’s sense of response visible beneath the command to sing.

THE PATTERN

Fruitfulness appears as something a vine receives through being planted, watered, and kept.

I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

Isaiah 27:3 · KJVThe vineyard’s fruitfulness is paired with continuous watering and keeping.

Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

Psalm 80:8 · KJVThe vine becomes fruitful through being brought out and planted.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5 · KJVFruit grows through connection to the vine rather than through a branch acting alone.

THE THREAD

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

Isaiah 5:7 · KJV

Both verses use ⁨כֶּרֶם⁩ (kerem, “vineyard”). Isaiah 5:7 finds a cry where good fruit was expected; here the vineyard is addressed with song and named by its wine.

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