Isaiah 25:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

NIV: On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.

NASB: Now the Lord of armies will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine.

CSB: On this mountain, the Lord of Armies will prepare for all the peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast with aged wine, prime cuts of choice meat, fine vintage wine.

NLT: In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.

KJV: And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

NKJV: And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees.

The prophet Isaiah sang praise to the Lord. He honored God, who used His might to judge the earth and remove all those who oppose Him and His chosen people (Isaiah 25:1–5). Now Isaiah describes the banquet that will take place when the King Messiah takes the throne of Israel. This is when the Lord begins to reign directly over the whole world. This fits well with the final verse of the previous chapter (Isaiah 24:23). After the time of judgment, the era of celebration and peacefulness on the earth will begin.

It was typical for kings to begin their reign with a celebration. This would usually include a feast and the giving of gifts. The Lord of Hosts holds this inaugural feast on a mountain. Given the context, this is probably Mount Zion: the site of Jerusalem. The feast is prepared for all peoples as the God of the Israelites becomes the King of all nations. Everyone joyfully acknowledges that the faith of the Jewish people was right all along. Their God is the one true God and King.

The meal includes only the best of foods, rich meats, and the most highly desirable of wine. This verse is part of the overall Biblical message regarding alcohol. Simplified, to be drunk is a sin (Ephesians 5:18), but alcohol is not a sin in and of itself. In fact, the word translated "feast" is mist󠄓ēh', which was so strongly connected with the idea of drinking wine that it is sometimes translated specifically as "drinking." The references to wines are translated from the root word semer, plus adjective which imply "old wine:" an aged, fully fermented, strongly alcoholic beverage. This is "fine wine," filtered, deliberately aged, and strained. God Himself is said to provide a mist󠄓ēh' featuring semer: a feast including alcohol-containing wines.

Chapter 25:6–12 describes a celebratory feast, hosted by God Himself, at the inauguration of His kingdom. The Lord will completely remove death and the shame of sin from His people. He also describes how the Lord takes away death forever for those who are His. The salvation which Israel long expected will come at last. In contrast, those who still refuse God's authority are crushed and humiliated. Moab, symbolic of all the nations who hated Israel, is depicted writhing in a cesspit under God's heel.

Isaiah's description of the Lord's judgment on the earth is followed by celebration. This comes at the beginning of the Lord's reign over all the earth. The prophet declares his own praise for God's wonderful works and righteous plans. The Lord protects the needy from the ruthless. At the inaugural banquet, the Lord swallows up death forever and wipes away every tear. All the people declare that they were right to wait on their Lord to save them. The Lord judges unbelieving Moab by trampling them into their place.

In the previous chapter, the Lord of hosts is said to reign on Mount Zion following His judgment of the entire earth. Here, Isaiah declares His praise for the Lord who protects the poor and needy. At an inaugural banquet for His kingdom, the Lord swallows up death forever. He also takes away the shame of His people's sin while wiping away their tears. The people rejoice and are glad for waiting on the Lord's salvation. The Lord destroys Moab—symbolic of nations who reject God—in judgment for not trusting in Him.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).