For those who harvest grain will eat itThis phrase emphasizes the promise of restoration and blessing. In ancient Israel, the harvest was a time of joy and celebration, as it represented God's provision. The assurance that those who harvest will eat their own grain contrasts with the curses of disobedience found in
Deuteronomy 28:33, where others would consume the fruits of their labor. This promise reflects a return to God's favor and the restoration of justice and prosperity.
and praise the LORD
The act of eating the harvest and praising the LORD signifies gratitude and acknowledgment of God's provision. In the Old Testament, praise is often linked to recognizing God's faithfulness and blessings (Psalm 107:8-9). This phrase suggests a community living in harmony with God, where their daily sustenance leads to worship and thanksgiving, fulfilling the covenant relationship.
and those who gather grapes will drink the wine
The gathering of grapes and drinking of wine is symbolic of joy and abundance. Wine is frequently associated with celebration and blessing in Scripture (Psalm 104:15). This imagery points to a time of peace and prosperity, where the people enjoy the fruits of their labor without fear of invasion or loss, contrasting with the times of judgment when vineyards were destroyed or taken by enemies (Isaiah 5:5-7).
in My holy courts.”
The mention of "My holy courts" indicates the presence of God and the centrality of worship in the life of the community. The courts refer to the temple, the place where God's presence dwelt among His people. This phrase suggests that the blessings of the harvest are not just for personal enjoyment but are to be shared in the context of worship and community. It also foreshadows the eschatological hope of dwelling in God's presence, as seen inRevelation 21:3, where God dwells with His people in the new creation.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The HarvestersThese are the people who gather the grain. In the context of Isaiah, they represent those who will enjoy the fruits of their labor in peace and security, a promise of restoration and blessing from God.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is the source of the blessings and the one to be praised for the provision and protection of His people.
3.
The Holy CourtsThis refers to the temple courts in Jerusalem, symbolizing a place of worship and communion with God. It signifies the presence of God and the sacredness of the blessings received.
4.
The Grapes and WineSymbolic of abundance and joy, the grapes and wine represent the prosperity and celebration that come from God's provision.
5.
The People of IsraelThe primary audience of Isaiah's prophecy, representing God's chosen people who are promised restoration and blessing after a period of judgment and exile.
Teaching Points
God's Provision and FaithfulnessGod promises to provide for His people, ensuring that they will enjoy the fruits of their labor. This reflects His faithfulness and care for those who trust in Him.
The Joy of Worship and ThanksgivingThe act of eating and drinking in the holy courts signifies a response of worship and gratitude. Believers are encouraged to recognize God's blessings and respond with praise.
Restoration and HopeIsaiah 62:9 offers a message of hope and restoration, reminding believers that God can restore what has been lost and bring joy and abundance after times of hardship.
The Importance of Community and FellowshipThe communal aspect of eating and drinking in the holy courts highlights the importance of fellowship among believers, encouraging shared worship and celebration of God's goodness.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 62:9?
2.How does Isaiah 62:9 encourage gratitude for God's provision and protection?
3.What role does joy play in the fulfillment of Isaiah 62:9's promise?
4.How does Isaiah 62:9 connect to God's covenant faithfulness throughout Scripture?
5.In what ways can believers today "praise the LORD" as in Isaiah 62:9?
6.How can Isaiah 62:9 inspire us to trust God's promises in difficult times?
7.What is the historical context of Isaiah 62:9 in ancient Israel?
8.How does Isaiah 62:9 reflect God's promise of restoration?
9.What theological significance does Isaiah 62:9 hold for believers today?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 62?
11.Isaiah 18:5-6: Is there any record of a sudden devastation matching the harvest metaphor described here?
12.Isaiah 57:9: Does the reference to courting foreign powers challenge God's sovereignty, and is there any conflict with other biblical texts that describe reliance on allies?
13.Amos 9:13 - Is the prophecy of the plowman overtaking the reaper a literal farming impossibility, and does it conflict with more realistic agricultural references elsewhere in scripture?
14.Why did God's vineyard produce only wild grapes?What Does Isaiah 62:9 Mean
For those who harvest grain• The promise is personal and literal: the very people who bend their backs in the fields will be the ones who benefit from the fruit of their labor. Earlier judgments had allowed invaders to seize Israel’s crops (Deuteronomy 28:33;Judges 6:3–6), but God now reverses that pattern.
• Isaiah’s wider context speaks of Zion’s restoration (Isaiah 62:1–7). The harvesters are not nameless; they are the restored inhabitants of Jerusalem, enjoying covenant blessings foretold in passages likeJeremiah 31:5, “You will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters will eat them and enjoy them.”
• This line assures Israel—and all believers who trust God’s promises—that the Lord’s oath (Isaiah 62:8) protects the integrity of daily provision.
Will eat it and praise the LORD• Enjoyment of the harvest is tied to worship. God links physical blessing with spiritual response, echoingDeuteronomy 12:12, “And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God.”
• To “praise the LORD” is not a perfunctory ritual; it is the natural overflow when fear of loss is removed.Psalm 126:5–6 pictures the same rhythm: sowing with tears, reaping with shouts of joy.
• The text teaches that gratitude is inseparable from God-given abundance:
– Provision → Recognition of the Giver
– Satisfaction → Verbal, public praise (Joel 2:26).
And those who gather grapes• Grain and grapes together represent the full agricultural cycle (Leviticus 26:5). God’s blessing is comprehensive—bread and wine, sustenance and celebration (Amos 9:13).
• Gathering grapes signals peace; vineyards require time and stability. Previously, vineyards were trampled by armies (Isaiah 5:5), but now the vinedressers finish their work without fear.
• For believers today, the grape harvest reminds us that Christ is the true vine (John 15:1), ensuring lasting fruitfulness when we remain in Him.
Will drink the wine in My holy courts• The scene moves from field to sanctuary. The people bring portions of their produce to the temple, then partake “in My holy courts,” enjoying fellowship with God in the very place where His glory dwells (Psalm 65:4).
• Drinking wine in the courts points to communion—sharing a covenant meal under God’s roof (Deuteronomy 14:23). It anticipates the ultimate banquet Isaiah already described: “The LORD of Hosts will prepare a feast of rich food” (Isaiah 25:6).
• The sequence—labor, harvest, worship, shared meal—pictures the future fullness when God’s dwelling is permanently with His people (Revelation 21:3).
summaryIsaiah 62:9 promises a complete reversal of past losses. The laborers themselves will consume their grain, shout praise, gather their grapes, and drink the wine in God’s presence. The verse assures literal, physical blessing tied to worship in restored Zion, foreshadowing the final harmony of provision and praise every believer will experience when God’s kingdom is fully revealed.
(9)
In the courts of my holiness.--Better,
of my sanctuary.The harvest and the vintage festivals are to be kept, as of old, without interruption, the master of the house, with his family and the Levites and the poor (
Deuteronomy 14:22-27), eating of the first- fruits "before the Lord."
Verse 9. -
Shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. This is not to be understood literally, at any rate, of the whole produce of the laud. What is meant is, that the produce will be consecrated by such festal means as the Law enjoined (
Deuteronomy 14:22-27), and that then the remainder will be consumed with due thanks and acknowledgments.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Forכִּ֤י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionthose who harvest [grain]מְאַסְפָיו֙(mə·’as·p̄āw)Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 622:To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, removewill eat itיֹאכְלֻ֔הוּ(yō·ḵə·lu·hū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 398:To eatand praiseוְהִֽלְל֖וּ(wə·hil·lū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1984:To shinethe LORD,יְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland those who gather [grapes]וּֽמְקַבְּצָ֥יו(ū·mə·qab·bə·ṣāw)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6908:To gather, collectwill drink the wineיִשְׁתֻּ֖הוּ(yiš·tu·hū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8354:To imbibein My holyקָדְשִֽׁי׃(qāḏ·šî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6944:A sacred place, thing, sanctitycourts.”בְּחַצְר֥וֹת(bə·ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ)Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 2691:A yard, a hamlet
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 62:9 But those who have garnered it shall (Isa Isi Is) 
