But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
But even these leaders have gone astray because of wine, and they've lost their way through alcohol. The priests and prophets have made mistakes because of drinking too much, they are consumed by wine and have wandered off the right path because of alcohol. They make errors when they should be receiving visions from God, and they stumble when making important decisions.
Isaiah is condemning the religious leaders of Israel for letting alcohol cloud their judgment and prevent them from properly serving God and leading the people.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah was addressing the moral and spiritual decline in Israel, particularly among its leaders, during a time of threat from the Assyrian empire. The priests and prophets, who were responsible for guiding the nation through divine insight, had become impaired by excessive wine and strong drink, leading to distorted visions and faulty judgments. This warning highlighted how their personal failings mirrored the broader corruption in society, making them unprepared for impending judgment.
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