The Meaning of Isaiah 32:5 Explained

Isaiah 32:5

KJV: The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

YLT: A fool is no more called 'noble,' And to a miser it is not said, 'rich;'

Darby: The vile man shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful:

ASV: The fool shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The vile person  shall be no more called  liberal,  nor the churl  said  [to be] bountiful. 

What does Isaiah 32:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The characters of the amoral and the unscrupulous will experience transformation as well.

Context Summary

Isaiah 32:1-8 - A Nobler Future For The Nation
Isaiah continues to denounce the contemplated alliance with Egypt. His compatriots put their trust in horses and chariots, and refused the help of their fathers' God. Yet was He not so wise as the Egyptians, and equally as strong! And were they not running a fearful risk in rejecting One who would not recall His words of threatened punishment to those who refused His help? At best, the Egyptians were men, and not God, and their cavalry, flesh. If only they would trust Him, God would defy their foes, as a lion defies a company of unarmed shepherds, Isaiah 31:4. The mother-bird hovers over her brood to protect it from the kestrel; so would He spread His covering wing over Jerusalem, Isaiah 31:5. We may have deeply revolted, yet we may turn back to God with the certainty that He will receive and rescue us, Isaiah 31:6.
Sennacherib fell by the sword of his sons. Compare Isaiah 32:8 with 2 Kings 19:36-37. How different is our glorious King, whose many-sided nature meets all our needs! Isaiah 32:2. Before Him all men are unveiled in their true characters. Only those who are royal in heart shall stand before Him, Isaiah 31:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 32

1  The blessings of Christ's kingdom
9  Desolation is foreshown
14  Restoration is promised to succeed

What do the individual words in Isaiah 32:5 mean?

No will be called longer the foolish person generous and the miser nor said [to be] bountiful
לֹֽא־ יִקָּרֵ֥א ע֛וֹד לְנָבָ֖ל נָדִ֑יב וּלְכִילַ֕י לֹ֥א יֵֽאָמֵ֖ר שֽׁוֹעַ

לֹֽא־  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִקָּרֵ֥א  will  be  called 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
ע֛וֹד  longer 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
לְנָבָ֖ל  the  foolish  person 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָבָל  
Sense: foolish, senseless, fool.
נָדִ֑יב  generous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָדִיב  
Sense: inclined, willing, noble, generous.
וּלְכִילַ֕י  and  the  miser 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּילַי  
Sense: scoundrel, knave.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יֵֽאָמֵ֖ר  said  [to  be] 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שֽׁוֹעַ  bountiful 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁועַ  
Sense: independent, noble, free, rich, generous.