This chapter can be divided into three parts, verses 1-7, verses 8-25 and verses 26-30.

5: 1-7. The parable of the vineyard compares the people of Israel and Judah to a vineyard which has been given the utmost care but despite this produces useless sour grapes. The explanation of the parable, which is presented in the form of a popular song interrupted by question and answer to the listeners, is given in verse 7. The idea of Israel as a vine or a vineyard is found in other passages in the Old Testament, in Hosea 10: 1, Jeremiah 2 :21,5: 10,6: 9,12: 10, Ezekiel 15 : 1-8,17:3-10, 19: 10-14. It was a favourite comparison because the vine was an important plant in Israel's farming. In the New Testament, Jesus gives us the parable of Mark 12: 1-9, of the tenants in the vineyard, which is also recorded in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. The imagery of the vine is also taken up in John 15: 1-16. Jesus is the true vine and his disciples are branches.

In 5:8-25, the statement, 'You are doomed!' is repeated six times in a series of accusations against the people of Judah and Jerusalem which ends with a prophecy of approaching judgement. This passage adds more specific evils to the list of sins of which the people are guilty. Land profiteering, drunkenness, lying and hypocrisy, conceit, are rampant. As the prophet presents his accusations, he also warns, in various ways, of how destruction is coming towards the people. In verse 14 there is a vivid picture of the underworld of the spirits of the dead waiting to swallow the people of Jerusalem, like a terrible monster.

In 5: 26-30 a vivid description is given of an invading army whom God sends to destroy Judah. It describes in words what can still be seen in the stone relief carvings of the chariot armies of Assyria, which survive from the ruins of Nineveh. The Assyrian chariot armies came 'like a whirlwind' into the lands they attacked.