From cultivation to desolation: The vineyard as metaphor for woundedness and collective trauma in the ‘Song of the Vineyard’ (Is 5:1–7)

Abstract

In this article, we examine Isaiah 5:1–7, the ‘Song of the Vineyard’, using collective trauma theory as an interpretive lens. The analysis reveals how this prophetic poem articulates and processes shared traumatic experiences within the community. Building on contemporary trauma theory and its application to biblical literature, the current research contends that Isaiah’s vineyard metaphor functions as a trauma narrative, exposing both the collective wounds and social implications of Judah’s broken covenant relationship. Contribution: Through trauma-informed analysis, the study interprets the text while considering its historical context and provides methodological frameworks for incorporating collective trauma theory into biblical scholarship.