Literature: Verse 22 is more lucid in other translations. Gileadi’s translation reads: “Woe to those who are valiant at drinking wine and champions at mixing liquor!” The New International Version (NIV) has: “Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks.” These translations clarify the parallels. While the King James’s “the mighty/men of strength” is the same kind of similarity, the best translation for preserving the contrast is the NIV’s “heroes/champions.” Much is expected of champions; yet they do not have deeds to match their stature. Rather, they are merely experts in drinking.
Like verse 11, this condemnation is not specifically against drinking. Rather it decries the waste of the powerful men’s potential. These social elites should have produced fruit for the master of the vineyard, yet they are wild grapes, bitter and useless. They waste themselves consuming wine rather than being the superior spiritual vintage that the master expected from his vineyard.
Verse 23 continues and clarifies verse 22: Isaiah is not condemning the drunkard, but the socially powerful who justify adopting wicked ways because of the worldly rewards. Their wickedness is causing unrighteousness in their larger society, preventing those who would be righteous from becoming so because of their influential ideas and their social status.