Isaiah 3NASB
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Isaiah3

New American Standard

1For behold, the Lord God of armies is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah Both supply and support, the entire supply of bread And the entire supply of water;

2The mighty man and the warrior, The judge and the prophet, The diviner and the elder,

3The captain of fifty and the esteemed person, The counselor and the expert artisan, And the skillful enchanter.

4And I will make mere boys their leaders, And mischievous children will rule over them,

5And the people will be oppressed, Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor; The youth will assault the elder, And the contemptible person will assault the one honored.

6When a man lays hold of his brother in his father’s house, saying, “You have a cloak, you shall be our ruler! And these ruins will be under your authority,”

7He will protest on that day, saying, “I will not be your healer, For in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; You should not appoint me ruler of the people.”

8For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, To rebel against His glorious presence.

9The expression of their faces testifies against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have done evil to themselves.

10Say to the righteous that it will go well for them, For they will eat the fruit of their actions.

11Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him, For what he deserves will be done to him.

12My people! Their oppressors treat them violently, And women rule over them. My people! Those who guide you lead you astray And confuse the direction of your paths.

13The Lord arises to contend, And stands to judge the people.

14The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and leaders of His people, “It is you who have devoured the vineyard; The goods stolen from the poor are in your houses.

15What do you mean by crushing My people And oppressing the face of the poor?” Declares the Lord God of armies.

16Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And jingle the anklets on their feet,

17The Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the Lord will make their foreheads bare.”

18On that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments,

19dangling earrings, bracelets, veils,

20headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets,

21finger rings, nose rings,

22festive robes, outer garments, shawls, purses,

23papyrus garments, undergarments, headbands, and veils.

24Now it will come about that instead of balsam oil there will be a stench; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty.

25Your men will fall by the sword And your mighty ones in battle.

26And her gates will lament and mourn, And she will sit deserted on the ground.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 3.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The calamities about to come upon the land. (1-9). The wickedness of the people. (10-15). The distress of the proud, luxurious women of Zion. (16-26).

vv1-9

God was about to deprive Judah of every stay and support. The city and the land were to be made desolate, because their words and works had been rebellious against the Lord; even at his holy temple. If men do not stay themselves upon God, he will soon remove all other supports, and then they must sink. Christ is the Bread of life and the Water of life; if he be our Stay, we shall find that is a good part not to be taken away, John 6:27. Here note, 1. That the condition of sinners is exceedingly woful. 2. It is the soul that is damaged by sin. 3. Whatever evil befals sinners, be sure that they bring it on themselves.

vv10-15

The rule was certain; however there might be national prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners to repent and return to him. It was time for the Lord to show his might. He will call men to a strict account for all the wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is sinful to disregard the necessities of the poor, how odious and wicked a part do they act, who bring men into poverty, and then oppress them!

vv16-26

The prophet reproves and warns the daughters of Zion of the sufferings coming upon them. Let them know that God notices the folly and vanity of proud women, even of their dress. The punishments threatened answered the sin. Loathsome diseases often are the just punishment of pride. It is not material to ask what sort of ornaments they wore; many of these things, if they had not been in fashion, would have been ridiculed then as now. Their fashions differed much from those of our times, but human nature is the same. Wasting time and money, to the neglect of piety, charity, and even of justice, displease the Lord. Many professors at the present day, seem to think there is no harm in worldly finery; but were it not a great evil, would the Holy Spirit have taught the prophet to expose it so fully? The Jews being overcome, Jerusalem would be levelled with the ground; which is represented under the idea of a desolate female seated upon the earth. And when the Romans had destroyed Jerusalem, they struck a medal, on which was represented a woman sitting on the ground in a posture of grief. If sin be harboured within the walls, lamentation and mourning are near the gates.

Cross References

Isaiah 3
v1Leviticus 26:26thematic

Poole links 'stay and staff of bread' with this Levitical phrase meaning bread, the staff of life.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Psalms 105:16thematic

Poole identifies this as the classical parallel for the 'staff of bread' representing divine physical support.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Ezekiel 4:16thematic

Direct textual link explaining 'the stay of bread' as the staff of bread broken in judgment.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Ezekiel 5:16thematic

An explicit prophetic parallel where God threatens to break the staff of bread during siege.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v22 Kings 24:14fulfillment

Historically fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar carried away the mighty men, craftsmen, and prudent leaders of Jerusalem.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v14Isaiah 5:1-7thematic

Identifies the 'vineyard' as the Jewish theocracy, which the corrupt leaders have eaten up.

Supported by JFB

v2Hosea 3:4thematic

Judah left without king, prince, or reliable guide, matching Hosea's description of Israel's deprivation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Explains 'prudent' (Hebrew soothsayer/diviner) which God removes to expose their false confidences.

Supported by JFB

Parallels the woe of having childish rulers in understanding, capability, and wisdom.

Supported by JFB

v10Proverbs 1:31thematic

Theological parallel where the righteous eat the fruit of their own way and doings.

Supported by JFB

v7Genesis 14:22thematic

Illustrates 'lifting up the hand' as the ancient physical gesture used in taking a solemn oath.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Poole cites this to show 'lift up' refers to swearing an oath by raising the hand.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v8Habakkuk 1:13thematic

Identifies God's eyes as too pure to behold evil, illuminating 'provoking the eyes of His glory.'

Supported by JFB

v9Hosea 5:5thematic

Parallel where the pride and countenance of Israel testifies directly to their face.

Supported by JFB