Isaiah3
New Living Translation
1The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will take away from Jerusalem and Judah everything they depend on: every bit of bread and every drop of water,
2all their heroes and soldiers, judges and prophets, fortune-tellers and elders,
3army officers and high officials, advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers.
4I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers.
5People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.
6In those days a man will say to his brother, “Since you have a coat, you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
7But he will reply, “No! I can’t help. I don’t have any extra food or clothes. Don’t put me in charge!”
8For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey him. They provoke him to his face.
9The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don’t even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves.
10Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
11But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.
12Childish leaders oppress my people, and women rule over them. O my people, your leaders mislead you; they send you down the wrong road.
13The Lord takes his place in court and presents his case against his people.
14The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of his people: “You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor.
15How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
16The Lord says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty: craning her elegant neck, flirting with her eyes, walking with dainty steps, tinkling her ankle bracelets.
17So the Lord will send scabs on her head; the Lord will make beautiful Zion bald.”
18On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful: ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,
19earrings, bracelets, and veils;
20scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes, perfumes, and charms;
21rings, jewels,
22party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses;
23mirrors, fine linen garments, head ornaments, and shawls.
24Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink. She will wear a rope for a sash, and her elegant hair will fall out. She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes. Shame will replace her beauty.
25The men of the city will be killed with the sword, and her warriors will die in battle.
26The gates of Zion will weep and mourn. The city will be like a ravaged woman, huddled on the ground.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 3.
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.
Key Words
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הִנֵּה: lo!
אָדוֹן: sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
צָבָא: a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)
סוּר: to turn off (literal or figurative)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
מִשְׁעֵן: a support (concretely), i.e. (figuratively) a protector or sustenance
מִשְׁעֵנָה: support (abstractly), i.e. (figuratively) sustenance or (concretely) a walking-stick
Cross References
Isaiah 3Poole links 'stay and staff of bread' with this Levitical phrase meaning bread, the staff of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Poole identifies this as the classical parallel for the 'staff of bread' representing divine physical support.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct textual link explaining 'the stay of bread' as the staff of bread broken in judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
An explicit prophetic parallel where God threatens to break the staff of bread during siege.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historically fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar carried away the mighty men, craftsmen, and prudent leaders of Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the 'vineyard' as the Jewish theocracy, which the corrupt leaders have eaten up.
Supported by JFB
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
Theological parallel where the righteous eat the fruit of their own way and doings.
Supported by JFB
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
Identifies God's eyes as too pure to behold evil, illuminating 'provoking the eyes of His glory.'
Supported by JFB
Parallel where the pride and countenance of Israel testifies directly to their face.
Supported by JFB