Isaiah3
World English Bible · Public Domain
1For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, the whole supply of bread, and the whole supply of water;
2the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,
3the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.
4I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.
5The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the wicked against the honorable.
6Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing, you be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand.”
7In that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.”
8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
9The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10Tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.
11Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them, for the deeds of their hands will be paid back to them.
12As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
13Yahweh stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.
14Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people and their leaders: “It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
16Moreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are arrogant, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking daintily as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;
17therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.”
18In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
19the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
20the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume containers, the charms,
21the signet rings, the nose rings,
22the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,
23the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.
24It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair, baldness; instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
25Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.
26Her gates shall lament and mourn. She shall be desolate and sit 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