Isaiah Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 For, 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;

• (a) Because they trusted in their abundance and prosperity he shows that they should be taken from them.

3:2 the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the diviner, the elder,

• (b) The temporal governor and the minister.

3:3 the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.

• (c) By these he means that God would take away everything that was of any value, and which they had any opportunity to want in themselves.

3:4 I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.

• (d) Not only in age: but in manners, knowledge and strength.

3:5 The people will be oppressed, everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor. The child will behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.

• (e) For lack of good regiment and order.

3:6 Indeed 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."

• (f) He shows that this plague will be so horrible that contrary to the common manner of men, who by nature are ambitious, no one will be found able or willing to be their governor.

3:7 In 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."

• (g) Fear will cause him to forswear himself, rather than to take such a dangerous charge upon himself.

3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

3:9 The 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.

• (h) When God examines their deed on which they now set an impudent face, he will find the mark of their impiety in their forehead.

3:10 Tell the righteous "Good!" For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

• (i) You that are godly be assured that God will defend you in the midst of these troubles.

3:11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.

3:12 As 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.

• (k) Because the wicked people were more addicted to their princes than to the commandments of God, he shows that he would give them such princes, by whom they would have no help, but that they would be manifest tokens of his wrath, because they would be fools and effeminate.

3:13 Yahweh stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.

3:14 Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and their leaders: "It is you who have eaten up the vineyard. The spoil of the poor is in your houses.

• (l) Meaning that the rulers and governors had destroyed his Church and not preserved it, according to their duty.

3:15 What do you mean that you crush my people, and grind the face of the poor?" says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

• (m) That is, you show all cruelty against them.

3:16 Moreover Yahweh said, "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes, walking to trip as they go, jingling ornaments on their feet;

• (n) He means the people because of the arrogancy and pride of their women who gave themselves to all wantonness and dissolution.
• (o) Which declared their pride.
• (p) As a sign that they were not chaste.
• (q) Which showed their wantonness.
• (r) They delighted then in slippers that creaked or had little plates sewn on them which tinkled as they went.

3:17 therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion, and Yahweh will make their scalps bald."

3:18 In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,

3:19 the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,

3:20 the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,

3:21 the signet rings, the nose rings,

3:22 the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,

3:23 the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.

• (s) In rehearsing all these things particularly he shows the lightness and vanity of such as cannot be content with comely apparel according to their degree.

3:24 It 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 girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

3:25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.

• (t) Meaning that God will not only punish the women but their husbands who have permitted this dissoluteness and also the commonwealth which has not remedied it.

3:26 Her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit on the ground.