For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,
The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.
Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
The rings, and nose jewels,
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.
Isaiah 3 focuses on the Lord's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem due to their rampant sin and faithlessness (Isaiah 2:22, Isaiah 3:8). This chapter serves as a stark warning against trusting in earthly power and possessions, highlighting the consequences of societal decay and the importance of humility before God.
The Removal of Leadership and Stability (Isaiah 3:1-7)
Isaiah prophesies that the Lord will remove all sources of stability and wise counsel from Judah. This includes not only the obvious leaders like "the mighty man and the soldier" (Isaiah 3:2), but also those who provided societal structure and guidance: judges, prophets, diviners, elders, captains, counselors, skilled craftsmen, and enchanters (Isaiah 3:1-3). The inclusion of "expert enchanters" (Isaiah 3:3) reveals the depth of Judah's depravity, as they turned to occult practices, a capital offense under God's law, instead of seeking Him.
The removal of these qualified individuals creates a power vacuum. God will replace them with immature and ineffective leaders: "I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them" (Isaiah 3:4). This will lead to societal breakdown, with oppression of the poor by the rich and disrespect for elders (Isaiah 3:5). People will desperately seek leadership, but even those with the means to lead will recognize the impossibility of the task and refuse to take on the responsibility (Isaiah 3:6-7). This paints a grim picture of a society collapsing from within, devoid of wisdom, justice, and stability. This situation arises when homes and families unravel, producing leaders who lack spiritual foundation, and demonstrates the importance of teaching and living God’s Word at home if we want to see godly leadership in our neighborhoods, schools, and government.
The Root of the Problem: Defiance and Injustice (Isaiah 3:8-15)
The reason for this coming judgment is the people's open defiance of God. Isaiah declares, "Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence" (Isaiah 3:8). They flaunt their sin like Sodom and bring disaster upon themselves (Isaiah 3:9). Instead of seeking God in repentance and restoration, Judah paraded its sin.
While the righteous will ultimately benefit from their good choices, the wicked will receive the just recompense for their actions (Isaiah 3:10-11). The Lord will bring charges against the leaders of Israel, accusing them of plundering the poor and crushing the needy (Isaiah 3:14-15). These leaders, instead of shepherding God's people, have exploited them for their own gain. God will not overlook this injustice. He stands ready to defend the weak and vulnerable, leveling justice upon their oppressors.
Judgment on the Arrogant Women of Jerusalem (Isaiah 3:16-26)
Isaiah then turns his attention to the wealthy women of Jerusalem, whose extravagance and arrogance are a symptom of the nation's spiritual decay (Isaiah 3:16). They walk with their "necks outstretched and wanton eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet" (Isaiah 3:16). Their elaborate adornments, a sign of their ill-gotten wealth, will be stripped away (Isaiah 3:18-23). Instead of perfume, there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothes, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding (Isaiah 3:24).
This serves as a powerful reminder that outward beauty and material possessions are fleeting and ultimately meaningless in the face of God's judgment. True beauty comes from a humble and contrite heart, not from expensive clothes and jewelry.
The chapter concludes with a lament over the devastation that will befall Jerusalem. Her men will fall in battle, leaving her desolate and mourning (Isaiah 3:25-26). The city will be left empty and broken, a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's ways. The daughters of Zion, who were elaborately adorned with all manner of jewelry and garments, obviously benefited from this ill-gotten wealth (Isaiah 3:16, 18-23). They were arrogant and haughty (Isaiah 3:16). As Judah’s men would fall in battle, slaughtered by the Babylonian invasion, Judah’s surviving women—the ones not taken away as captives—would go to desperate lengths to try and ease their disgrace (Isaiah 4:1).
Isaiah 3 serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of humility, justice, and faithfulness to God. It warns against the dangers of trusting in earthly power and possessions and highlights the consequences of societal decay and spiritual apathy. It also offers a glimmer of hope, reminding us that God's judgment is ultimately aimed at restoration and that He will always defend the cause of the righteous. Even amid chaos, God will not destroy forever the people of his covenant (Isaiah 3:10).
For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,
The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord God of hosts.
Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
The rings, and nose jewels,
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.
Isaiah 3 focuses on the Lord's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem due to their rampant sin and faithlessness (Isaiah 2:22, Isaiah 3:8). This chapter serves as a stark warning against trusting in earthly power and possessions, highlighting the consequences of societal decay and the importance of humility before God.
The Removal of Leadership and Stability (Isaiah 3:1-7)
Isaiah prophesies that the Lord will remove all sources of stability and wise counsel from Judah. This includes not only the obvious leaders like "the mighty man and the soldier" (Isaiah 3:2), but also those who provided societal structure and guidance: judges, prophets, diviners, elders, captains, counselors, skilled craftsmen, and enchanters (Isaiah 3:1-3). The inclusion of "expert enchanters" (Isaiah 3:3) reveals the depth of Judah's depravity, as they turned to occult practices, a capital offense under God's law, instead of seeking Him.
The removal of these qualified individuals creates a power vacuum. God will replace them with immature and ineffective leaders: "I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them" (Isaiah 3:4). This will lead to societal breakdown, with oppression of the poor by the rich and disrespect for elders (Isaiah 3:5). People will desperately seek leadership, but even those with the means to lead will recognize the impossibility of the task and refuse to take on the responsibility (Isaiah 3:6-7). This paints a grim picture of a society collapsing from within, devoid of wisdom, justice, and stability. This situation arises when homes and families unravel, producing leaders who lack spiritual foundation, and demonstrates the importance of teaching and living God’s Word at home if we want to see godly leadership in our neighborhoods, schools, and government.
The Root of the Problem: Defiance and Injustice (Isaiah 3:8-15)
The reason for this coming judgment is the people's open defiance of God. Isaiah declares, "Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence" (Isaiah 3:8). They flaunt their sin like Sodom and bring disaster upon themselves (Isaiah 3:9). Instead of seeking God in repentance and restoration, Judah paraded its sin.
While the righteous will ultimately benefit from their good choices, the wicked will receive the just recompense for their actions (Isaiah 3:10-11). The Lord will bring charges against the leaders of Israel, accusing them of plundering the poor and crushing the needy (Isaiah 3:14-15). These leaders, instead of shepherding God's people, have exploited them for their own gain. God will not overlook this injustice. He stands ready to defend the weak and vulnerable, leveling justice upon their oppressors.
Judgment on the Arrogant Women of Jerusalem (Isaiah 3:16-26)
Isaiah then turns his attention to the wealthy women of Jerusalem, whose extravagance and arrogance are a symptom of the nation's spiritual decay (Isaiah 3:16). They walk with their "necks outstretched and wanton eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet" (Isaiah 3:16). Their elaborate adornments, a sign of their ill-gotten wealth, will be stripped away (Isaiah 3:18-23). Instead of perfume, there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothes, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding (Isaiah 3:24).
This serves as a powerful reminder that outward beauty and material possessions are fleeting and ultimately meaningless in the face of God's judgment. True beauty comes from a humble and contrite heart, not from expensive clothes and jewelry.
The chapter concludes with a lament over the devastation that will befall Jerusalem. Her men will fall in battle, leaving her desolate and mourning (Isaiah 3:25-26). The city will be left empty and broken, a stark reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's ways. The daughters of Zion, who were elaborately adorned with all manner of jewelry and garments, obviously benefited from this ill-gotten wealth (Isaiah 3:16, 18-23). They were arrogant and haughty (Isaiah 3:16). As Judah’s men would fall in battle, slaughtered by the Babylonian invasion, Judah’s surviving women—the ones not taken away as captives—would go to desperate lengths to try and ease their disgrace (Isaiah 4:1).
Isaiah 3 serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of humility, justice, and faithfulness to God. It warns against the dangers of trusting in earthly power and possessions and highlights the consequences of societal decay and spiritual apathy. It also offers a glimmer of hope, reminding us that God's judgment is ultimately aimed at restoration and that He will always defend the cause of the righteous. Even amid chaos, God will not destroy forever the people of his covenant (Isaiah 3:10).