Isaiah 3:11-21

11 1Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
12 My people--2infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, 3your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up[a] the course of your paths.
13 The LORD 4has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.
14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the 5elders and princes of his people: "It is you who 6have devoured[b] the vineyard, 7the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by 8crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
16 The LORD said: 9Because 10the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, 11tinkling with their feet,
17 therefore the Lord 12will strike with a scab the heads of 13the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.
18 In that day the Lord will take away 14the finery of the anklets, the 15headbands, and the 16crescents;
19 the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves;
20 the 17headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets;
21 the signet rings and 18nose rings;

Isaiah 3:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 3

In this chapter the Jews are threatened with various calamities, on account of their sins, which would issue in their entire ruin and destruction. They are threatened with a famine, Isa 3:1 with a removal of useful men in church and state, and in common life, Isa 3:2,3 with ignorant and effeminate governors; the consequences of which would be oppression and insolence, Isa 3:4,5 yea, that such would be their state and condition, that men, though naturally ambitious of honour, would refuse to have the government of them, Isa 3:6,7 the reasons of these calamities, and of this ruin and fall of them, are their evil words and actions against the Lord, which were highly provoking to him; and their impudence in sinning like Sodom, which was to their own harm, Isa 3:8,9 yet, in the midst of all this, it is the will of God that the righteous should be told it shall be well with them, with the reason of it; when it shall be ill with the wicked, as a just recompence of reward, Isa 3:10,11 the errors and mistakes of the people are attributed to their childish and effeminate governors, Isa 3:12 wherefore the Lord determines to plead their cause, and contend with their elders and rulers, because they had spoiled and devoured the poor, Isa 3:13-15 and particularly the women are threatened, for their pride and luxury, to have their ornaments taken from them, which are particularly mentioned, Isa 3:16-24 and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy, that their mighty men should perish by the sword in war, and the city should be desolate, Isa 3:25,26.

Cross References 18

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or they have confused
  • [b]. Or grazed over; compare Exodus 22:5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.