Isaiah 3:5-15

5 1And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.
6 For 2a man will take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: "You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule";
7 in that day he will speak out, saying: "I will not be a 3healer;[a] in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people."
8 For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen, because their 4speech and their deeds are against the LORD, 5defying his glorious presence.[b]
9 For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin 6like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! 7For they have brought evil on themselves.
10 8Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, 9for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11 10Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.
12 My people--11infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, 12your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up[c] the course of your paths.
13 The LORD 13has taken his place to contend; he stands to judge peoples.
14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the 14elders and princes of his people: "It is you who 15have devoured[d] the vineyard, 16the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by 17crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?" declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

Isaiah 3:5-15 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 17

  • 1. See Micah 7:3-6
  • 2. Isaiah 4:1
  • 3. [Isaiah 1:6]
  • 4. See Psalms 73:9-11
  • 5. Isaiah 65:3
  • 6. Genesis 13:13; Genesis 18:20; Ezek. 16:46, 48, 49
  • 7. [Romans 6:23]
  • 8. Ecclesiastes 8:12; See Deuteronomy 28:1-14
  • 9. Psalms 128:2
  • 10. Ecclesiastes 8:13; See Deuteronomy 28:15-68
  • 11. ver. 4
  • 12. See Isaiah 28:14-22
  • 13. Psalms 7:6; Hosea 4:1
  • 14. Micah 3:1
  • 15. Psalms 14:4
  • 16. Amos 3:10
  • 17. [Psalms 94:5]

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Hebrew binder of wounds
  • [b]. Hebrew the eyes of his glory
  • [c]. Or they have confused
  • [d]. Or grazed over; compare Exodus 22:5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.