Isaiah 3:16

16 The Lord said, "Look how proud the women of Jerusalem are! They walk along with their noses in the air. They are always flirting. They take dainty little steps, and the bracelets on their ankles jingle.

Isaiah 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:16

Moreover the Lord saith, because the daughters of Zion are
haughty
The wives or daughters of the rulers, princes, or elders; these were "high", affected to look high and tall, and therefore stretched out their necks, and walked on tiptoes; or "were lifted up" with pride, which is the root and source of all the vanity expressed in their gesture and ornaments. And walk with stretched forth necks
or "throats"; looking high, and above others, and upon them with contempt and disdain; this is a sign of pride; see ( Psalms 75:5 ) : and wanton eyes;
either winking with their eyes to others to follow them to their houses, as Kimchi interprets it; so Jarchi thinks it is expressive of their looks, as we, of wanton looks; and the Septuagint render it, "with winking of eyes"; so the Syriac and Arabic versions, or painting their eyes; so the Targum,

``they walk with their eyes painted,''

as Jezebel painted her face, ( 2 Kings 9:30 ) ( Jeremiah 4:30 ) (arqyo) , in the Talmudic language, is used ^F17 for vermilion, or red lead, with which they painted their eyes, as they did also with (adydu) , ^F18 black lead. Walking and mincing [as] they go:
jumping and dancing as children in the streets; or using the like gesture as those who beat upon a drum; or walking in even paces, in a soft and delicate manner; all which senses Kimchi ^F19 observes in the word. The whole is rendered by the Septuagint, "and in the walk of their feet", or as they walk "together, drawing their coats" upon the ground after them, which makes a noise. The Targum is, "with hair rolled up", bound up and plaited. And making a tinkling with their feet;
having a sort of bells hanging on them, as Kimchi thinks, which made a noise as they went. Of the word here used, and the sense of it, (See Gill on Isaiah 3:18). The Targum renders it, "provoking with their feet"; either the lust of men; or the anger of the Lord, as the Syriac version; the Septuagint and Arabic versions, "playing with the feet".

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Roshhashanah, fol. 18. 1. Misn. Sabbat. c. 12. sect. 4. Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.
F18 Targum on 2 Kings ix. 30.
F19 Sepher Shorash. rad. (Ppj) .

Isaiah 3:16 In-Context

14 The Lord is bringing the elders and leaders of his people to judgment. He makes this accusation: "You have plundered vineyards, and your houses are full of what you have taken from the poor.

15 You have no right to crush my people and take advantage of the poor. I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have spoken."

16 The Lord said, "Look how proud the women of Jerusalem are! They walk along with their noses in the air. They are always flirting. They take dainty little steps, and the bracelets on their ankles jingle.

17 But I will punish them - I will shave their heads and leave them bald."

18 A day is coming when the Lord will take away from the women of Jerusalem everything they are so proud of - the ornaments they wear on their ankles, on their heads, on their necks,