Isaiah 3:6

6 A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”

Isaiah 3:6 in Other Translations

6 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:

6 For a 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";

6 In those days a man will say to his brother, “Since you have a coat, you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of ruins!”

6 One brother will grab another and say, 'You look like you've got a head on your shoulders. Do something! Get us out of this mess.'

6 A man will even seize his brother in his father's house, [saying:] "You have a cloak-you be our leader! This heap of rubble will be under your control."

Isaiah 3:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:6

When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of
his father
One of the same country, kindred, and family; for only one of their brethren, and not a stranger, might rule over them, ( Deuteronomy 17:15 ) this taking hold of him may design not so much a literal taking hold of his person, his hand or garment, much less using any forcible measures with him; though indeed the Jews would have took Christ by force, who was one of their brethren, and would have made him a temporal king, which he refused, as this man did here spoken of, ( John 6:15 ) but rather an importunate desire and entreaty, urging him, as follows, [saying], thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler;
that is, he had good and rich clothing, fit for a ruler or civil magistrate to appear in, which everyone had not, and some scarce any in those troublesome times: and [let] this ruin be under thy hand;
that is, let thy care, concern, and business, be to raise up the almost ruined state of the city and nation; and let thy hand be under it, to support and maintain it. The Targum is,

``and this power shall be under thy hand;''

thou shalt have power and government over the nation, and the honour and greatness which belong unto it, and all shall be subject unto thee. The Septuagint renders it, "let my meat be under thee", or "from thee", as the Arabic version.

Isaiah 3:6 In-Context

4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”

5 People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored.

6 A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”

7 But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”

8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.