Isaías 3

1 Juicio contra Judá
El Señor, el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales,
les quitará a Jerusalén y a Judá
todo aquello en lo que confían:
hasta el último pedazo de pan
y la última gota de agua;

2 todos sus héroes y soldados;
jueces y profetas;
adivinos y ancianos;

3 oficiales militares y altos funcionarios;
consejeros, hábiles artesanos y astrólogos.

4 Haré que sus líderes sean muchachos,
y que niños pequeños sean sus gobernantes.

5 Se oprimirán unos a otros:
hombre contra hombre y
vecino contra vecino.
Los jóvenes insultarán a sus mayores,
y la gente vulgar mirará con desdén a la gente honorable.

6 En esos días, un hombre le dirá a su hermano:
«Como tú tienes abrigo; ¡sé nuestro líder!
¡Hazte cargo de este montón de ruinas!».

7 Pero él responderá:
«¡No! No puedo ayudarlos.
No tengo comida ni ropa que me sobre;
¡no me pongan al mando!».

8 Pues Jerusalén tropezará,
y Judá caerá,
porque hablan contra el Señor
y se niegan a obedecerlo.
Lo provocan descaradamente.

9 El aspecto mismo de su rostro los delata.
Exhiben su pecado como la gente de Sodoma
y ni siquiera tratan de esconderlo.
¡Están condenados!
Han traído destrucción sobre ellos mismos.

10 Díganles a los justos que a ellos les irá bien en todo.
¡Disfrutarán de la rica recompensa que se han ganado!

11 En cambio, los malvados están condenados,
porque recibirán exactamente lo que se merecen.

12 Líderes inmaduros oprimen a mi pueblo,
y las mujeres lo gobiernan.
Oh, pueblo mío, tus líderes te engañan;
te llevan por el camino equivocado.

13 El Señor
ocupa su lugar en el tribunal,
¡y presenta su caso contra su pueblo!

14 El Señor
se presenta para pronunciar juicio
sobre los ancianos y los gobernantes de su pueblo:
«Ustedes han destruido a Israel, mi viñedo.
Sus casas están llenas de cosas robadas a los pobres.

15 ¿Cómo se atreven a aplastar a mi pueblo,
al restregar la cara de los pobres contra el polvo?»,
reclama el Señor, el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales.

16 Advertencia a Jerusalén
El Señor
dice: «La hermosa Sión
es altanera:
estira su elegante cuello,
coquetea con los ojos y
camina con pasos delicados
haciendo sonar los brazaletes de sus tobillos.

17 Por eso el Señor le mandará costras a su cabeza.
El Señor
dejará calva a la hermosa Sión».

18 En aquel día de juicio
el Señor
la despojará de todo lo que la embellece:
adornos, diademas, collares con forma de luna creciente,

19 aretes, pulseras, velos,

20 pañuelos, brazaletes para el tobillo, fajas,
perfumes, dijes,

21 anillos, joyas,

22 vestidos de fiesta, túnicas, mantos, bolsos,

23 espejos, ropas de lino de alta calidad,
adornos para la cabeza y mantillas.

24 En lugar de oler a dulce perfume, apestará.
Usará una soga como faja
y su elegante cabello se le caerá.
Usará tela áspera en lugar de vestidos costosos,
y la vergüenza reemplazará su belleza.

25 Los hombres de la ciudad morirán a espada,
y sus guerreros morirán en batalla.

26 Las puertas de Sión llorarán y se lamentarán.
La ciudad será como una mujer violada,
acurrucada en el suelo.

Isaías 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The calamities about to come upon the land. (1-9) The wickedness of the people. (10-15) The distress of the proud, luxurious women of Zion. (16-26)

Verses 1-9 God was about to deprive Judah of every stay and support. The city and the land were to be made desolate, because their words and works had been rebellious against the Lord; even at his holy temple. If men do not stay themselves upon God, he will soon remove all other supports, and then they must sink. Christ is the Bread of life and the Water of life; if he be our Stay, we shall find that is a good part not to be taken away, Joh. 6:27 . Here note, 1. That the condition of sinners is exceedingly woful. 2. It is the soul that is damaged by sin. 3. Whatever evil befals sinners, be sure that they bring it on themselves.

Verses 10-15 The rule was certain; however there might be national prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners to repent and return to him. It was time for the Lord to show his might. He will call men to a strict account for all the wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is sinful to disregard the necessities of the poor, how odious and wicked a part do they act, who bring men into poverty, and then oppress them!

Verses 16-26 The prophet reproves and warns the daughters of Zion of the sufferings coming upon them. Let them know that God notices the folly and vanity of proud women, even of their dress. The punishments threatened answered the sin. Loathsome diseases often are the just punishment of pride. It is not material to ask what sort of ornaments they wore; many of these things, if they had not been in fashion, would have been ridiculed then as now. Their fashions differed much from those of our times, but human nature is the same. Wasting time and money, to the neglect of piety, charity, and even of justice, displease the Lord. Many professors at the present day, seem to think there is no harm in worldly finery; but were it not a great evil, would the Holy Spirit have taught the prophet to expose it so fully? The Jews being overcome, Jerusalem would be levelled with the ground; which is represented under the idea of a desolate female seated upon the earth. And when the Romans had destroyed Jerusalem, they struck a medal, on which was represented a woman sitting on the ground in a posture of grief. If sin be harboured within the walls, lamentation and mourning are near the gates.

Chapter Summary

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.