Isaiah 3:1-15

Leaders of Judah and Jerusalem

1 For look, the Lord Yahweh of hosts [is] removing {every source of support} from Jerusalem and from Judah: all of [the] supplies of bread and all of [the] supplies of water,

2 mighty warrior and man of war, judge and prophet, and diviner and elder,

3 captain of fifty and the honorable men of rank, and counselor and skillful magicians and skillful enchanter.

4 And I will make boys their princes, and children shall rule over them.

5 And the people will be oppressed {by each other} and a man by his neighbor. The boy will act arrogantly toward the elder, and the dishonorable toward the honorable.

6 Indeed, a man will seize his brother [in] the house of his father: "{You have a cloak}; you shall be a leader for us, and this heap of ruins [shall be] under your hand!"

7 He will lift up [his voice] on that day, saying, "I will not be a healer; in my house there is no bread and there is no cloak. You shall not make me [the] leader of [the] people!"

8 For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen because their speech and their deeds [are] against Yahweh, defying the eyes of his glory.

9 The look on their faces testifies against them and they declare their sin like Sodom; they do not hide [it]. Woe to their soul! For they have dealt out evil to themselves.

10 Tell [the] innocent that [it is] good for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

11 Woe to the wicked! [It is] bad! For what is done [by] his hands will be done to him.

12 My people--children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, your leaders are misleading [you], and they confuse the course of your paths.

13 Yahweh takes his stand to conduct a legal case and takes his stand to judge [the] peoples.

14 Yahweh enters into judgment with the elders of his people and its princes. "And you! You have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor [is] in your houses!

15 {Why} do you crush my people and grind [the] face of [the] poor?" {declares} the Lord Yahweh of hosts.

Isaiah 3:1-15 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "supplies and supplies"
• [b] Literally "man by man"
• [c] Literally "a cloak for you"
• [d] Singular
• [e] Singular
• [f] Literally "What to you"