Isaiah 3:22

22 The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,

Isaiah 3:22 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:22

The changeable suits of apparel
To put on and off upon occasion; Kimchi says they were beautiful garments, and so they stand opposed to filthy ones, ( Zechariah 3:3 Zechariah 3:4 ) ( Judges 14:12 Judges 14:19 ) and the mantles:
or "cloaks", as the Targum; Jarchi translates the word by "bedclothes", or coverings for the bed, such as tapestry, rugs, quilts which were worked with purple; hence the Septuagint makes use of words to express it by of such a signification: and the wimples;
according to Jarchi, these were "towels" or linen cloths, with which they wiped their hands; but, according to Kimchi, they were "veils" with which women covered themselves; and so the word is rendered in ( Ruth 3:15 ) and elsewhere F4 he observes, that some interpret it of "gloves"; some think "aprons" are meant: our English word "wimples" comes from the Dutch word "wimpel", a muffler, or plaited linen cloth, which nuns wear to cover their necks and breasts; the word is also used for a streamer or flag: and the crisping pins:
with which they used to part their hair, and curl their locks, and keep them so: according to Kimchi, they were "purses"; and such made of silk, and wrought with gold and silver, may very well be reckoned among the ornaments of women; and the word is rendered "bags" in ( 2 Kings 5:23 ) some think needle cases are meant; the word by which the Targum explains it seems to design "hooks" or "clasps", with which women clasped their garments, that they might be kept close about them.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 In Sepher Shorash. rad. (xpj) .

Isaiah 3:22 In-Context

20 The head-bands, and the arm-chains, and the worked bands, and the perfume-boxes, and the jewels with secret powers,
21 The rings, and the nose-jewels,
22 The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,
23 The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils.
24 And in the place of sweet spices will be an evil smell, and for a fair band a thick cord; for a well-dressed head there will be the cutting-off of the hair, and for a beautiful robe there will be the clothing of sorrow; the mark of the prisoner in place of the ornaments of the free.
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