Isaías 3

1 Porque he aquí, el Señor, DIOS de los ejércitos, quitará de Jerusalén y de Judá el sustento y el apoyo: todo sustento de pan y todo sustento de agua;

2 al poderoso y al guerrero, al juez y al profeta, al adivino y al anciano,

3 al capitán de cincuenta y al hombre respetable, al consejero, al diestro artífice y al hábil encantador.

4 Les daré muchachos por príncipes, y niños caprichosos gobernarán sobre ellos.

5 Y el pueblo será oprimido, el uno por el otro y cada cual por su prójimo; el joven se alzará contra el anciano, y el indigno contra el honorable.

6 Cuando un hombre eche mano a su hermano en la casa de su padre, diciendo: Tú tienes manto, serás nuestro jefe, y estas ruinas estarán bajo tu mando,

7 ese día el otro se indignará, diciendo: No seré vuestro sanador, porque en mi casa no hay ni pan ni manto; no debéis nombrarme jefe del pueblo.

8 Pues Jerusalén ha tropezado y Judá ha caído, porque su lengua y sus obras están contra el SEÑOR, rebelándose contra su gloriosa presencia.

9 La expresión de su rostro testifica contra ellos, y como Sodoma publican su pecado; no lo encubren. ¡Ay de ellos!, porque han traído mal sobre sí mismos.

10 Decid a los justos que les irá bien, porque el fruto de sus obras comerán.

11 ¡Ay del impío! Le irá mal, porque lo que él merece se le hará.

12 ¡Oh pueblo mío! Sus opresores son muchachos, y mujeres lo dominan. Pueblo mío, los que te guían te hacen desviar y confunden el curso de tus sendas.

13 El SEÑOR se levanta para contender, está en pie para juzgar a los pueblos.

14 El SEÑOR entra en juicio con los ancianos de su pueblo y con sus príncipes: Pues vosotros habéis devorado la viña, el despojo del pobre está en vuestras casas.

15 ¿Qué pensáis al aplastar a mi pueblo y al moler la cara de los pobres? declara el Señor, DIOS de los ejércitos.

16 Además, dijo el SEÑOR: Puesto que las hijas de Sion son orgullosas, andan con el cuello erguido y los ojos seductores, y caminan con paso menudo haciendo tintinear las ajorcas en sus pies,

17 el Señor herirá con tiña el cráneo de las hijas de Sion, y el SEÑOR desnudará su frente.

18 Aquel día el Señor les quitará el adorno de las ajorcas, los tocados y las lunetas,

19 los pendientes, los brazaletes y los velos,

20 las redecillas, las cadenillas de los pies, las cintas, las cajitas de perfume y los amuletos,

21 los anillos y aretes de nariz,

22 las ropas de gala, las túnicas, los mantos y las bolsas,

23 los espejos, la ropa interior, los turbantes y los velos.

24 Y sucederá que en vez de perfume aromático habrá podredumbre; en vez de cinturón, cuerda; en vez de peinado artificioso, calvicie; en vez de ropa fina, ceñidor de cilicio; cicatriz en vez de hermosura.

25 Tus hombres caerán a espada, y tus poderosos en batalla.

26 Sus puertas se lamentarán y estarán de luto; y ella, desolada, se sentará en tierra.

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.