Isaiah 3:1-7

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply ^[a] and support: the whole supply of food and water,

2 the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,

3 the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

4 “I will make mere lads their leaders, and children will rule over them.”

5 The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.

6 A man will seize his brother within his father’s house: “You have a cloak—you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of rubble.”

7 On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. ^[b] I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”

Isaiah 3:1-7 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] Hebrew staff
• [b] Or binder of wounds