Isaiah 3:2-8

2 the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,

3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

4 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”

5 People will oppress each other— man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored.

6 A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”

7 But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.”

8 Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

Isaiah 3:2-8 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.

Cross References

• 1. Ezekiel 17:13
• 2. Deuteronomy 18:10
• 3. 2 Kings 24:14; Isaiah 9:14-15
• 4. S 2 Kings 1:9
• 5. S Job 22:8
• 6. 2 Kings 24:14
• 7. S Ecclesiastes 10:11; Jeremiah 8:17
• 8. ver 12; Ecc 10:16 "fn"
• 9. Psalms 28:3; Isaiah 9:19; Jeremiah 9:8; Micah 7:2,6
• 10. S Isaiah 2:11
• 11. Jeremiah 30:12; Ezekiel 34:4; Hosea 5:13
• 12. Joel 1:16
• 13. Isaiah 24:2
• 14. Isaiah 1:7
• 15. Isaiah 9:15,17; Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 59:3,13
• 16. 2 Chronicles 33:6
• 17. S Job 1:11; Psalms 73:9,11; Isaiah 65:7