Isaiah 3:1-15

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1 See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
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.
9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.
12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
13 The LORD takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people.
14 The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

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.

Cross References 40

  • 1. S Psalms 18:18
  • 2. S Leviticus 26:26; Amos 4:6
  • 3. Isaiah 5:13; Isaiah 65:13; Ezekiel 4:16
  • 4. Ezekiel 17:13
  • 5. Deuteronomy 18:10
  • 6. 2 Kings 24:14; Isaiah 9:14-15
  • 7. S 2 Kings 1:9
  • 8. S Job 22:8
  • 9. 2 Kings 24:14
  • 10. S Ecclesiastes 10:11; Jeremiah 8:17
  • 11. ver 12; Ecc 10:16 "fn"
  • 12. Psalms 28:3; Isaiah 9:19; Jeremiah 9:8; Micah 7:2,6
  • 13. S Isaiah 2:11
  • 14. Jeremiah 30:12; Ezekiel 34:4; Hosea 5:13
  • 15. Joel 1:16
  • 16. Isaiah 24:2
  • 17. Isaiah 1:7
  • 18. Isaiah 9:15,17; Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 30:9; Isaiah 59:3,13
  • 19. 2 Chronicles 33:6
  • 20. S Job 1:11; Psalms 73:9,11; Isaiah 65:7
  • 21. Numbers 32:23; Isaiah 59:12; Jeremiah 14:7; Hosea 5:5
  • 22. S Genesis 13:13
  • 23. S 2 Chronicles 34:24; S Proverbs 8:36; Romans 6:23
  • 24. S Deuteronomy 5:33; S Deuteronomy 12:28; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Psalms 37:17; Jeremiah 22:15
  • 25. S Genesis 15:1; S Psalms 128:2
  • 26. S Job 9:13; Isaiah 57:20
  • 27. Deuteronomy 28:15-68
  • 28. S 2 Chronicles 6:23
  • 29. Jeremiah 21:14; Lamentations 5:16; Ezekiel 24:14
  • 30. S ver 4
  • 31. Isaiah 9:16; Isaiah 19:14; Isaiah 28:7; Isaiah 29:9; Jeremiah 23:13; Jeremiah 25:16; Micah 3:5
  • 32. S Job 10:2
  • 33. S Psalms 82:1; S Isaiah 2:4; Micah 6:2
  • 34. S 1 Samuel 12:7; S Job 22:4
  • 35. S Job 24:9; James 2:6
  • 36. Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 25:4
  • 37. S Psalms 94:5
  • 38. S Job 24:14
  • 39. Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 26:6; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 32:6; Isaiah 51:23
  • 40. Isaiah 5:7
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