Isaiah 3:8-18

8 This will happen because Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen. The things they say and do are against the Lord; they turn against him.

9 The look on their faces shows they are guilty; like the people of Sodom, they are proud of their sin. They don't care who sees it. How terrible it will be for them, because they have brought much trouble on themselves.

10 Tell those who do what is right that things will go well for them, because they will receive a reward for what they do.

11 But how terrible it will be for the wicked! They will be punished for all the wrong they have done.

12 Children treat my people cruelly, and women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you in the wrong way and turn you away from what is right.

13 The Lord takes his place in court and stands to judge the people.

14 The Lord presents his case against the older leaders and other leaders of his people: "You have burned the vineyard. Your houses are full of what you took from the poor.

15 What gives you the right to crush my people and grind the faces of the poor into the dirt?" The Lord God All-Powerful says this.

16 The Lord says, "The women of Jerusalem are proud. They walk around with their heads held high, and they flirt with their eyes. They take quick, short steps, making noise with their ankle bracelets."

17 So the Lord will put sores on the heads of those women in Jerusalem, and he will make them lose their hair.

18 At that time the Lord will take away everything that makes them proud: their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands, their necklaces shaped like the moon,

Isaiah 3:8-18 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.