Isaiah 3:1

1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water;

Isaiah 3:1 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 3:1

For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts
These titles of Jehovah, expressive of power and authority, are used to show that he is able to execute what he threatens to do; and the word "behold" is prefixed, to excite attention to what is about to be said: doth take away from Jerusalem, and from Judea;
the present tense is used for the future, because of the certainty of what would be done to the Jews, both in city and country; for as in the preceding chapter ( Isaiah 2:1-22 ) it is foretold what shall befall the antichristian party among the nations of the world, this is a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews by the Romans; at which time there would be a dreadful famine, signified by the taking away the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay
of water;
bread and water being the stay and staff of man's life, which support and maintain it; and, in case of disobedience, a famine was threatened this people very early, and in much such terms as here, ( Leviticus 26:26 ) and as there was a very sore famine at the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 52:6 ) so there was a very dreadful one when the city was besieged by the Romans, as related by Josephus, and predicted by Christ, ( Matthew 24:7 ) .

Isaiah 3:1 In-Context

1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water;

2 the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,

3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skilful magician and the expert in charms.

4 And I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

5 And the people will oppress one another, every man his fellow and every man his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base fellow to the honorable.