Isaiah 3
Isaiah 3 foretells God’s judgment on Jerusalem and Judah because of their sins. The chapter highlights how God will remove leaders and competent individuals, leading to chaos and the rise of incompetent rulers. This will result in widespread suffering and disgrace for both the leaders and the people, especially the wealthy and proud women. The chapter concludes with a sobering vision of the consequences of rebellion against God.
Isaiah 3:1-5 (NKJV)
1 For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stock and the store, the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water;
2 The mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder;
3 The captain of fifty and the honorable man, the counselor and the skillful artisan, and the expert enchanter.
4 "I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
5 The people will be oppressed, every one by another and every one by his neighbor; the child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable."
God is removing all forms of stability and leadership from Judah, including essential resources and competent leaders, leaving them vulnerable. In place of wise rulers, incompetent and inexperienced individuals will rise to power, leading to societal breakdown. There will be oppression and a loss of respect between generations, causing chaos and disorder throughout the land.
Isaiah 3:6-7 (NKJV)
6 When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, "You have clothing; you be our ruler, and let these ruins be under your power,"
7 In that day he will protest, saying, "I cannot cure your ills, for in my house is neither food nor clothing; do not make me a ruler of the people."
In this time of crisis, people will be so desperate for leadership that they will try to appoint anyone who seems even slightly capable, based on their possessions rather than their qualifications. However, these individuals will refuse, knowing they are not equipped to manage the widespread ruin and social decay.
Isaiah 3:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For Jerusalem stumbled, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory.
9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.
Jerusalem and Judah have fallen because of their blatant rebellion against God. Their sinful actions and even their defiant expressions reveal their guilt, similar to the people of Sodom. Their open sinfulness invites God’s judgment, and the consequences of their actions will bring suffering upon themselves.
Isaiah 3:10-11 (NKJV)
10 “Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him."
Though the nation as a whole faces judgment, God promises safety and reward for the righteous. They will reap the benefits of their faithfulness to God. However, the wicked will face destruction, receiving punishment based on their evil deeds, reflecting the principle of divine justice.
Isaiah 3:12 (NKJV)
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths."
The leadership of Judah has become weak and misguided, with inexperienced and incompetent people ruling over the nation. This has led to a loss of direction, and the people are being led astray. The very structure of society has deteriorated, and God laments the condition of His people.
Isaiah 3:13-15 (NKJV)
13 The Lord stands up to plead, and stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of His people and His princes: "For you have eaten up the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing My people and grinding the faces of the poor?" Says the Lord God of hosts.
God is rising to judge the leaders who have abused their power. The elders and princes, who should have protected the people, have exploited them, enriching themselves at the expense of the poor. God condemns this injustice and promises to hold these leaders accountable for their mistreatment of the vulnerable.
Isaiah 3:16-17 (NKJV)
16 Moreover the Lord says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet,
17 Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts."
The women of Jerusalem are condemned for their pride and vanity, flaunting their wealth and beauty in a time of moral decline. In response, God will humble them through suffering, stripping them of their adornments and exposing their shame. Their external beauty will be replaced with humiliation as a result of their arrogance.
Isaiah 3:18-23 (NKJV)
18 In that day the Lord will take away the finery: the jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
19 The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
20 The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms,
21 and the rings; the nose jewels,
22 the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses,
23 and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.
God will remove the material possessions that these women have relied on for their status and beauty. The luxurious clothing, jewelry, and accessories that symbolize their wealth and pride will be stripped away, showing that reliance on external adornments cannot protect them from judgment.
Isaiah 3:24 (NKJV)
24 And so it shall be: Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.
God contrasts the prideful appearance of the women with the humiliation they will face. Their perfumes will be replaced by foul odors, their beautiful clothes by sackcloth, and their hair will be shaved. This transformation from luxury to disgrace emphasizes how God will bring low those who exalt themselves.
Isaiah 3:25-26 (NKJV)
25 Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war.
26 Her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit on the ground."
As a result of the coming judgment, Jerusalem will lose its defenders in battle, leaving the city vulnerable and desolate. The women will mourn the loss of their men, and the city itself will be left in grief and destruction. This imagery highlights the complete devastation that awaits the people because of their rebellion.