Isaiah 3

26 verses

TL;DR

The Lord condemns Jerusalem’s leaders, predicts social chaos with children and women ruling, and warns of divine judgment that will strip the people of their vanity and bring ruin.

Summary

Isaiah 3 begins with God declaring that He will take away the supplies of Jerusalem and Judah, condemning a long list of leaders—warriors, judges, prophets, and officials—for their wickedness. The prophet foretells a reversal of power: children and women will rule, leading to oppression and a breakdown of social order. The people will become self‑ruled, lacking bread and clothing, and the city will be ruined because of its sinful speech and deeds. The chapter alternates between messages of woe to the wicked and hope for the righteous, then details God’s judgment against the haughty daughters of Zion, stripping them of all ornamental beauty and replacing it with humiliation. Finally, it prophesies the destruction of men in war, the lament of the city’s gates, and its desolation.

Outline

Condemnation of leaders and deprivation of supplies
Reversal of power: children and women rule
People’s self‑rule and lack of provision
Divine judgment against vanity and pride
Destruction of men, lament of gates, desolation

Themes

Judgment and divine sovereigntySocial disorder and reversal of powerPride and vanity leading to humiliation

Keywords

Lordjudgmentoppressionchildrenwomenvanityornamentspunishmentruinpride

People

Mighty manMan of warJudgeProphetPrudentAncientCaptain of fiftyHonourable manCounsellorCunning artificerEloquent oratorChildrenWomenLORD

Places

JerusalemJudahZion

Things

breadwaterornamentscrownsringsbraceletsearringsnose jewelssuits of apparelmantleswimplespinsglassesfine linenhoodsvailsstinkrentbaldnesssackclothburning

Key Verses

Isaiah 3:1: God declares the removal of supplies and condemns leaders.
Isaiah 3:4: Prediction of children ruling and social chaos.
Isaiah 3:16: Describes the pride of Zion’s daughters.
Isaiah 3:18-20: Details the stripping of women’s ornaments as judgment.

Questions

What does Isaiah’s condemnation of leaders reveal about the relationship between political power and divine accountability?
How does the reversal of power to children and women illustrate the collapse of societal structures?
In what ways does the text link vanity and ornamentation to divine judgment?
What lessons can contemporary readers draw about the dangers of pride and self‑rule?
How does the imagery of lamenting gates reflect communal grief and loss?

Sentiment

negative
The chapter predominantly expresses judgment, condemnation, and warning of impending ruin.