Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 3

Verse 1

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos , for emphasis. the

the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

stay. staff. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia . Hebrew. mash'en (masculine); mish'an (feminine)

bread. water. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all kinds of food.

Verse 2

prudent = diviner: i.e. the king. Compare Proverbs 16:10 .

ancient = elder.

Verse 3

honourable man = eminent or highly respected man.

cunning artificer = skilled in arts.

eloquent orator = skilled in magnetism.

Verse 4

children = youths, or boys.

babes = with caprice. Not the same word

Verse 5

child = a youth, or a boy. as in Isaiah 3:12 .

Verse 6

clothing. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all necessaries.

be = become.

Verse 7

swear. Hebrew "lift up [the hand]": i.e. swear. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 14:22 .Exodus 6:8 . Numbers 14:30 . Deuteronomy 32:40 ). App-92 .

Verse 8

ruined = overthrown.

the eyes of His glory = His glorious presence, "eyes" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy , for the person as manifested.

Verse 9

shew = expression.

witness = testify.

declare. hide it not = have declared. have not hidden.

Sodom. See Isaiah 1:9 , Isaiah 1:10 .

their soul = them (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 10

the righteous = a righteous one.

Verse 11

Woe. Figure of speech Maledictio. App-6 .

the wicked, &c. = a lawless evil one ( ra'a', App-44 .), [it shall not be well]. Hebrew. rasha'.

hands. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is done with them.

given him = done to him.

Verse 12

children = little ones.

destroy = have swallowed up.

Verse 13

people = peoples.

Verse 14

of. Genitive of Relation ( App-17 .) = taken from.

poor = oppressed. Hebrew. 'ani .

Verse 15

beat = crush.

saith = is the oracle of. the Lord.

Verse 16

daughters. Compare the "kine of Bashan" (Amos 4:1 ).

their. Hebrew masculine. Often used of women who act as men.

Verse 17

the LORD* . One of the 134 places where, in the primitive text, the Sopherim say they changed Jehovah to Adonai.

secret parts ; or, nakedness.

Verse 18

bravery = finery.

ornaments = metal crescent-shaped discs.

cauls = caps. Old French " cale ".

their round tires like the moon = round crescent-shaped headbands.

Verse 19

chains = pendants.

mufflers = light face-veils.

Verse 20

bonnets = headdress. Hebrew. pe'er. Not therefore peculiar to the "latter" portion of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:10 ) as alleged.

ornaments = anklets.

headbands = girdles. Compare Isaiah 49:18 .

tablets = scent bottles. Hebrew houses of the soul; nephesh, used in the sense of breath.

earrings = amulets.

Verse 21

nose jewels. Worn in Palestine to-day.

Verse 22

changeable suits, &c . = robes: i.e. state or gala dresses.

wimples = a neck binding (Old English),

crisping pins = reticules or purses.

Verse 23

glasses = mirrors (of polished metal).

fine linen = underclothing.

hoods = turbans.

vails = long flowing vails.

Verse 24

sweet smell = perfume.

stink = rottenness, or stench.

rent = a rope,

well set hair = richly plaited hair.

stomacher = sash or girdle, often worked in silk and gold. Still worn in Palestine.

girding of sackcloth = girding with a rope.

burning = branding.

Verse 25

mighty = might. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "mighty ones".

Verse 26

gates = entrances.

mourn. Occurs in "former" portion here, Isaiah 19:8 (as adjective); Isaiah 24:4 , Isaiah 24:7 ; Isaiah 33:9 ; and in the "latter" portion, Isaiah 57:18 (as noun); Isaiah 60:20 (as noun); Isaiah 61:2 , s(as adjective); Isaiah 66:10 .