Isaiah 3:16-4:1
Expanded Bible
A Warning to Women of Jerusalem
16 The Lord says,
“The ·women of Jerusalem [L daughters of Zion] are ·proud [haughty; arrogant].
They walk around with ·their heads held high [L an outstretched neck],
and they flirt with their eyes.
·They take quick, short steps […prancing/mincing along],
·making noise with their ankle bracelets [L jingling with their feet].”
17 So the Lord will put ·sores [scabs; skin lesions] on the heads of those ·women in Jerusalem [L daughters of Zion],
and he will ·make them lose their hair [lay bare/make bald their forehead].
18 ·At that time [L In that day] the Lord will take away ·everything that makes them proud [their beauty/glory]: their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands, their ·necklaces shaped like the moon [L crescents], 19 their ·earrings [or pendants], bracelets, and veils, 20 their ·scarves [headdresses], ·ankle chains [or armlets], the ·cloth belts worn around their waists [sashes], their ·bottles of perfume [sachets], and ·charms [amulets], 21 their signet rings, nose rings, 22 their ·fine robes [festal robes; fine gowns], capes, ·shawls [cloaks], and purses, 23 their mirrors, linen ·dresses [garments; undergarments], ·turbans [or tiaras], and ·long shawls [or flowing veils].
24 Instead of ·wearing sweet-smelling perfume [spice; fragrance], ·they will stink [there will be stench/decay].
Instead of ·fine cloth belts [a sash], ·they will wear the ropes of captives [L a rope].
Instead of ·having their hair fixed in fancy ways [an elegant coiffure], ·they will be bald [baldness].
Instead of ·fine clothes [an expensive robe], ·they will wear clothes of sadness [burlap; sackcloth].
·Instead of being beautiful, they will wear the brand of a captive [L Branding instead of beauty].
25 At that time your men will ·be killed with swords [L fall by the sword],
and your ·heroes [mighty/strong ones] will die in war.
26 ·There will be crying and sadness near the city gates [L Her gates will lament and mourn].
·Jerusalem will be like a woman who has lost everything and sits on the ground [L Deserted/Destitute, she will sit on the ground].
4 ·At that time [L In that day] seven women will grab one man [C war will have decimated the male population]
and say, “We will eat our own bread
and ·make [wear] our own clothes [C things a husband would normally provide],
but ·please marry us [L let us be called by your name]!
Please, take away our ·shame [disgrace; C from having no husband or children].”
Isaiah 3:16-4:1
New American Standard Bible
Judah’s Women Denounced
16 Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the (A)daughters of Zion are haughty
And walk with [a]heads held high and seductive eyes,
And go along with mincing steps
And jingle the anklets on their feet,
17 The Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs,
And the Lord will make their foreheads bare.”
18 On that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, (B)crescent ornaments, 19 dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, 20 (C)headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, 21 [b]finger rings, (D)nose rings, 22 festive robes, outer garments, shawls, purses, 23 papyrus garments, undergarments, headbands, and veils.
24 Now it will come about that instead of (E)balsam oil there will be a stench;
Instead of a belt, a rope;
Instead of (F)well-set hair, a (G)plucked-out scalp;
Instead of fine clothes, a (H)robe of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men will (I)fall by the sword
And your [c]mighty ones in battle.
26 And her [d](J)gates will lament and mourn,
And she will (K)sit deserted on the ground.
A Remnant Prepared
4 For seven women will take hold of (L)one man on that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; (M)take away our disgrace!”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 3:16 Lit outstretched necks
- Isaiah 3:21 Or signet rings
- Isaiah 3:25 Lit strength
- Isaiah 3:26 Lit entrances
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
