Isaiah 3:19 — Word Study
WLCהַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת וְהָֽרְעָלֽוֹת׃
BSA[their] pendantsnᵉṭîyphâh [earrings, drops] braceletsshêrâh△ [chains, wrist-bands] and veilsraʻălâh△ [mufflers, long flowing veils]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת | the pendants | Particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת | and the bracelets | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְהָֽרְעָלֽוֹת׃ | and the veils | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | their pendants, bracelets, and veils; |
| KJV | The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, |
| ASV | the pendants, and the bracelets, and the mufflers; |
| YLT | Of the drops, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, |
| WEB | the earrings, the bracelets, the veils, |
| BBE | The ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing, |
Where they part company is וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת — see How Translations Differ.
The verse is structured as a list of items, with each item serving as a noun phrase that contributes to the overall message of loss.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 3 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 3:19
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Judgment Against Jerusalemgenerated
Isaiah 3:19 is part of a passage where the Lord, through Isaiah, declares that He will remove the finery of the women of Jerusalem as a sign of judgment. This reflects the broader theme of the loss of pride and vanity in the face of divine retribution. The surrounding verses (18 and 20) list other items of jewelry and adornment, emphasizing the material wealth that will be stripped away.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 24:22–30 | And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels. |
| 2 | Genesis 38:18–25 | “What pledge should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. |
| 3 | Exodus 35:22 | So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. |
| 4 | Numbers 31:50 | So we have brought to the LORD an offering of the gold articles each man acquired—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.” |
| 5 | Ezekiel 16:11 | I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת, ha.ne.ti.Fotgenerated
The word נְטִיפָה (ntiypah) refers to a drop or pendant, specifically an ornament that hangs from the ear. It is derived from a root meaning 'to drip', which connects it to the idea of something that dangles or hangs down. The parsing indicates that it is a feminine noun in the plural form, suggesting multiple pendants or earrings.
In this context, the pendants symbolize the adornments that the women valued highly, which will be taken away as part of the Lord's judgment. The use of this term highlights the focus on external beauty and the consequences of relying on such superficialities.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, listing three types of adornments. The main verb is implied, as the focus is on the items themselves: הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת, וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת, and וְהָֽרְעָלֽוֹת — the pendants, and the bracelets, and the veils. Each item is presented in a parallel structure, emphasizing their collective significance.
The use of conjunctions to connect the items indicates a cumulative effect, drawing attention to the array of finery that will be lost. This structure serves to reinforce the message of loss and judgment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the translators used τὸ for הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת, indicating a definite article that highlights the specific nature of the pendants. This choice shows a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on the items themselves.
The Greek word choice for the other items also aligns closely with the Hebrew, preserving the emphasis on the adornments that symbolize the pride of the women of Jerusalem.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 3:19 lists the jewelry and adornments that will be taken away from the women of Jerusalem, including their pendants, bracelets, and veils. This reflects the theme of judgment and the loss of material pride.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The removal of these items signifies a loss of pride and vanity, as the Lord judges the people for their reliance on external beauty.
These items are culturally significant and represent the wealth and status of the women in Jerusalem.
This verse fits within the broader theme of judgment in Isaiah, where the Lord addresses the moral and spiritual failures of His people.
We can reflect on the importance of inner beauty and humility over external adornments, as this passage warns against valuing material possessions too highly.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What do these adornments represent in the context of pride and vanity?
- How can we apply the message of this verse to our own lives regarding material possessions?
- In what ways do we see similar themes of judgment in our society today?
- How can we cultivate inner beauty and humility in our own lives?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 3:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe chains,.... According to Kimchi and R. Levi ben Gersom on Jude 8:26 these were drop bottles, or vessels of gold, in which were put stacte or balsam; and the former says here, they were such in
Read John Gill on Isaiah 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, Chains - Hebrew, hanªTiypowt (H5188), from naatap (H5197), to drop: pendants hanging about the neck and dropping on the breast.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 3:19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,Ver. 19. And the chains and the bracelets, &c.] The particulars of all their bravery we can say little unto upon certainty, since we are at this day ignorant of what ornaments and habiliments were then in use; and besides, the names here given unto them are such as the Jews themselves can hardly tell what to make of. It is a sad thing that the gauds and gaities of this age and country are such and so many, as that not six or seven verses, but so many whole chapters might be easily taken up in inventorying them. Lysander, a heathen, will rise up in judgment against many among us; for he would not allow his daughters to wear gorgeous…
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(19) The chains.—Better, as in Judges 8:26, where they are also ornaments of Midianite kings, earrings. These and the “bracelets “were probably of gold. The “mufflers” were the long flowing veil, or mantilla, worn so as to cover the head, as now in Spain, or Egypt, or Turkey.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges19. The ear-drops (Judges 8:26, R.V. “collars”) and the arm-chains and the veils—the last (the Arabian ra‘l) is in two parts, one thrown back over the head from above the eyes, the other hanging down over the face.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe chains - Margin, “sweet balls.” The word used here is derived from the verb נטף nâṭaph, to drop, to fall in drops, or to distil,” as juice from a plant.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 3 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18, 19. In that day — The day of their coming punishment. Bravery — In Isaiah 4:2 this word means comely. It is applied to different things: in Isaiah 60:7, to the temple; in Isaiah 64:11, to Jerusalem.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 3 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
their pendants, bracelets, and veils;
the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
their pendants, bracelets, and veils;
earrings, bracelets, veils,
Tyndale line
The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
the pendants, and the bracelets, and the mufflers;
the pendants, and the bracelets, and the mufflers;
The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
The sweete balles, and the brasselets, and the bonnets,
Strictly literal
the pearl-drops, and the bracelets, and the veils,
Of the drops, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
Of the pendants, and the bracelets, and the veils,
The drops, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
the ear pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
From the Latin
And chains and necklaces, and bracelets, and bonnets,
Simplified
pendant earrings, bracelets, veils,
The ear-rings, and the chains, and the delicate clothing,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls all agree on the core terms of the verse: הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת, וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת, and וְהָֽרְעָלֽוֹת. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some variations in the presentation of the words, but the essential meaning remains consistent across the texts.
הַנְּטִיפ֥וֹת וְהַשֵּׁיר֖וֹת וְהָֽרְעָלֽוֹת׃
3 of the 3 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
והנטפות והשירות והרעלות
3 words on the leather.
[הנטיפות] [והשירות] [והרעלות]
nothing on the leather here — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 3:19
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נְטִיפָה (ntiypah) refers to a drop or pendant, often used to describe an ornament, particularly for the ears. It is derived from the root word for 'to drip' and is associated with items like chains or collars. The entries consistently emphasize its ornamental nature.
[נְטִיפָה ?] n.[f.] drop, i.e. pendant, an ornament
base
H5188 [נְטִיפָה] drop, i.e. pendant, an ornament
5188 ntiyphah net-ee-faw'
from 5197; a pendant for the ears (especially of
pearls):--chain, collar.
see HEBREW for 05197
נְטִיפָה (ne.ti.phah) — pendant.
1) drop
1a) pendant, ornament
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHTd/Ncfpa
שֵׁרָה (sherah) means 'bracelet' and is derived from a root meaning to press. It refers specifically to a wrist-band that is compact or clasping. The word appears in the plural form in Isaiah 3:19.
[שֵׁרָה] n.[f.] bracelet;—pl. abs. Is 3:19
ref
H8285 [שֵׁרָה] bracelet
8285 sherah shay-raw'
from 8324 in its original sense of pressing; a wrist-band (as
compact or clasping):--bracelet.
see HEBREW for 08324
שֵׁרָה (she.rah) — bracelet.
bracelet
Conj | Art | N-cp — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncfpa
רַעָלָה (ra`alah) likely refers to a long veil or muffler, derived from a related word. It appears in the plural form in Isaiah 3:19. The entries consistently suggest its meaning as a type of veil.
[רְעָלָה] n.[f.] prob. veil;—pl. Is 3:19
ref
H7479 [רַעָלָה] prob. veil
7479 ra`alah rah-al-aw'
feminine of 7478; a long veil (as fluttering):--muffler.
see HEBREW for 07478
רְעָלָה (ra.a.lah) — veil.
1) veil
1a) meaning probable
Conj | Art | N-fp — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncfpa