Isaiah 3

Isaiah 3:1

Isaiah: God controls the nations Isaiah declares how God’s people should be living An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on Isaiah chapters 1 to 9 www.easyenglish.info Norman Hillyer This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

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Chapter 3 Despair in *Jerusalem v1 See what the *Lord (commander of heaven’s armies) will do to *Jerusalem and to Judah. He will cut off supplies of food and water. v2-3 He will take away every sort of leader in authority – military officers, judges, ministers and officials in government, and wise advisers. And even people who say that they can see the future. v4 Mere youths without experience will become officials and leaders. v5 Families will quarrel. Neighbours will fight each other. Youths will insult old people. And nobody will respect those who deserve honour. v6 A man will seize one of his brothers and say to him: ‘You still have a coat.

You be our leader. Take up responsibility for this heap of stones.’ v7 But the brother will refuse. ‘I have no solution to our troubles. I have no food or clothes at home. Do not make me the leader.’

v8 Both national and local government have completely broken down. This is because people’s evil words and actions have made the *Lord their enemy. v9 But they talk proudly about their wicked lives, as the inhabitants of Sodom used to do. Such people bring great trouble upon themselves. v10 Some people obey God and live good lives. Tell those people that God will reward them. v11 But some people do not obey God. Tell those people that they will suffer. What they have done to other people, other people will do to them. v12 My people! Your leaders are fools. They are as weak as women. They are as silly as children. Your leaders are taking you away from God.

Verses 1-7

True religion will produce a true society (see Isaiah 2:1-5). But Isaiah saw that actual affairs in *Jerusalem were the opposite.

 God’s judgement often happens by means of society’s circumstances. Luxury changes into lack. Human relationships break down. Able people are unwilling to be leaders.

Verses 8-12

Proud behaviour (verse 9) causes moral failures in words and deeds. Such failures must affect both personal life and national life. That is God’s law. God’s judgement v13 As if he were standing in court, the *Lord is ready to accuse his people. v14 He declares that the leaders are worse than thieves. The leaders have filled their own houses with the property of poor people.

v15 You have no authority whatever to take unfair advantage of those who are unable to defend themselves. That is the *Lord’s message.

Verses 13-15

God warns the leaders in particular that he is well aware of their wicked practices. God warns women in *Jerusalem v16 Look at those women in *Jerusalem! They walk about so proudly. In the street they try to attract men to have sex with them. The women have no shame. They wear tiny bells on their ankles to attract attention as they walk. v17 But I will make their heads sore and make their bodies naked. v18-23 I will strip these women of all their dresses and the precious things that they wear. From every part of their body they will lose everything, from ear-rings to ankle chains.

Every one of their aids to beauty will disappear. So will every luxury. v24 Instead of sweet cream, a bad smell. Instead of a lovely belt, a *rope. Instead of beautiful hair, a bald head. Instead of the latest fashion, rough cloth. Instead of beauty, shame. v25 The women will even lose their husbands, because the men will die in battle. v26 The entrances to *Jerusalem will be mere holes in the wall.

The gates will be missing. The women will sit on the ground and cry in despair.

Verses 16-26

At that time, enemies will attack and destroy *Jerusalem. God’s judgement will show itself in all that the people suffer.

 ‘Women’ is more accurately ‘daughters’ and so probably means all the inhabitants of *Jerusalem. ‘Jerusalem’ in the Hebrew language is a feminine (female) noun (a word that names a person or a thing).

© 2007, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

February 2007

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