---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 3"
description: "CHAPTER 3   :-. 1. For—continuation of  :-. Lord of hosts—therefore
able to do as He says. doth—present for
future, so certain is the accomplishment. stay"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/3"
---

CHAPTER 3

.

**1. For**—continuation of .
**Lord of hosts**—therefore
able to do as He says.
**doth**—present for
future, so certain is the accomplishment.
**stay . . . staff**—the
same *Hebrew* word, the one masculine, the other feminine, an
*Arabic* idiom for *all kinds of support.* What a change
from the previous luxuries ()! Fulfilled in the siege by Nebuchadnezzar and afterwards by
Titus ([Jeremiah 37:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/37/21); [Jeremiah 38:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/38/9)).

**2.** Fulfilled ().
**prudent**—the *Hebrew*
often means a "soothsayer" (); thus it will mean, the diviners, on whom they rely,
shall in that day fail. It is found in a good sense (), from which passage the Jews interpret it *a king;*
"without" whom Israel long has been ().
**ancient**—old and
experienced ([1 Kings 12:6-8](../../../kjv/1-kings/12/6-8)).

**3. captain of fifty**—not only
captains of thousands, and centurions of a hundred, but even
semi-centurions of fifty, shall fail.
**honourable**—literally,
"of dignified aspect."
**cunning**—skilful. The
mechanic's business will come to a standstill in the siege and
subsequent desolation of the state; artisans are no mean "stay"
among a nation's safeguards.
**eloquent orator**—rather,
as *Vulgate,* "skilled in whispering," that is,
incantation ([Psalms 58:5](../../../kjv/psalms/58/5)). See [Psalms 58:5](../../../kjv/psalms/58/5), below; and on "prudent," see on [Psalms 58:5](../../../kjv/psalms/58/5).

**4. children**—in ability for
governing; antithesis to the "ancient" (see [Isaiah 3:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/12);
[Ecclesiastes 10:16](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/10/16)).
**babes**—in warlike might;
antithesis to "the mighty" and "man of war."

**5.** The anarchy resulting under
such imbecile rulers ([Isaiah 3:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/4));
unjust exactions mutually; the forms of respect violated ([Isaiah 3:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/4)).
**base**—low-born. Compare
the marks of "the last days" ([Isaiah 3:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/4)).

**6.** Such will be the want of men
of wealth and ability, that they will "take hold of" () the first man whom they meet, having any property, to make
him "ruler."
**brother**—one having no
better hereditary claim to be ruler than the "man"
supplicating him.
**Thou hast clothing**—which
none of us has. Changes of raiment are wealth in the East ().
**ruin**—Let our ruined
affairs be committed to thee to retrieve.

**7. swear**—literally, "lift
up," namely, his hand; the gesture used in solemn attestation.
Or, his voice, that is, answer; so *Vulgate.*
**healer**—of the body
politic, incurably diseased ().
**neither . . . clothing**—so
as to relieve the people and maintain a ruler's dignity. A nation's
state must be bad indeed, when none among men, naturally ambitious,
is willing to accept office.

**8.** Reason given by the prophet,
why all shrink from the government.
**eyes of his glory**—to
provoke His "glorious" Majesty before His "eyes"
(compare [Isaiah 49:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/5); [Habakkuk 1:13](../../../kjv/habakkuk/1/13)).
The *Syriac* and LOWTH,
by a slight change of the *Hebrew,* translate, "the *cloud*
of His glory," the Shekinah.

**9. show**—The *Hebrew*
means, "that which may be *known* by their countenances"
[GESENIUS and WEISS].
But MAURER translates,
"Their respect for person"; so *Syriac* and *Chaldee.*
But the parallel word "declare" favors the other view.
KIMCHI, from the *Arabic,*
translates "their hardness" (, *Margin*), or impudence of countenance (). They have lost not only the substance of virtue, but its
color.
**witness**—literally,
"corresponds" to them; their look answers to their inner
character ([Hosea 5:5](../../../kjv/hosea/5/5)).
**declare**— ([Hosea 5:5](../../../kjv/hosea/5/5)). "Foaming *out* their own shame"; so far from
making it a secret, "glorying" in it ([Hosea 5:5](../../../kjv/hosea/5/5)).
**unto themselves**—Compare
"in themselves" ([Proverbs 1:31](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/31);
[Proverbs 8:36](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/36); [Jeremiah 2:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/19);
[Romans 1:27](../../../kjv/romans/1/27)).

**10.** The faithlessness of many is
no proof that *all* are faithless. Though nothing but croaking
of frogs is heard on the surface of the pool, we are not to infer
there are no fish beneath [BENGEL].
(See [Isaiah 1:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/19); [Isaiah 1:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/20)).
**fruit of doings**— ([Isaiah 1:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/20)) in a good sense ([Galatians 6:8](../../../kjv/galatians/6/8);
[Revelation 22:14](../../../kjv/revelation/22/14)). Not salvation by
works, but by fruit-bearing faith ([Isaiah 45:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/24);
[Jeremiah 23:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/6)). GESENIUS
and WEISS translate,
*Declare as to* the righteous that, &c. MAURER,
"Say that *the righteous is blessed.*"

**11. ill**—antithesis to "well"
([Isaiah 3:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/10)); emphatic ellipsis
of the words italicized. "Ill!"
**hands**—his conduct;
"hands" being the instrument of acts ([Ecclesiastes 8:12](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/12);
[Ecclesiastes 8:13](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/13)).

**12.** (See ).
**oppressors**—literally,
"exactors," that is, exacting princes (). They who *ought* to be *protectors* are
*exactors;* as unqualified for rule as "children," as
effeminate as "women." Perhaps it is also implied that they
were under the influence of their harem, the women of their court.
**lead**—*Hebrew,*
"call thee blessed"; namely, the false *prophets,* who
flatter the people with promises of safety in sin; as the political
"rulers" are meant in the first clause.
**way of thy paths**— (). The right way set forth in the law. "Destroy"—*Hebrew,*
"Swallow up," that is, cause so utterly to disappear that
not a vestige of it is left.

**13. standeth up**—no longer
*sitting* in silence.
**plead**—indignant against
a wicked people ([Isaiah 66:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/16);
[Ezekiel 20:35](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/35)).

**14. ancients**—Hence they are
spoken of as "taken away" ([Isaiah 3:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/1);
[Isaiah 3:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/2)).
**vineyard**—the Jewish
theocracy ([Isaiah 5:1-7](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/1-7);
[Psalms 80:9-13](../../../kjv/psalms/80/9-13)).
**eaten up**—"burnt";
namely, by "oppressive exactions" ([Psalms 80:9-19](../../../kjv/psalms/80/9-19)). Type of the crowning guilt of the husbandmen in the days
of Jesus Christ ([Psalms 80:9-19](../../../kjv/psalms/80/9-19)).
**spoil . . . houses**— ([Psalms 80:9-19](../../../kjv/psalms/80/9-19)).

**15.** What right have ye to beat,
c. ([Psalms 94:5](../../../kjv/psalms/94/5) [Micah 3:2](../../../kjv/micah/3/2);
[Micah 3:3](../../../kjv/micah/3/3)).
**grind**—by exactions, so
as to leave them nothing.
**faces**—persons; with the
additional idea of it being *openly* and *palpably* done.
"Presence," equivalent to "face" (*Hebrew*).

**16. Because the daughters of Zion
are haughty,** c.—Luxury had become great in Uzziah's prosperous
reign ([2 Chronicles 26:5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/26/5)).
**stretched forth**—proudly
elevated ([Psalms 75:5](../../../kjv/psalms/75/5)).
**wanton**—rather, "making
the eyes to glance about," namely, wantonly ([Psalms 75:5](../../../kjv/psalms/75/5)) [MAURER]. But
LOWTH, "falsely
setting off the eyes with paint." Women's eyelids in the East
are often colored with stibium, or powder of lead (see on [Psalms 75:5](../../../kjv/psalms/75/5) [Jeremiah 4:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/30), *Margin*).
**mincing**—tripping with
short steps.
**tinkling**—with their
ankle-rings on both feet, joined by small chains, which sound as they
walk, and compel them to take short steps; sometimes little bells
were attached ([Isaiah 3:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/18); [Isaiah 3:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/20)).

**17. smite with a scab**—literally,
"make bald," namely, by disease.
**discover**—cause them to
suffer the greatest indignity that can befall female captives, namely
to be stripped naked, and have their persons exposed (; compare with [Isaiah 47:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/47/3);
[Isaiah 20:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/20/4)).

**18. bravery**—the finery.
**tinkling**—(See ).
**cauls**—network for the
head. Or else, from an *Arabic* root, "little suns,"
answering to the "tires" or neck-ornaments, "like the
moon" ([Judges 8:21](../../../kjv/judges/8/21)). The
*chumarah* or crescent is also worn in front of the headdress in
West Asia.

**19. chains**—rather, pendants,
hanging about the neck, and dropping on the breast.
**mufflers**—veils covering
the face, with apertures for the eyes, close above and loosely
flowing below. The word radically means "tremulous,"
referring to the changing effect of the spangles on the veil.

**20. bonnets**—turbans.
**ornaments of the legs**—the
short stepping-chains from one foot to another, to give a measured
gait; attached to the "tinkling ornaments" ().
**headbands**—literally,
"girdles."
**tablets**—rather, "houses
of the breath," that is, smelling boxes [*Vulgate*].
**earrings**—rather,
amulets suspended from the neck or ears, with magic formulæ
inscribed; the root means to "whisper" or "conjure."

**21. nose jewels**—The cartilage
between the nostrils was bored to receive them; they usually hung
from the left nostril.

**22.** Here begin *entire*
articles of apparel. Those before were single ornaments.
**changeable**—from a root,
"to put off"; not worn commonly; put on and off on special
occasions. So, dress-clothes ().
**mantles**—fuller tunics
with sleeves, worn over the common one, reaching down to the feet.
**wimples**—that is,
mufflers, or hoods. In [Ruth 3:15](../../../kjv/ruth/3/15),
"veils"; perhaps here, a broad cloak, or shawl, thrown over
the head and body.
**crisping pins**—rather,
money bags ([2 Kings 5:23](../../../kjv/2-kings/5/23)).

**23. glasses**—mirrors of
polished metal ([Exodus 38:8](../../../kjv/exodus/38/8)). But
the *Septuagint,* a transparent, gauze-like, garment.
**hoods**—miters, or
diadems ([Isaiah 62:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/3); [Zechariah 3:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/5)).
**veils**—large enough to
cover the head and person. Distinct from the smaller veils
("mufflers") above ([Zechariah 3:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/5)). Token of woman's subjection ([Zechariah 3:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/5)).

**24. stink**—arising from ulcers
([Zechariah 14:12](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/12)).
**girdle**—to gird up the
loose Eastern garments, when the person walked.
**rent**—the *Septuagint,*
better, a "rope," an emblem of poverty; the poor have
nothing else to gird up their clothes with.
**well-set hair**— ([1 Peter 3:3](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/3);
[1 Peter 3:4](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/4)).
**baldness**— ([1 Peter 3:4](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/4)).
**stomacher**—a broad
plaited girdle.
**sackcloth**— ([1 Peter 3:4](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/4)).
**burning**—a sunburnt
countenance, owing to their hoods and veils being stripped off, while
they had to work as captives under a scorching sun ([1 Peter 3:4](../../../kjv/1-peter/3/4)).

**25. Thy men**—of Jerusalem.

**26. gates**—The place of
concourse personified is represented mourning for the loss of those
multitudes which once frequented it.
**desolate . . . sit upon . . .
ground**—the very figure under which Judea was represented on
medals after the destruction by Titus: a *female sitting* under
a palm tree in a posture of grief; the motto, *Judæa capta*
([Job 2:13](../../../kjv/job/2/13); [Lamentations 2:10](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/10),
where, as here primarily, the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar is
alluded to).

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