Studying Isaiah provides a deeper understanding of the gospel and God’s character. Remember that the early church did not yet have the New Testament. They relied mostly on what the prophet Isaiah wrote.

The main messages of Isaiah 3:

1. Judgement on their leadership in Judah and Jerusalem
2. Isaiah describes a people on the verge of collapse and a disregard for God’s law
3. [v16+] God says, “Zion women are stuck-up, prancing around in their high heels,
   Making eyes at all the men in the street, swinging their hips, Tossing their hair, gaudy and garish in cheap jewelry.”
4. “Behold the Lord (‘adon: to be a ruler), the LORD of hosts (Yahuwah: (self-existing)) …” Two forms of the titles Lord and LORD.
5. God will remove from Judah/Jerusalem) men of war, police protection, judges and courts, pastors and teachers, captains and generals, doctors and nurses, even repairmen by trade, and those who are capable of ruling will refuse the role.

Verses 8-9: This is where today we get the statements “down for the count” and “they have made their bed now sleep in it”. Verse 9 is of particular interest. The appearance of their faces witnessed against them, And their sin, as Sodom, they declared, They have not hidden! Woe to their soul, For they have done to themselves evil (YLT; Young’s Literal Translation).

Verse 9: Have you or someone else ever said … “the look on your face tells us differently. Read verse 9a … The look on their continence (pânı̂ym; face) witnesses against them”

Verse 10-11: The righteous, will be rewarded, disaster to those who fall away or reject God’s will, doom to the wicked, what one has done to others will be done to them.

NOTE of CAUTION. This is why the Lord’s Prayer (as we call it) is for individuals, not a congregation… “forgive us our (my) trespasses JUST as we (I) forgive those who have trespassed against us (me).

Verse 12: We at ahabiblemoments did NOT write this verse. We are quoting the Bible.

“As for my people, children [analogues] are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead you cause you to err” (American Standard Version). This verse points out the surrendering of male leadership (Adam and Eve).

Verse 13,14: Have you ever hear it said that someone is acting as Judge and Jury? The Lord makes this claim in 3:13,14. “Jehovah stands up to contend and stands to judge the peoples.” He will be judge and Jury over all Israel [and mankind].

Verse 15,16: The accusations made.

Verse 15-24: The punishment here on earth to those accused in verses 15 and 16. Look closely at verse 24… (KJV) “Instead of a rich robe (WELL DRESSED) a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.” Branding is kee in the Greek. A synonym for branding/kee is tattoos. Hmmm? Wearing tattoos instead of things of beauty.

The context of verse 25 & 26 continues in the next chapter (4:1). This will be in our next article.

Isaiah 3:25  Your men shall fall by the sword, and your warriors in battle. 

Isaiah 3:26  And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall be banished; she shall sit upon the ground.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025