What does the chapter actually say?
Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
ISAIAH • CHAPTER 3
Isaiah 3
Judgment, holiness, Jerusalem, Assyria, exile, restoration, the servant songs, hope, nations, and new creation.
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Isaiah 3
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1
For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support,
the whole supply of bread,
and the whole supply of water;
the whole supply of bread,
and the whole supply of water;
2
the mighty man,
the man of war,
the judge,
the prophet,
the diviner,
the elder,
the man of war,
the judge,
the prophet,
the diviner,
the elder,
3
the captain of fifty,
the honorable man,
the counselor,
the skilled craftsman,
and the clever enchanter.
the honorable man,
the counselor,
the skilled craftsman,
and the clever enchanter.
4
I will give boys to be their princes,
and children shall rule over them.
and children shall rule over them.
5
The people will be oppressed,
everyone by another,
and everyone by his neighbor.
The child will behave himself proudly against the old man,
and the wicked against the honorable.
everyone by another,
and everyone by his neighbor.
The child will behave himself proudly against the old man,
and the wicked against the honorable.
6
Indeed a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying,
“You have clothing, you be our ruler,
and let this ruin be under your hand.”
“You have clothing, you be our ruler,
and let this ruin be under your hand.”
7
In that day he will cry out, saying, “I will not be a healer;
for in my house is neither bread nor clothing.
You shall not make me ruler of the people.”
for in my house is neither bread nor clothing.
You shall not make me ruler of the people.”
8
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen;
because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh,
to provoke the eyes of his glory.
because their tongue and their doings are against Yahweh,
to provoke the eyes of his glory.
9
The look of their faces testify against them.
They parade their sin like Sodom.
They don’t hide it.
Woe to their soul!
For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
They parade their sin like Sodom.
They don’t hide it.
Woe to their soul!
For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
10
Tell the righteous “Good!”
For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
11
Woe to the wicked!
Disaster is upon them;
for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
Disaster is upon them;
for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
12
As for my people, children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
My people, those who lead you cause you to err,
and destroy the way of your paths.
and women rule over them.
My people, those who lead you cause you to err,
and destroy the way of your paths.
13
Yahweh stands up to contend,
and stands to judge the peoples.
and stands to judge the peoples.
14
Yahweh will enter into judgment with the elders of his people
and their leaders:
“It is you who have eaten up the vineyard.
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
and their leaders:
“It is you who have eaten up the vineyard.
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15
What do you mean that you crush my people,
and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
and grind the face of the poor?” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
16
Moreover Yahweh said, “Because the daughters of Zion are arrogant,
and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes,
walking to trip as they go,
jingling ornaments on their feet;
and walk with outstretched necks and flirting eyes,
walking to trip as they go,
jingling ornaments on their feet;
17
therefore the Lord brings sores on the crown of the head of the women of Zion,
and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.”
and Yahweh will make their scalps bald.”
18
In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
19
the earrings, the bracelets, the veils,
20
the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume containers, the charms,
21
the signet rings, the nose rings,
22
the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,
23
the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.
24
It shall happen that instead of sweet spices, there shall be rottenness;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of well set hair, baldness;
instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of well set hair, baldness;
instead of a robe, a wearing of sackcloth;
and branding instead of beauty.
25
Your men shall fall by the sword,
and your mighty in the war.
and your mighty in the war.
26
Her gates shall lament and mourn.
She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.
She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.
PROPHETIC
Where this chapter fits
Isaiah uses prophetic or apocalyptic language shaped by political crisis, judgment, hope, symbolic imagery, and expectations about God's action in history.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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