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{{Short description|Book of Isaiah, chapter 3}}
{{Bible chapter|letname= Isaiah 3 |previouslink= Isaiah 2 |previousletter= chapter 2 |nextlink= Isaiah 4 |nextletter= chapter 4 |book=[[Book of Isaiah]] |biblepart=[[Old Testament]] | booknum= 23 |hbiblepart= [[Nevi'im]] | hbooknum = 5 |category= [[Nevi'im|Latter Prophets]] | filename= Great Isaiah Scroll.jpg |size=242px | name=Great Isaiah Scroll |caption=<div style="width: 242px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">The [[Great Isaiah Scroll]], the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at [[Qumran]] from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter.</div>}}

'''Isaiah 3''' is the third [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|chapter]] of the [[Book of Isaiah]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] or the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]]. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet [[Isaiah]], and is one of the [[Nevi'im|Books of the Prophets]]. This chapter describes how the corrupt leadership brought about the collapse of the social condition of [[Jerusalem]],{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=59}} and contains Isaiah's prophecies that "For the sin of the people, God will take away the wise men, and give them foolish princes".<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+3&version=GNV Chapter heading, Geneva Bible (1599), Isaiah chapter 3]</ref>

==Text==
The original text was written in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew language]]. [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into]] 26 verses.

===Textual witnesses===
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]] tradition, which includes some fragments among [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], such as the [[Isaiah Scroll]] ('''1Qlsa{{sup|a}}'''; 356-100 BCE;<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jull|first=Timothy A. J.|last2=Donahue| first2= Douglas J. |last3=Broshi| first3=Magen| last4=Tov |first4= Emanuel|year=1995|title=Radiocarbon Dating of Scrolls and Linen Fragments from the Judean Desert| url=https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/radiocarbon/article/view/1642|journal=Radiocarbon|volume=37|page=14|access-date=11 July 2017|number=1}}</ref> all verses) and 4QIsa{{sup|b}} (4Q56; with extant verses 14–22);<ref>{{Cite book|title = A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature|last = Fitzmyer|first = Joseph A.| author-link = Joseph Fitzmyer | publisher = William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company| url= https://books.google.com/books/about/A_Guide_to_the_Dead_Sea_Scrolls_and_Rela.html?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC | year = 2008 | pages = 36 |isbn = 9780802862419 | location = Grand Rapids, MI | access-date= February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Ulrich | editor-first = Eugene | editor-link = Eugene Ulrich | title = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants | year = 2010 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls/page/n485 469] | publisher = Brill | url = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls |access-date= May 15, 2017 | isbn= 9789004181830}}</ref> as well as [[codex|codices]], such as [[Codex Cairensis]] (895 CE), [[Codex Babylonicus Petropolitanus|the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets]] (916), [[Aleppo Codex]] (10th century), [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35–37}}

There is also a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [[Septuagint]] version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Sinaiticus]] ('''S'''; [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|BHK]]: <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century) and [[Codex Marchalianus]] ('''Q'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>Q</sup>; 6th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

==Parashot==
The ''[[parashah]]'' sections listed here are based on the [[Aleppo Codex]].<ref>As implemented in the [http://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0.htm Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English].</ref> Isaiah 3 is a part of the ''Prophecies about Judah and Israel ([[Isaiah 1]][[Isaiah 12|-12]])''. {P}: open ''parashah''; {S}: closed ''parashah''.
: {P} 3:1-12 {P} 3:13-15 {S} 3:16-17 {S} 3:18-26 [4:1 {S}]

==Structure==
Motyer divides this chapter into two sections:{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=59}}
* 3:1-15: shows the collapse of human leadership in contrast to the action of "the Lord, the {{Lord}} Almighty"
* 3:16-4:1: shows how the divine judgement work out, transforming prosperity into poverty, and prepares for the vision of the Lord's next action (described in [[Isaiah 4]]).

=={{Anchor|Verses 1–15}}Judgement on Jerusalem and Judah (3:1–15)==
Verses 1-15 speaks of the imminent collapse of the society in a unified composition within the inclusion of the phrase "the Lord, the {{Lord}} Almighty" ({{Lord}} of hosts), as follows:{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=59}}
:A{{sup|1}}  The act of the Lord, the {{Lord}} Almighty (verse 1a)
::B{{sup|1}} The collapse of leadership and social disorder (verses 1b-5)
:::C{{sup|1}} Vignette: leadership debased (verse 6-7)
::::D{{sup|1}} Jerusalem's collapse explained (verse 8)
::::D{{sup|2}} Jerusalem's judgment pronounced (verses 9-11)
::B{{sup|2}} Social oppression and misleading leaders (verse 12)
:::C{{sup|2}} Vignette: leadership brought to trial (verses 13-15a)
:A{{sup|2}} The word of the Lord, the {{Lord}} Almighty (verse 15b)

===Verse 1===
:''For, behold, the Lord, the {{Lord}} of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water''<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|3:1|KJV}} [[King James Version|KJV]]</ref>
*"For": translated from {{Script/Hebrew|כי}}, ''{{Strong-number|ki|H|3588}}'',<ref name="Isa3_1he"/> as the opening word to the chapter, connecting to the last verse in the previous chapter ([[Jeremiah 2#Verse 22|2:22]]), justifying "the call to stop trusting in man."{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=59}}
*"The Lord, the {{Lord}} of hosts" (NIV: "The Lord, the LORD Almighty): translated from {{Script/Hebrew|האדון יהוה צבאות}}, ''ha-{{Strong-number|’ā-ḏō-wn|H|113}} [[YHWH]] {{Strong-number|tsə-ḇā-’ō-wṯ|H|6635}}''<ref name="Isa3_1he">[https://biblehub.com/text/isaiah/3-1.htm Isaiah 3:1 Hebrew] - Biblehub.com</ref>
*"The stay and the staff" ([[English Standard Version|ESV]]: "support and supply"): translated from {{Script/Hebrew|משען ומשענה}}, ''{{Strong-number|mash-‘ên|H|4937}} ū-{{Strong-number|mash-‘ê-nāh|H|4938}}'',<ref name="Isa3_1he"/> where "mashenah" is the feminine form of the masculine word "mashen", so here the [[Masculine noun|masculine]] and [[Feminine noun|feminine]] forms of the [[noun]] are used, symbolising completeness.<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/isaiah/3.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Isaiah 3], accessed 3 March 2018</ref> Keil and Delitzsch render them as "supporter and means of support", and, among all, "bread" and "water" are first named as the "two indispensable conditions and the lowest basis of human life".<ref name=kad/> Both alludes to "the structure of the society, without which there would be chaos."{{sfn|Coggins|2007|p=441}}

===Verse 15===
[[King James Version]]
:''What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|3:15|KJV}} KJV</ref>

[[New International Version]]
:''"... What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|3:15|NIV}} NIV</ref>

*"What mean ye" (NIV: "What do you mean"): from the Hebrew word [[Qere and Ketiv|written (כ) as]] {{Script/Hebrew|מלכם}}, [[Qere and Ketiv|but read (ק) as]] {{Script/Hebrew|מה ־לכם}}, ''mah-lakem'',<ref name="Isa3_15he"/> literally, according to [[Rashi]], "What is to you?"<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15934#showrashi=true Yeshayahu - Isaiah - Chapter 3 with Rashi's Commentary] - Chabad.org</ref>
*"Beat ... to pieces" (NIV: "crushing"): translated from {{Script/Hebrew|תדכאו}}, derived from the root word {{Script/Hebrew|דָּכָא}}, ''{{Strong-number|daka|H|1792}}'', also meaning "to bruise, to break in pieces, to oppress, to contrite".<ref name="Isa3_15he"/>
*"The Lord GOD of hosts" (NIV: "The Lord, the LORD Almighty): translated from {{Script/Hebrew|אדני יהוה צבאות}}, ''{{Strong-number|’ă-ḏō-nāy|H|136}} [[YHWH]] {{Strong-number|tsə-ḇā-’ō-wṯ|H|6635}}''<ref name="Isa3_15he">[https://biblehub.com/text/isaiah/3-15.htm Isaiah 3:15 Hebrew] - Biblehub.com</ref>

=={{Anchor|Verses 16–26}}A warning to the daughters of Zion (3:16–26)==
{{Further|Rape in the Hebrew Bible#Isaiah 3}}
There are two contrasts in this section: the first one (verses 16–17) shows how the daughters of Zion are blemished as God's judgment falls on sinners, whereas the second contrast (verses 18–24) itemizes the luxury in life's ease which will be lost in sorrow.{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=63}} According to Susanne Scholz (2010), there is a common mistranslation of the Hebrew word ''pōt'' as "forehead" or "scalp". Also often translated as "genitals" or "secret parts", Scholz believes that a more accurate translation of the word in context is "[[cunt]]", as first suggested by [[J. Cheryl Exum]]'s ''The Ethics of Biblical Violence against Women'' (1995). They and other scholars such as Johnny Miles (2006) conclude that this stripping of women's clothes to expose their genitals refers to [[sexual violence]] as God's punishment for women's arrogance and pride.<ref>[[#Scholz2|Scholz (2010)]], p. 182–183. The only other appearance of ''pōt'' in the Hebrew Bible is [[1 Kings 7]]:50, where it means "door socket".</ref>

===Verse 16===
: ''Moreover the Lord says:''
:: ''“Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,''
:: ''And walk with outstretched necks''
:: ''And wanton eyes,''
:: ''Walking and mincing as they go,''
:: ''Making a jingling with their feet''. (NKJV) <ref>{{bibleref2|Isaiah|3:16|NKJV}}</ref>
Cross reference: [[Psalm 75]]

===Verse 17===
: ''Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab''
: ''The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,''
: ''And the LORD will uncover their secret parts.”'' (NKJV) <ref>{{bibleref2|Isaiah|3:17|NKJV}}</ref>

==={{Anchor|Verses 18–24}}Clothing and finery of the daughters of Zion===
:Source: {{bibleverse|Isaiah|3:18-24|KJV}}<ref>Bell, Quentin. ''On Human Finery'', rev. ed. London: Hogarth Press, 1976, pp. 21—22, quoting Isaiah 3:16—24.</ref><ref>English alternative words from [[King James Version]], [[NKJV]], [[NIV]], and The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version, Indexed. Michael D. Coogan, Marc Brettler, Carol A. Newsom, Editors. Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2007. pp. 982-983 Hebrew Bible. {{ISBN|978-0195288810}}</ref>
''In that day the Lord will take away the finery:''
{| class="wikitable"
! Hebrew !! Transliteration!!English
<!--
! Verses-->
|-
| תפארת
| tip̄-’e-reṯ
| bravery/finery
|-
| עכסים
| ‘ă-ḵā-sîm
| tinkling ornaments/anklets/fetters
|-
| שביסים
| shə-ḇî-sîm*
| cauls/headbands
|-
| שהרנים
| sha-hă-rō-nîm
| round tires/crescents/crescent ornaments
|-
| נטיפות
| nə-ṭî-p̄ō-wṯ
| chains/pendants
|-
| שירות
| shê-rō-wṯ
| bracelets
|-
| רעלות
| rə-‘ā-lō-wṯ.
| mufflers/scarfs
|-
| פארים
| pə-’ê-rîm
| bonnets/headdresses/caps
|-
| צעדות
| tsə-‘ā-ḏō-wṯ
| armlets/ornaments of the legs
|-
| קשרים
| qi-shu-rîm
| headbands/sashes
|-
| בתי הנפש
| ḇā-tê ha-ne-p̄eš
| tablets/sachets/perfume boxes/bottles
|-
| לחשים
| lə-ḥā-shîm.
| earrings/amulets/charms
|-
| טבעות
| ṭa-bā-‘ō-wṯ
| (signet) rings
|-
| נזמי האף
| niz-mê hā-’āp̄.
| nose rings/jewels
|-
| מחלצות
| ma-ḥă-lā-tsō-wṯ
| festal robes/changeable suits of apparel/fine robes
|-
| מעטפות
| ma-‘ă-ṭā-p̄ō-wṯ,
| mantles/capes
|-
| מטפחות
| miṭ-pā-ḥō-wṯ
| wimples/cloaks/shawls
|-
| חריטים
| ḥă-rî-ṭîm.
| crisping pins/(money) purses/handbags
|-
| גלינים
| gil-yō-nîm
| glasses/mirrors/garments of gauze
|-
| סדינים
| sə-ḏî-nîm,
| fine linens/linen garments/undergarments
|-
| צניפות
| tsə-nî-p̄ō-wṯ
| hoods/turbans/tiaras
|-
| רדידים
| rə-ḏî-ḏîm
| veils
|-
| בשם
| bō-shem
| sweet smell/fragrance/perfume
|-
| חגורה
| kha-ḡō-w-rāh
| sash/girdle/belt/apron
|-
| מעשה מקשה
| ma-‘ă-sheh miq-sheh
| well-set hairdo
|-
| פתיגיל
| pə-thî-ḡîl*
| stomacher/fine clothing/rich robe
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> ''[[hapax legomenon]]''

====Verse 24====
:''And so it shall be:''
::''Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;''
::''Instead of a sash, a rope;''
::''Instead of well-set hair, baldness;''
::''Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;''
::''And branding instead of beauty.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Isaiah|3:24|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
*"Branding": or "burning scar":<ref>Note [p] on Isaiah 3:24 in the [[New King James Version]]</ref> from {{Script/Hebrew|כִּי}}, ''{{Strong-number|ki|H|3587}}'', a noun form [[hapax legomenon|only used here in the whole Bible]] which is "an unexceptionable formation" from {{Script/Hebrew|כָּוָה}}, ''{{Strong-number|kawah|H|3587}}'' ({{bibleverse|Isaiah|43:2|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Proverbs|6:28|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Exodus|21:25|HE}}; {{bibleverse|Leviticus|13:24|HE}}).{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=64}} It is used here, with the reverse word order compared to the previous four sets of items, to achieve a rhyme (''ki ṯa-ḥaṯ yō-p̄î'') to end the list and to give "the effect of a tailing off into sadness".{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=64}}

All the luxury the people enjoyed was itemized (verses 18–23), and then with five times "instead" (verse 24), their ease would be exchanged for mourning.{{sfn|Motyer|2015|pp=63-64}}

===Verses 3:25–4:1===
This section, which continues to [[Isaiah 4#Verse 1|4:1]], states without any imagery how the city in actuality is bereft.{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=64}}

====Verse 25====
:''Your men shall fall by the sword,''
:''And your mighty in the war.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|3:25|NKJV}} NKJV</ref>
*"Mighty": lit. "strength".<ref>Note [q] on Isaiah 3:25 in the New King James Version.</ref> This verse shows that "sin ends in death."{{sfn|Motyer|2015|p=64}}

==See also==
*[[Sodom and Gomorrah|Sodom]]
*Related [[Bible]] parts: [[Genesis 13]], [[Leviticus 26]], [[Deuteronomy 28]], [[Psalm 75]], [[Isaiah 2]], [[Isaiah 4]], [[Micah 3]]

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name=kad>Keil, Carl Friedrich; Delitzsch, Franz. [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/isaiah/3.htm ''Commentary on the Old Testament'' (1857-1878). "Isaiah 3"]. Diakses 24 Juni 2018.</ref>
}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|last= Coggins | first= R | chapter = 22. Isaiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 433–486 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
*{{cite book | last = Motyer | first = J. Alec | title = The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary | publisher = InterVarsity Press | year = 2015 | isbn = 9780830895243 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p3R3CwAAQBAJ }}
*{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year=  1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Text_of_the_Old_Testament.html?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

==External links==
===Jewish===
*[http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1003.htm Isaiah 3: Hebrew with Parallel English]

===Christian===
*[http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=3 Isaiah 3 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028200601/http://latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=3 |date=2020-10-28 }}

{{Book of Isaiah}}

[[Category:Book of Isaiah chapters|03]]