Isaiah 3 16

Isaiah 3:16 kjv

Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

Isaiah 3:16 nkjv

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,

Isaiah 3:16 niv

The LORD says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles.

Isaiah 3:16 esv

The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet,

Isaiah 3:16 nlt

The LORD says, "Beautiful Zion is haughty:
craning her elegant neck,
flirting with her eyes,
walking with dainty steps,
tinkling her ankle bracelets.

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 16 Meaning

The Lord declares a judgment against the women of Jerusalem, specifically the "daughters of Zion," because of their profound spiritual pride and arrogant display of wealth and status. Their haughty demeanor is evident in their pretentious posture, provocative glances, affected gait, and the ostentatious sound of their jewelry, all betraying an internal rebellion against God and a pursuit of worldly vanity.

Isaiah 3 16 Context

Isaiah 3 describes the impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. Chapters 1 and 2 lay the foundation for God's controversy with His people due to their widespread rebellion, idolatry, social injustice, and pride. Chapter 3 begins by foretelling the removal of competent leaders and the collapse of societal structure, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable and chaotic. Following this, Isaiah 3:16 specifically shifts focus to the women of Zion. This section (vv. 16-24) identifies the women's arrogance, their lavish display of wealth, and their provocative behavior as a significant part of the pervasive national sin. Their haughty self-aggrandizement and ostentatious display directly contribute to the moral decay and incur divine wrath, making them a specific target of God's coming judgment alongside the male leadership. Historically, Judah was increasingly influenced by surrounding empires, particularly Assyria, and while they might have enjoyed a period of relative prosperity, their spiritual condition was in severe decline, moving further from God's covenant. This behavior also carried an indirect polemic against pagan practices where promiscuity and gaudy display could be part of cultic worship or general societal norms, emphasizing that God’s chosen people should distinguish themselves.

Isaiah 3 16 Word analysis

• Moreover: Connects this declaration to the previous condemnations of Judah's societal and leadership failings. It indicates a continuation of the divine pronouncement of judgment, now directed at a specific group.

• the Lord: (יְהוָה - YHWH) Identifies the speaker as the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing the divine authority and unwavering justice behind this severe declaration.

• said: (אָמַר - 'amar) A direct, authoritative statement, not a question or suggestion, underscoring the certainty of the divine decree.

• Because: (יַעַן - ya'an) Introduces the specific reason or justification for the impending judgment, clearly linking cause (their conduct) to effect (God's punishment).

• the daughters of Zion: (בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן - benot Tsiyon) Refers to the women, particularly the privileged and elite women, inhabiting Jerusalem (Zion). "Daughters" here signifies the female inhabitants and implies those who should have exemplified faithfulness, but instead displayed rebellion. Their association with Zion, God's holy city, highlights the severity of their defilement of a sacred space.

• are haughty: (גָּבְהוּ - gav'hu) From the root meaning "to be high," it signifies spiritual arrogance, pride, and an elevated sense of self-importance that disregards God.

• and walk: (וַתֵּלַכְנָה - vatteLakhna) Describes their manner of living and general conduct, implying this haughtiness is characteristic and pervasive, not an isolated incident.

• with stretched forth necks: (נְטוּיּוֹת גָּרוֹן - netuYyot garon) Literally, "outstretched throat." A posture signifying defiance, arrogance, and a condescending look upon others. It visually communicates disdain and superiority.

• and wanton eyes: (וּמְשַׂקְּרוֹת עֵינַיִם - uMesakkeRot 'einayim) Describes eyes that cast alluring, seductive, or provocative glances. "Wanton" implies lust, indiscretion, and an immodest, self-displaying nature. It highlights the use of their eyes to entice and draw attention.

• walking and mincing: (הָלוֹךְ וְטָפוֹף - haLokh veTafoF)

  • Walking: Reinforces the continuous nature of their behavior.
  • Mincing: (טָפוֹף - TafoF) Describes a dainty, short, affected walk, often on tiptoes or in small, precise steps, designed to draw attention, display elegance (or perceived elegance), and highlight their attire or anklets.

• as they go: (תֵּלַכְנָה - telakhna) Reiteration of "walk" emphasizing their routine and public manner.

• and making a tinkling: (וּמְצַלְצְלוֹת - uMetsaltseLot) To jingle or make a ringing sound.

• with their feet: (בְּרַגְלֵיהֶן - beRagLeyhen) This refers to anklets or foot-ornaments that had small bells or pendants designed to jingle with each step, intentionally drawing attention to their feet and overall costly adornment.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "the daughters of Zion are haughty": This phrase directly identifies the internal spiritual condition—pride and arrogance—as the root cause of their subsequent sinful behavior, and it specifically names the social group involved.
  • "walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes": These two descriptive phrases depict their general outward posture and expression, revealing both their insolence and their provocative intentions. The stretched neck speaks to contempt, and the wanton eyes to immodesty and perhaps enticement.
  • "walking and mincing as they go and making a tinkling with their feet": This series of actions portrays their specific, deliberate, and performative gait. Their manner of movement, accentuated by the sound of their ornaments, is shown as a public display of vanity and self-aggrandizement, drawing attention to their appearance and wealth.

Isaiah 3 16 Bonus section

The passage highlights the significance of actions and appearances in spiritual accountability. The particular focus on the women's feet and the "tinkling" anklets prepares the reader for the following verses in Isaiah 3 (vv. 18-23), where God details the stripping away of all their costly ornaments. This suggests that the very things they boasted in would be removed as part of their humiliation. Furthermore, this feminine pride parallels the male pride previously condemned in Isaiah 2:11-17, reinforcing that arrogance in any form, regardless of gender or social standing, offends the Lord and will face His judgment. The description is not merely cultural critique, but a theological one, exposing the spiritual emptiness of seeking validation in worldly show and contrasting it with the true adornment of a humble, God-fearing heart.

Isaiah 3 16 Commentary

Isaiah 3:16 serves as a powerful condemnation of the women of Jerusalem, illustrating how deeply rooted sin had become in all levels of society, from political leadership to social conduct. Their "haughtiness" is not merely vanity, but spiritual arrogance—a disposition of heart that dismisses God's standards and exalts self. This inner pride manifests outwardly through their deliberate physical affectations: an insolent posture (stretched necks), immodest glances (wanton eyes), an ostentatious gait (mincing steps), and a blatant display of wealth (tinkling anklets). These actions indicate a spiritual decline where outward show triumphs over inner piety, where status and attractiveness are sought at the expense of modesty and godly conduct. God condemns not wealth itself, but its proud and provocative display, especially when it stems from a heart that disregards Him and leads to social and spiritual corruption. This verse underlines a timeless principle: God looks at the heart, and outward behaviors, especially those aimed at self-aggrandizement or temptation, reveal the true state of one's inner being, leading to divine judgment.