Isaiah 3 19

Isaiah 3:19 kjv

The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

Isaiah 3:19 nkjv

The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;

Isaiah 3:19 niv

the earrings and bracelets and veils,

Isaiah 3:19 esv

the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves;

Isaiah 3:19 nlt

earrings, bracelets, and veils;

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 19 Meaning

Isaiah 3:19 lists specific luxury items and fashionable adornments worn by the women of Jerusalem and Judah during Isaiah's time. These items—elaborate headbands or netted headdresses, ankle chains or anklets, and veils or sashes—symbolized their societal status, vanity, and material pride. The verse is part of a prophetic declaration of divine judgment against Judah for its moral and spiritual corruption, especially highlighting the pride and excessive indulgence of its female elite, whose outward show reflected an inward rejection of God's ways.

Isaiah 3 19 Context

Isaiah chapter 3 provides a somber prophecy of judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for their profound moral decay and rejection of God. The immediate context of verse 19, beginning from Isaiah 3:16, specifically targets the "daughters of Zion." These women are characterized by their haughtiness, seductive walking, and an ostentatious display of wealth through elaborate clothing and costly ornaments. Isaiah describes their excessive pride and self-absorption, contrasting it with the true values God desires. Verse 19, therefore, is part of a detailed inventory of these very adornments, which God declares He will strip away from them. This act of removal symbolizes not just the loss of material possessions, but also the humiliation, loss of status, and societal degradation that will accompany God's judgment, reducing their glory to shame and ruin.

Isaiah 3 19 Word analysis

• The chains (שְׁבִיסִים - shevisim):

  • Hebrew term suggests headbands or netted ornaments, possibly worn in the hair or as decorative elements around the head.
  • The KJV "chains" can be slightly misleading; many modern translations (ESV, NIV) opt for "headbands" or "ornaments."
  • Significance: Denotes luxurious and intricate items, indicative of status and wealth. They adorned the head, often a place of honor and beauty.

• and the bracelets (וְהַשֵּׁרֹות - wəhasherot):

  • This Hebrew term is related to "links" or "chains" (sherot). While often translated "bracelets" in KJV, many scholars and other translations interpret this as "ankle chains" or "anklets."
  • Given the prior mention of the "daughters of Zion" walking "with tinkling feet" (v. 16), anklets would create a distinctive sound and manner of walking, signifying their deliberate attempt to draw attention.
  • Significance: These were not merely decorative but also part of their elaborate, attention-seeking gait. They contributed to a visual and auditory display of pride.

• and the mufflers (וְהָרְעָלֹות - wəharea'alot):

  • The Hebrew rea'alot means "veils" or "sashes." KJV's "mufflers" might refer to head coverings or wraps that muffled the lower face or neck.
  • More accurately, these were often elegant, perhaps translucent or brightly colored, veils or wide sashes that further contributed to the opulent display of the wearers.
  • Significance: Such items added to the elaborate and attention-grabbing appearance, symbolizing their detachment from genuine modesty and an focus on external display.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers": This specific grouping represents an exhaustive detail of the particular adornments worn by the women. The precise naming of these items emphasizes the extent of their extravagance and how thoroughly they indulged in vanity. These items were not just personal decorations but visible declarations of their societal position and pride, marking them for God's specific judgment, where these symbols of earthly glory would be stripped away. Each item individually and collectively highlights a meticulous effort in cultivating an outwardly appealing but inwardly corrupt image.

Isaiah 3 19 Bonus section

The listing of specific female adornments in Isaiah 3:18-24 is unique in the prophetic literature for its level of detail. It highlights a common prophetic theme: judging not just political and religious leaders, but also the societal elite and their luxury, which often symbolized national pride, oppression, and injustice. This detailed enumeration also gives insight into the rich cultural and economic life of Judah's upper class, particularly their reliance on expensive, imported, or intricately crafted goods. Some scholarly interpretations suggest that the very weight and number of these ornaments might have been considered burdensome or distracting, further symbolizing their spiritual enslavement to worldly things. The eventual "shame instead of beauty" is a profound theological statement, signifying that God’s justice invariably strips away false glory, leaving only truth.

Isaiah 3 19 Commentary

Isaiah 3:19 forms part of God's indictment against the "daughters of Zion," whose elaborate external presentation masks their internal moral decay and spiritual haughtiness. The prophet's detailed inventory of their finery, from headbands to ankle chains and veils, is not merely a critique of fashion but a condemnation of the idolatry of appearance. These items, representing immense wealth and social standing, were central to their identity, to the extent that they embodied their self-exaltation over humble reliance on God. The very act of itemizing them serves to emphasize their impending removal, underscoring that God will bring humiliation to where there was pride, disgrace to where there was supposed splendor, and emptiness to where there was material fullness. This divine action demonstrates that true beauty and honor do not stem from earthly adornments but from a heart right with God. The judgment foretold here aims to expose the futility of human vanity and redirect focus to lasting righteousness.