Isaiah 3 2

Isaiah 3:2 kjv

The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

Isaiah 3:2 nkjv

The mighty man and the man of war, The judge and the prophet, And the diviner and the elder;

Isaiah 3:2 niv

the hero and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,

Isaiah 3:2 esv

the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder,

Isaiah 3:2 nlt

all their heroes and soldiers,
judges and prophets,
fortune-tellers and elders,

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 2 Meaning

Isaiah 3:2 describes a detailed list of essential figures whose removal signifies the comprehensive breakdown and destabilization of society in Judah and Jerusalem, prophesied by the Lord. This divine judgment involves taking away every pillar of human strength, wisdom, leadership, and counsel—ranging from military might and civil authority to spiritual guidance and revered wisdom. The absence of these crucial roles would plunge the nation into chaos and helplessness, illustrating God's complete withdrawal of support due to their persistent sin and rebellion.

Isaiah 3 2 Context

Isaiah chapter 3 prophesies God's severe judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem due to their widespread moral decay, social injustice, and spiritual rebellion against the covenant. Verse 1 initiates this pronouncement by stating that the Lord will remove "the stay and the staff" – all sources of support and sustenance. Verse 2 specifically elaborates on who these essential "stays and staffs" are: the leading figures and vital pillars of society. The historical context is the 8th century BC in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, a period marked by prosperity but also significant social stratification, corruption among leadership, and syncretism (mingling of pagan practices with Yahwism). Isaiah's prophecy warns of impending desolation, likely at the hand of a foreign power like Assyria or Babylon, precisely because Judah had turned away from the Lord to trust in their own strength, wisdom, and false gods. The removal of these key societal roles signals the complete destabilization and breakdown of a once-orderly community, a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 3 2 Word analysis

• The mighty man (גִּבּוֹר, gibbor): This Hebrew term often denotes a powerful, valiant, or heroic warrior; one who excels in strength and prowess, often in battle. Its removal signifies the loss of military protection, national strength, and the heroic spirit. It represents the cessation of human power on which the nation might have relied.

• And the man of war (וְאִישׁ מִלְחָמָה, w’ish milchamah): This phrase further specifies and emphasizes the military leadership. אִישׁ (ish) means "man," and מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) means "war" or "battle." Its inclusion highlights that not only generic strength but direct fighting capability and leadership in conflict would be absent, leaving the nation defenseless.

• The judge (שׁוֹפֵט, shofet): This refers to one who renders legal decisions, administers justice, and often acts as a civil leader. In ancient Israel, "judges" sometimes functioned as charismatic military and civil leaders (like those in the Book of Judges). The loss of judges implies a collapse of legal order, fairness, and governance, leading to social chaos where justice is absent.

• And the prophet (וְנָבִיא, w’navi): A "prophet" is a person who receives direct divine revelation and speaks on God's behalf. This role is crucial for spiritual guidance, interpreting God's will, and warning the people. The removal of the prophet means the silencing of God's direct voice and the loss of spiritual direction, leaving the people without true divine counsel or a pathway to repentance.

• And the prudent (וְקֹסֵם, w’qosem): This is a particularly debated term. The KJV translates it as "prudent," implying one with practical wisdom or foresight. However, the Hebrew word קֹסֵם (qosem) almost universally elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible refers to a "diviner" or "soothsayer" – someone who practices magic, interprets omens, or consults spirits (e.g., Deut 18:10; 1 Sam 6:2). This practice was explicitly forbidden by God as an abomination (Deut 18:12) because it relied on pagan deities or occult power instead of the Lord. If qosem means "diviner," its inclusion is highly polemical: Judah, instead of relying on God's true prophets, sought counsel from forbidden sources, and even those will be taken away. If "prudent," it signifies the loss of practical, worldly wisdom essential for leadership. Given the theological context of Isaiah condemning Judah's apostasy, "diviner" is generally the preferred scholarly understanding.

• And the ancient (וְזָקֵן, w’zaqen): This term signifies an "elder" or a respected old person. Elders were crucial figures in Israelite society, serving as sources of wisdom, experience, moral authority, and community leadership within their tribes and families. Their removal signifies the loss of experienced counsel, stable communal guidance, and the erosion of generational wisdom that preserves social cohesion.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • The mighty man, and the man of war: This pairing emphasizes the complete removal of military strength and defensive capability, stripping the nation of its perceived physical protection. It speaks to God breaking their reliance on human power.
  • The judge, and the prophet, and the prudent/diviner, and the ancient: This group encapsulates the loss of civic order, spiritual guidance, discernment (whether practical wisdom or supernatural insights), and communal experience. Together, these terms depict the dismantling of the entire social and spiritual framework of Judah, leaving it without moral compass, legal stability, divine communication, or respected, guiding figures. It highlights how sin impacts every layer of society, from visible leaders to hidden spiritual influences, and the seasoned wise.

Isaiah 3 2 Bonus section

The progressive nature of judgment in Isaiah 3 is key to understanding this verse. It moves from general deprivation ("stay and staff" in v.1) to specific types of removed leaders (v.2-3), culminating in chaotic misrule by the unqualified ("children" and "babes" in v.4) and a complete reversal of social order (v.5). Verse 2 is the detailed inventory of what Jerusalem would miss most. This complete societal disruption serves as a dire warning not only to ancient Judah but to all who elevate human leadership, strength, or wisdom above God's divine authority and guidance. It highlights that the ultimate source of a nation's prosperity and stability is its faithfulness to the Lord. When these human pillars are removed, what is exposed is the fragile foundation of self-reliance, which cannot withstand divine scrutiny.

Isaiah 3 2 Commentary

Isaiah 3:2 is a stark prophetic declaration, revealing the multifaceted nature of God's judgment against an apostate Judah. It goes beyond mere military defeat or economic hardship (alluded to in verse 1) to foretell a profound internal collapse. The listed figures – military strategists, judicial authorities, spiritual messengers, wise counselors, and esteemed elders – represent the very backbone of any stable society. Their removal is God's active disarming of a rebellious nation, taking away their human resources and forcing them to confront their vulnerability and absolute dependence on Him, or suffer the consequence of utter desolation. The presence of the "diviner" (qosem) alongside legitimate leaders powerfully underscores Judah's spiritual malady, suggesting that even their forbidden, false sources of counsel would fail, leaving them completely bereft of guidance. This divine intervention aims to show that the stability of a nation is not rooted in its human power or wisdom, but in its covenant relationship with and obedience to the Lord. The practical application is clear: any community, institution, or individual that turns from God and relies solely on human strength, intellect, or illicit sources of wisdom, is prone to utter breakdown and eventual judgment from the True Source of all authority and blessing.