Isaiah 3 7

Isaiah 3:7 kjv

In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

Isaiah 3:7 nkjv

In that day he will protest, saying, "I cannot cure your ills, For in my house is neither food nor clothing; Do not make me a ruler of the people."

Isaiah 3:7 niv

But in that day he will cry out, "I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people."

Isaiah 3:7 esv

in that day he will speak out, saying: "I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people."

Isaiah 3:7 nlt

But he will reply,
"No! I can't help.
I don't have any extra food or clothes.
Don't put me in charge!"

Isaiah 3 verses

Isaiah 3 7 Meaning

Isaiah 3:7 depicts a bleak and desperate refusal of leadership within Judah. The individual, sought out for a leadership role, unequivocally declines, stating a lack of fundamental resources (bread and clothing) in his own household. This highlights the depth of national destitution and disarray under divine judgment, making even potential leaders unwilling or unable to assume responsibility, signifying the complete breakdown of society. The "healer" here is not a medical professional, but one expected to bind up or mend the fractured nation.

Isaiah 3 7 Context

Isaiah chapter 3 forms a dire indictment against Jerusalem and Judah, depicting the severe consequences of their rebellion against God. Following pronouncements of judgment and the "day of the Lord" in chapter 2, chapter 3 elaborates on how God will strip away every societal support system: removing all strong and essential leaders (from warrior to diviner), wisdom, and vital provisions like food and water. This deliberate destabilization leads to an inverted social order where the inexperienced and unequipped rule, causing widespread oppression and chaos. Verse 7, therefore, occurs within a scene of extreme national distress, where the people are so desperate for leadership that they appeal to anyone perceived as capable, only to be met with a stark refusal that underscores the nation's profound destitution and spiritual sickness, illustrating the utter breakdown caused by divine judgment.

Isaiah 3 7 Word analysis

• And he shall answer (וְהוּא יַעֲנֶה wəhū' yaʿăneh): The "he" refers to an individual among the people, possibly someone of perceived status or ability (following the list of qualified men in Isa 3:2-3 whom the Lord has already taken away, this might be a desperate plea to anyone left). The Hebrew yaʿăneh means "he will answer" or "respond," indicating a direct reply to the desperate cry for leadership (implied from Isa 3:6: "You shall be our ruler, and let this ruin be under your hand").
• in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא bayyōm hahūʾ): This phrase frequently appears in Isaiah, referring to the "Day of the Lord" – a significant prophetic term denoting a time of God's definitive judgment and subsequent restoration. Here, it underscores the severity and inevitability of God's disciplinary action against Judah, making the current societal collapse a direct consequence.
• saying, I will not be an healer (לֵאמֹר לֹא־אֶהְיֶה חֹבֵשׁ lēʾmōr lōʾ-ʾehyeh ḥōvēsh):
  • "Healer" (חֹבֵשׁ ḥōvēsh): From the verb ḥābaš (to bind, bind up, repair). It literally means "one who binds up," often a physician, but in this context, it refers metaphorically to one who mends, restores, or remedies the brokenness of the nation. It implies someone who can alleviate suffering, repair the societal fabric, or heal the spiritual wounds. The individual rejects this role, emphasizing his perceived inability or unwillingness to take on such an overwhelming task.
• for in my house (כִּי בְבֵיתִי kī vĕvêṯī): This emphasizes the personal and domestic sphere. The lack of provisions in his own home indicates a dire economic situation affecting even those with some standing. It could also suggest a moral bankruptcy within his sphere of influence.
• is neither bread (אֵין לֶחֶם ʾên leḥem):
  • "Bread" (לֶחֶם leḥem): Signifies basic sustenance and the most fundamental necessity for survival. Its absence points to extreme famine or economic collapse, showing the nation's profound destitution as a direct result of divine judgment (Deut 28:48).
• nor clothing (וְשִׂמְלָה wĕśimlāh):
  • "Clothing" (שִׂמְלָה simlāh): Refers to outer garments, also a basic necessity, symbolizing security, decency, and minimum social standing. The lack of both bread and clothing portrays a total state of poverty and vulnerability, rendering anyone seemingly unqualified to lead a people whose needs exceed his own ability to even meet personal ones.
• make me not a ruler of the people (אַל־תְּשִׂימוּנִי קָצִין עָם ʾal-tĕśîmûnî qaṣîn ʿām):
  • "Ruler" (קָצִין qaṣîn): A military commander, leader, or chief. This word suggests an authoritative position requiring resources and command. The phrase conveys a desperate plea not to be forced into a role that he believes he is utterly unqualified for or simply cannot bear the weight of, given the immense suffering and challenges. This stark refusal underscores the chaotic conditions where even leadership becomes a burden rather than an honor, implying a widespread paralysis of will among the populace.

Isaiah 3 7 Bonus section

This refusal to lead is an ironic twist following the initial lists of important figures in Jerusalem that God is removing (Isa 3:2-3). It highlights the pervasive nature of the judgment, affecting not just the general populace but extending to those who might traditionally be considered leaders. The phrase "in that day" (bayyom hahu) strongly links this desperate situation to the eschatological or immediate day of the Lord's judgment, emphasizing divine agency behind the chaos. The unwillingness of even potential leaders, whose own houses lack basics, serves as a poignant illustration of Judah's state being so dire that recovery seems insurmountable by human effort, driving home the point that only God can bring true healing and restoration (Ps 103:3; Jer 30:17). The passage serves as a sobering reminder of the societal breakdown that results when a people abandon God's ways.

Isaiah 3 7 Commentary

Isaiah 3:7 powerfully encapsulates the chaotic aftermath of divine judgment. The verse depicts a leaderless society, so consumed by its moral and material bankruptcy that no one, not even those potentially capable, wishes to take on the crushing responsibility of leadership. The potential leader's excuse—a lack of basic sustenance and clothing in his own home—is not merely personal poverty, but a profound symbolic indictment of the entire nation's desolate condition. It signifies that the national problems are so vast and deep that any human "healing" or fixing is impossible, and resources are too scarce even for the one being asked to lead. The scene reflects a complete reversal of order, where instead of vying for power, people desperately recoil from it, signaling a time of utter despair and the complete spiritual and material collapse of Judah, proving that human wisdom and might are utterly insufficient when God's hand of judgment is at work.