Isaiah 3:24

Translations

Modern

Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.

Traditional

And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

Literal

And it will come to pass, instead of of spice, that there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of worked hair, baldness; and instead of a fine robe, a girding of sackcloth; and shame instead of beauty.

Latin

Et erit pro suavi odore fœtor, et pro zona funiculus, et pro crispanti crine calvitium, et pro fascia pectorali cilicium.

Original

Hebrew

English

Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.

Notes

Isaiah 3:17–25

take away their finery: In a reversal of fortune, the affluent (wealthy) and proud people of Jerusalem would suffer disgrace (public shame). Wealthy women often wore expensive and beautiful clothing or jewelry (Isaiah 3:18).

This finery probably included amulets (small objects people believed could protect them from evil). The people wore these items to keep harm away. But these objects could not prevent the disaster of judgment.

These beautiful items were also status symbols. They showed wealth, importance, and financial security. The people trusted in these outward signs of success.

Isaiah 3:16–4:1

TThis passage applies the prophet’s teaching on arrogance (see Isaiah 2:11–12) to the people of Jerusalem. An alternate understanding is that this passage applies specifically to the women of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:5–4:1

Isaiah condemned Israel and Judah for their pride and self-importance. He warned them that only God should be honored. All attempts by humans to lift themselves up will actually result in humiliation.

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah Salvation in Isaiah The Day of the Lord

Events

Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC

Related verses

Ezekiel 27:31
They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.
Lamentations 2:10
The elders of the Daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.
Isaiah 15:3
In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.
Isaiah 22:12
On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.
Micah 1:16
Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair in mourning for your precious children; make yourselves as bald as an eagle, for they will go from you into exile.
1 Peter 3:3
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes,
Revelation 18:9
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.
Leviticus 26:16
…then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
Isaiah 32:9–11
Stand up, you complacent women; listen to me. Give ear to my word, you overconfident daughters.
Amos 8:10
I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day.
Esther 2:12
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.
Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.

Glossary

Baldness Beauty Isaiah, Book of Perfume

Topics

Baldness: A Judgment Beauty: Vanity of Girdle: Women Girdles: Made of Sackcloth Hair: Worn Long by Women Head: (Made Bald) of Heavy Judgments Pride: General Scriptures Concerning Sackcloth: (Girding With) of Heavy Afflictions Stomacher: An Article of Dress The Hair of Women: Well Set and Ornamented The Hair: Judgments Expressed by Sending Baldness For Woman of Distinction: Wore Their Hair Plaited and Adorned with Gold and Pearls Women: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Isaiah 3:24

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