What does Isaias Chapter 3 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The chapter’s images and exact conditions retain their admitted wording. Prophetic words and separately labeled edition material remain distinct. The account preserves sequence without invented scenes or universal outcome guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

Isaias 3 announces removal of Jerusalem and Juda's valiant and strong, bread and water, strong man, warrior, judge, prophet, cunning man, ancient, captain of fifty, honorable countenance, counselor, architect and eloquent speaker. Children become princes and the effeminate rule; neighbor rushes neighbor, child troubles ancient and base honorable. A brother with a garment is asked to rule the ruin, but answers he is no healer and has no bread or clothing. This is his reported refusal, not proof that the nation's wounds are incurable.

Jerusalem's ruin and Juda's fall are attributed to tongue and devices opposing the Lord. Countenances testify, sins proclaimed like Sodom, bringing evils. Just people receive fruit of doings and wicked their hands' reward. Oppressors strip the people, women rule and those calling them blessed deceive and destroy their steps. The Lord stands to judge ancients and princes who devour vineyard and hold poor people's spoil, asking why they consume people and grind poor faces. Mansions and dust are not specified.

Haughty daughters of Sion stretch necks, give wanton glances, make foot-noise and measured pace. The Lord announces bald crowns and disclosed hair, removing shoe ornaments, little moons, chains, necklaces, bracelets, bonnets, bodkins, leg ornaments, tablets, sweet balls, earrings, rings, forehead jewels, changed apparel, short cloaks, fine linen, crisping pins, lookingglasses, lawns, headbands and fine veils. Stench replaces scent, cord girdle, baldness curled hair and haircloth stomacher. Fairest men fall by sword and valiant in battle; gates mourn and the city sits desolate. These are prophetic announcements, not an independent diagnosis of women or guaranteed modern social theory.

The story inside

Opening: The chapter’s images and exact conditions retain their admitted wording. Development: Prophetic words and separately labeled edition material remain distinct. Conclusion: The account preserves sequence without invented scenes or universal outcome guarantees.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chapter’s images and exact conditions retain their admitted wording.
2
Prophetic words and separately labeled edition material remain distinct.
3
The account preserves sequence without invented scenes or universal outcome guarantees.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 78759–78761
3:1. For behold the sovereign Lord of hosts shall take away from Jerusalem, and from Juda the valiant and the strong, the whole strength of bread, and the whole strength of water.
Lines 78797–78799
3:12. As for my people, their oppressors have stripped them, and women have ruled over them. O my people, they that call thee blessed, the same deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy steps.
Lines 78808–78809
3:15. Why do you consume my people, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord the God of hosts.
Lines 78834–78836
3:24. And instead of a sweet smell there shall be stench, and instead of a girdle, a cord, and instead of curled hair, baldness, and instead of a stomacher, haircloth.