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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 3:16-26

The prophet's business was to show all sorts of people what they had contributed to the national guilt and what share they must expect in the national judgments that were coming. Here he reproves and warns the daughters of Zion, tells the ladies of their faults; and Moses, in the law, having denounced God's wrath against the tender and delicate woman (the prophets being a comment upon the law, Deut. 28:56), he here tells them how they shall smart by the calamities that are coming upon them.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 3:23

The glasses ,.... Looking glasses, by which they dressed themselves, see Exodus 38:8 and so Kimchi explains the word; but elsewhere F5 Ib. (In Sepher Shorash.) rad. גלה . he says it signifies thin garments, so called because the flesh is seen through them, being so exceeding thin; which sense is favoured by the Septuagint version, which renders it by τα διαφανη λακωνικα , garments which the Lacedemonians wore, which were so thin and transparent, that the naked body might be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 3:23

The glasses - The conjunction ו vau , and - And the glasses, is added here by forty-three of Kennicott's and thirty-four of De Rossi's MSS., and one of my own, ancient, as well as by many editions. And the veils. "The transparent garments" - Τα διαφανη Λακωνικα , Sept. A kind of silken dress, transparent, like gauze; worn only by the most elegant women, and such as dressed themselves elegantius quam necesse esset probis , "more elegantly than modest women should." Such garments... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:8-26

THE CAUSE OF THE JUDGMENT SHOWN TO BE THE SINS OF JERUSALEM . 1. The sins of the men . ( Isaiah 3:8-15 ). These are declared to be partly sins of speech, but mainly sins of act ( Isaiah 3:8 ). Of sins of speech the only one specified is the open and shameless declaration of their wickedness ( Isaiah 3:9 ). Under the head of sins of act are enumerated The enumeration of the sins is mixed with exhortation and comment in such a way as to give rise to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:16-24

The share which women have in producing the ruin of a nation. The influence of women upon men was intended to be helpful ( Genesis 2:20 ), purifying, and refining. Woman is naturally more pure than man, more modest, more retiring, more instinctively right in her moral judgments. Good women exercise an extraordinary influence over the best men, who continually consult them in the most difficult crises of politics and diplomacy. They read men far better than men read one another, and are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:16-26

The vanity of vanity. The graphic pen of the prophet brings before us the thoughts— I. THAT THE LAST AND SADDEST SYMPTOM OF NATIONAL DECLINE IS FOUND IN WOMANLY FOLLY . "Moreover … the daughters of Zion," etc. ( Isaiah 3:16 ). Corruption may have spread far and done much evil work in the community, but there is hope for the city or the Church so long as the wives and the mothers, the daughters and the sisters, retain their moral and spiritual integrity. When... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:23

The glasses ; rather, the mirrors . In ancient times these were not made of glass, but of some metal which took a high polish. Most commonly, the material seems to have been bronze. Many such mirrors have been found in Egypt, a few in Assyria, in Etruria a considerable number. They are of small size, intended to be carried in the hand, and have for that purpose a metal or a wooden handle, which is sometimes highly artistic. The fine linen ; rather, the muslin robes . Sedin , the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 3:23

The glasses - There is a great variety of opinion about the expression used here. That ancient Jews had “looking-glasses,” or mirrors, is manifest from the account in Exodus 38:8. These “mirrors” were made of polished plates of brass. The Vulgate and Chaldee understand this of “mirrors.” The Septuagint understands by it a “thin, transparent covering like gauze,” perhaps like silk. The word is derived from the verb “to reveal, to make apparent,” etc., and applies either to mirrors or to a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 3:22-24

Isaiah 3:22-24. The embroidered robes, and the tunics, and the cloaks, and the little purses, Isaiah 3:22. The transparent garments A kind of silken dress, transparent like gauze; worn only by the most delicate women, and such as dressed themselves, as Sallust observes, “elegantius quam necesse esset probis,” more elegantly than was necessary for modest women. This sort of garments was afterward in use among the Greeks. And the fine linen vests; and the turbans, and the mantles,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 3:1-26

Ungodly society (3:1-4:1)Isaiah now gives a picture of the end of a society characterized by human self-sufficiency and self-centredness. The government collapses, resulting in a shortage of basic necessities such as food and water. Judah had previously depended for leadership on a variety of people, good and bad - statesmen, soldiers, judges, prophets, magicians - but now no one can be found to lead the country (3:1-3). Power falls into the hands of immature youths, and lawlessness results.... read more

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