Isaiah 3:15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 3:9-15

Here God proceeds in his controversy with his people. Observe, I. The ground of his controversy. It was for sin that God contended with them; if they vex themselves, let them look a little further and they will see that they must thank themselves: Woe unto their souls! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Alas for their souls! (so it may be read, in a way of lamentation), for they have procured evil to themselves, Isa. 3:9. Note, The condition of sinners is woeful and very deplorable.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 3:15

What mean ye, that ye beat my people to pieces ,.... Reduce them to the utmost poverty; so the Targum, "wherefore do ye impoverish my people?' as they did by exacting tithes of all that they possessed; by requiring large sums for their long prayers; and by various traditions they enjoined them to observe: and grind the faces of the poor ? either by smiting them on the cheek, as Christ, who became poor for our sakes, was smitten by them; or by bringing them into such low... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 3:15

And grind the faces - The expression and the image is strong, to denote grievous oppression but is exceeded by the prophet Micah, Micah 3:1-3 ; : - "Hear, I pray you, ye chiefs of Jacob, And ye princes of the house of Israel: Is it not yours to know what is right? Ye that hate good and love evil: Who tear their skins from off them, And their flesh from off their bones; Who devour the flesh of my people; And flay from off them their skin; And their bones they dash in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:8-15

The reasons of judgment. In man's sufferings they must own they are subject to the reasonable rule of him who is eternal Reason. I. ANTAGONISM TO THE DIVINE RULE . In word and deed. 1. In current talk, writing, speechifying, it is difficult to detect where the falsehood lies. It consists in the suppression of certain important sides of truth, and in putting forward interested, partial views of things. The literature of a people cannot be sound, if it be sunk in greed of... 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 3:12-15

Penalty, natural and supernatural. We learn— I. THAT THE NATURAL RESULT OF FOLLY IS TO BE GOVERNED BY THOSE WHO HAVE NO RIGHT TO RULE . 1. The nation suffers this penalty . As with Judah now ( Isaiah 3:12 ), so with each and every country in its turn and in its way. Unmanliness, frivolity, wickedness among the people, will be reflected in the sovereign power. A nation that lives supremely for material enrichment, or for military conquest, or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:15

What mean ye? i.e. "What has come over you?" or "What strange perversity has possessed yon?" (Kay). That ye beat my people to pieces, etc. The strongest possible expressions are used to mark God's abhorrence of the oppression to which the poor were subjected. Under the Law, he constituted himself the champion of such persons (see Exodus 22:22-24 ). 2. The sins of the women . ( Isaiah 3:16-26 .) These may be summed up under the three heads of pride, wanton manners ( Isaiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 3:15

Grinding the faces of the poor. Two figures are here employed: "Beat my people to pieces;" "Grind the faces of the poor." One of these may help to the understanding of the other. Both deal with the tyrannies of masters, and may be illustrated by the cruel treatment of slaves in the old slave-holding times. J.A. Alexander explains the figures thus: "Crush my people is a common figure for severe oppression ( Job 5:4 ; Proverbs 22:22 ). Grind the faces upon the ground, by trampling on... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 3:15

What mean ye - What is your object? Or, What advantage is it to you? Or, By what right or pretence do you do this?Beat my people to pieces - That is, that you trample on them; or cruelly oppress them; Psalms 94:5.And grind the faces of the poor - This is an expression also denoting great oppression. It is taken from the act of grinding a substance on a stone until it is worn away and nothing is left. So, by their cruel exactions, by their injustice to the poor, they exhausted their little... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 3:13-15

Isaiah 3:13-15. The Lord standeth up to plead He will shortly and certainly stand up as a judge to inquire into the cause, and to give sentence; and standeth to judge the people To call the wicked into judgment, and to denounce upon them as they deserve; or to defend and deliver his own people, judging for them, as this phrase often means. Will enter into judgment with the ancients The princes or rulers, as it is explained in the next clause, often called elders, because they were... read more

Group of Brands