Isaiah 3:16

¶ Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

Moreover the LORD {H3068} saith {H559}, Because {H3282} the daughters {H1323} of Zion {H6726} are haughty {H1361}, and walk {H3212} with stretched forth {H5186} necks {H1627} and wanton {H8265} eyes {H5869}, walking {H1980} and mincing {H2952} as they go {H3212}, and making a tinkling {H5913} with their feet {H7272}:

Moreover ADONAI says: "Because Tziyon's women are so proud, walking with their heads in the air and throwing seductive glances, moving with mincing steps and jingling their anklets

The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty— walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles—

Moreover Jehovah said, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet;

Commentary

Isaiah 3:16 presents a stark prophetic indictment from the LORD against the women of Jerusalem, referred to as the "daughters of Zion." This verse details their haughty and ostentatious behavior, which serves as a visible manifestation of the spiritual decay and moral corruption prevalent in Judah during Isaiah's time.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah, chapters 2-5, concerning God's impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem for their rebellion, idolatry, and social injustice. Chapter 3 specifically outlines the consequences of their sin, describing a society in disarray, with corrupt leaders and a people who have forsaken the LORD. The focus shifts from the societal leaders to the women of Jerusalem, whose outward display of pride and vanity symbolizes the nation's deeper spiritual sickness. This judgment is a direct result of their defiance and turning away from God's laws, as seen in the broader warnings against sin and its consequences throughout Isaiah's prophecy, such as Isaiah 5:20.

Key Themes

  • Pride and Haughtiness: The central theme is the overwhelming pride of the "daughters of Zion." Their "stretched forth necks" and "wanton eyes" are physical expressions of an arrogant spirit, looking down on others and disregarding God. This aligns with the biblical warning that pride goes before destruction.
  • Vanity and Materialism: The detailed description of their walk and attire points to an excessive preoccupation with outward appearance and material possessions, often used to flaunt status rather than humble worship. Their "tinkling with their feet" from anklets or ornate footwear was part of this showy display.
  • Spiritual Decay: The outward behaviors are symptoms of a deeper spiritual problem. Their hearts are far from God, evidenced by their immoral conduct and lack of concern for righteousness. This spiritual emptiness foreshadows the severe judgments God will bring upon them, including the loss of their finery and their status, as detailed in the subsequent verses of Isaiah 3.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Haughty" (gabah): Implies being lifted up, arrogant, or proud in spirit. It describes an elevated sense of self-importance.
  • "Stretched forth necks": A posture of arrogance, signifying disdain for others and an inflated ego.
  • "Wanton eyes" (saqur): This Hebrew term suggests a provocative, alluring, or suggestive gaze, indicative of immodesty and a lack of moral restraint.
  • "Mincing" (tapaph): Describes taking short, dainty, or affected steps, often to draw attention to oneself or one's attire. It implies an artificial and self-conscious gait.
  • "Tinkling with their feet": Refers to the jingling sound made by anklets or chains worn on the feet, which were often elaborate and served as an additional display of wealth and ostentation.

Practical Application

Isaiah 3:16 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of pride, vanity, and an excessive focus on outward appearance at the expense of inner character. While the specific cultural context is ancient Jerusalem, the principles remain relevant:

  • Humility Over Haughtiness: God values humility and a contrite spirit over outward show. True beauty and worth come from a heart devoted to God, not from material possessions or arrogant displays. 1 Peter 3:3-4 encourages believers to focus on the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
  • Inner Character Matters: The prophet's critique highlights that outward behaviors often reflect an inner spiritual state. A preoccupation with self and a disregard for righteousness can lead to divine judgment. This calls us to examine our own motives and ensure our hearts are pure before God.
  • Warning Against Materialism: The verse cautions against allowing wealth or social status to inflate our pride or dictate our behavior. Our focus should be on spiritual riches and pleasing God, rather than accumulating or flaunting earthly possessions.

Ultimately, this verse is a powerful reminder that God sees beyond the surface and judges the heart. It encourages us to cultivate a spirit of humility and godliness, reflecting true reverence for Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 16:49

    Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

  • Ezekiel 16:50

    And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw [good].

  • Isaiah 32:9

    ¶ Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.

  • Isaiah 32:11

    Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon [your] loins.

  • Isaiah 4:4

    When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

  • Song Of Solomon 3:11

    Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

  • Matthew 21:5

    Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
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