Isaiah 3:20

The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

The bonnets {H6287}, and the ornaments of the legs {H6807}, and the headbands {H7196}, and the tablets {H5315}{H1004}, and the earrings {H3908},

their headbands, armlets, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets,

their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms;

the headtires, and the ankle chains, and the sashes, and the perfume-boxes, and the amulets;

Context of Isaiah 3:20

Isaiah 3:20 is part of a larger prophetic lament (Isaiah 3:16-24) where the prophet Isaiah pronounces God's judgment against the women of Jerusalem, referred to as the "daughters of Zion." The preceding verses, Isaiah 3:16-17, describe their haughtiness, pride, and indulgent lifestyle. They are depicted as walking with "stretched forth necks and wanton eyes," exhibiting a spirit of arrogance and vanity. Verses 18-23 detail a long list of specific items of clothing and jewelry that these women proudly displayed. Verse 20 continues this inventory of their elaborate and luxurious adornments, which God declares He will strip away as a sign of their coming humiliation and the desolation of Judah.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Vanity and Materialism: The detailed list of personal adornments, including bonnets, leg ornaments, headbands, tablets, and earrings, underscores a culture deeply engrossed in outward appearance and luxury. This emphasis on external display often signals a spiritual emptiness and a misplaced sense of value.
  • Divine Judgment: These items are not merely descriptive; they represent the objects that God will remove from the women of Judah. The stripping away of their finery symbolizes God's severe judgment and the impending humiliation and sorrow that will replace their pride and joy. This serves as a stark warning against placing ultimate trust in worldly possessions and status.
  • Spiritual Decay: The excessive focus on physical adornment and social status points to a deeper spiritual decay within society, where the people, particularly the elite, had turned away from God's righteous ways and pursued self-glorification instead.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates several Hebrew terms that offer insight into the nature of these ancient adornments:

  • Bonnets (Hebrew: pe'erim): Refers to ornate head-dresses or turbans, often worn for special occasions or as a sign of status.
  • Ornaments of the legs (Hebrew: tse'adot): Likely refers to anklets or ankle chains, which may have been linked to produce a tinkling sound as the women walked, as implied in Isaiah 3:16.
  • Headbands (Hebrew: kishurim): Could refer to embroidered sashes or girdles worn around the waist or chest, or possibly ornamental headbands.
  • Tablets (Hebrew: battey hannefesh): Literally "houses of the soul" or "houses of breath." These were likely small perfume boxes, scent bottles, or perhaps amulets worn around the neck.
  • Earrings (Hebrew: lechashim): This term can also mean "charms" or "amulets," suggesting that these earrings might have had superstitious or magical connotations in addition to being decorative.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient Israel, as in many cultures of the Near East, personal adornment was common. However, Isaiah's prophecy is not a condemnation of all jewelry or fine clothing, but rather of the excessive, prideful, and idolatrous use of such items. The women of Jerusalem, particularly the upper class, were known for their elaborate attire and their haughty demeanor, which symbolized the nation's spiritual corruption and departure from God's covenant. The stripping away of these beautiful possessions would be a powerful and humiliating sign of the impending Babylonian exile and the desolation of Jerusalem, turning their glory into shame.

Practical Application

Isaiah 3:20, within its broader context, serves as a timeless reminder about the dangers of vanity, materialism, and placing undue emphasis on outward appearance. For believers today, it encourages a focus on inner beauty and spiritual character over worldly possessions and fleeting trends. 1 Peter 3:3-4, for instance, echoes this sentiment by encouraging women to focus on "the hidden man of the heart" rather than outward adornment. This passage challenges us to examine our priorities and ensure that our hearts are set on eternal values rather than the temporary allure of material wealth and superficial status, echoing the theme of the vanity of all things under the sun.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 39:28

    And a mitre [of] fine linen, and goodly bonnets [of] fine linen, and linen breeches [of] fine twined linen,

  • Ezekiel 16:12

    And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

  • Exodus 32:2

    And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which [are] in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring [them] unto me.

  • Hosea 2:13

    And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.

  • Genesis 35:4

    And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem.

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