Isaiah 3:23

KJV

The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

KJV (with Strong's)

The glasses {H1549}, and the fine linen {H5466}, and the hoods {H6797}, and the vails {H7289}.

Complete Jewish Bible

gauze scarves, linen underclothes, turbans and capes.

Berean Standard Bible

and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.

American Standard Version

the hand-mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 3:23 is a specific detail within a broader prophetic indictment against the "daughters of Zion," representing the elite women of Jerusalem, and by extension, the moral and spiritual decay of Judah during Isaiah's ministry. This verse meticulously enumerates a selection of their luxurious garments and personal adornments—including hand-mirrors, fine linen garments, ornate head-dresses, and elaborate veils—which God, through His prophet, declares will be stripped away. This divine act of removal signifies not only the impending humiliation and public shame that will befall these proud women but also the comprehensive judgment and desolation awaiting the entire nation due to its arrogance, materialism, and spiritual rebellion against the covenant Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 3:23 is situated within a powerful prophetic oracle (Isaiah 3:16-24) that directly addresses the "daughters of Zion," serving as a vivid illustration of Judah's spiritual malady. This section immediately follows a broader condemnation of Judah's corrupt leadership and pervasive societal injustice (Isaiah 3:1-15), establishing a comprehensive picture of national apostasy. The prophet Isaiah then shifts focus to the women of Jerusalem, whose haughty demeanor, excessive adornment, and materialistic pursuits are presented as a microcosm of the nation's spiritual sickness. Verse 23, along with other verses in this passage, provides a meticulous inventory of their luxurious possessions, serving to highlight the extent of their vanity and the precise nature of the impending judgment: the stripping away of these very symbols of pride and status. The verses that follow (Isaiah 3:24-26) describe the dire consequences of this judgment, where beauty will be replaced by decay, and finery by shame, culminating in the desolation of Jerusalem and the mourning of its inhabitants.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Isaiah ministered in the Kingdom of Judah during the 8th century BC, a period characterized by relative economic prosperity under kings like Uzziah and Jotham, yet simultaneously plagued by profound social injustice and spiritual apostasy. Jerusalem, as the capital, would have been a hub of wealth and influence, where the elite, including the "daughters of Zion," conspicuously flaunted their status through elaborate clothing and costly accessories. Such adornments were not merely fashion statements but significant cultural markers of wealth, social standing, and desirability in ancient Near Eastern societies. The act of stripping away garments was a common and deeply humiliating form of punishment or judgment in the ancient world, often inflicted upon conquered peoples or those subjected to public disgrace. This imagery would have resonated powerfully with Isaiah's audience, signifying a complete loss of honor, protection, and dignity, akin to the judgment described in [Ezekiel 16:39](/ezekiel/16-39 "Ezekiel 16:39 - Stripping of Adornments").
* **Key Themes:** This verse, within its broader context, contributes significantly to several key themes in Isaiah's comprehensive prophecy. First, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment** against pride and arrogance, particularly as manifested in outward display and materialism. God's unwavering opposition to human haughtiness is a recurring motif throughout Scripture, as powerfully articulated in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction"). Second, the passage highlights the **Transience of Worldly Possessions and Beauty**, demonstrating that what is highly valued by humans can be easily removed by God, emphasizing the fleeting nature of earthly glory compared to enduring spiritual realities. Third, the passage speaks profoundly to the theme of **Spiritual Decay Reflected in Outward Behavior**. The obsession with luxury and external adornment among the "daughters of Zion" was not merely a superficial issue but symptomatic of a deeper spiritual emptiness, a disregard for God's covenant, and a failure to pursue justice and righteousness, a call found throughout [Isaiah 1](/isaiah/1 "Isaiah 1 - The Great Arraignment") and echoed in the prophet's consistent appeals for genuine repentance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **glasses (Hebrew, _gillâyôwn'_):** From the root H1549, meaning "to bare" or "to reveal," this term refers to a polished surface, specifically a hand-mirror. In ancient times, mirrors were typically crafted from polished bronze, copper, or silver, not glass, and were valuable personal items used for self-adornment. Their inclusion in this list highlights the women's intense focus on their physical appearance and vanity, symbolizing their self-absorption.
* **hoods (Hebrew, _tsânîyph'_):** From the root H6797, this word denotes a head-dress or turban, a piece of cloth wrapped around the head. Depending on the context, it could refer to a royal diadem, a priest's mitre, or an elaborate head covering for women. Here, it signifies an ornate or stately head-dress, indicative of social status, wealth, and fashionable display, further emphasizing the women's pride in their external presentation.
* **vails (Hebrew, _râdîyd'_):** From the root H7289, meaning "to spread" or "to expand," this term refers to a large, flowing veil or shawl. Such garments were often expansive and could be used for modesty, warmth, or as a prominent fashion statement. In this context, it suggests a luxurious and perhaps ostentatious piece of attire, contributing to the overall impression of the women's lavish wardrobe and their desire to project an image of affluence and beauty.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The glasses,"**: This initial phrase refers to the hand-mirrors (H1549, _gillâyôwn_), which were essential tools for personal grooming and a potent symbol of the women's preoccupation with their outward appearance and vanity. The enumeration begins with an item directly linked to self-admiration, setting the tone for the subsequent list of luxurious items.
* **"and the fine linen,"**: This phrase points to luxurious garments made of high-quality fabric (H5466, _çâdîyn_), likely referring to delicate or transparent attire, possibly a type of fine undergarment or wrap. Such material would have been costly and exclusive, further signifying wealth and social standing among the elite women of Jerusalem.
* **"and the hoods,"**: This specifies elaborate head-dresses or turbans (H6797, _tsânîyph_), which were significant elements of ancient fashion. These head coverings were often intricately adorned and served as prominent indicators of a woman's status, beauty, and even marital state, reflecting their desire for public recognition and admiration.
* **"and the vails."**: This concludes the list with large, flowing veils or shawls (H7289, _râdîyd_), another costly and elegant item of clothing that would have contributed to the overall impression of luxury and extravagance. The cumulative effect of these enumerated items paints a vivid picture of women excessively devoted to their appearance and material possessions, highlighting the very things that God declares will be stripped away in judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 3:23 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its message with striking clarity and impact. The most prominent is **Enumeration**, as the prophet provides a detailed, almost forensic, list of specific items of clothing and adornment. This meticulous cataloging serves to emphasize the sheer quantity and variety of luxurious possessions that characterized the "daughters of Zion," thereby underscoring the depth of their materialism and vanity. Beyond simple listing, these items function as potent **Symbolism**. Each item—from the hand-mirrors to the elaborate veils—symbolizes the women's pride, their excessive focus on external appearance, and their underlying spiritual emptiness. The divine act of stripping away these items, therefore, symbolizes the loss of honor, status, and beauty, representing the profound humiliation and comprehensive judgment awaiting them. Furthermore, the passage utilizes **Metonymy**, where the specific items of adornment stand in for the women themselves and their lifestyle. The condemnation of their attire is not merely a critique of fashion but a profound condemnation of their character and the nation's moral decay, for their outward display was a direct reflection of an inward spiritual sickness and a disregard for God's covenant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 3:23, in its stark depiction of divine judgment against material excess and pride, serves as a timeless theological statement on the nature of true worth and the devastating consequences of misplaced priorities. It underscores God's unwavering opposition to haughtiness and His steadfast commitment to justice, even when it involves His own covenant people. The passage reminds us that external beauty and worldly possessions are inherently fleeting and ultimately unable to provide lasting security, identity, or true contentment. True value, from a biblical perspective, is found not in what one possesses or how one appears, but in one's character, humility, and a genuine, obedient relationship with God. This divine perspective profoundly challenges humanity's innate tendency to seek validation and significance in transient things, calling us instead to cultivate an inner spiritual richness that endures far beyond any earthly adornment or fleeting status.

* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction")
* [1 Peter 3:3-4](/1_peter/3-3-4 "1 Peter 3:3-4 - Imperishable Beauty")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The detailed inventory of luxurious items in Isaiah 3:23, and the subsequent divine promise to strip them away, holds profound and sobering contemporary relevance. In an age saturated with consumerism, pervasive social media, and an often-unhealthy emphasis on outward appearance and curated online personas, this passage serves as a powerful mirror reflecting our own priorities and potential pitfalls. It challenges us to critically examine where we derive our sense of self-worth, security, and identity. Are we, like the "daughters of Zion," investing excessively in fleeting external adornments, status symbols, or digital validation, neglecting the crucial cultivation of inner character and spiritual depth? The passage calls us to profound humility, reminding us that all we possess is a gift from God, and true beauty lies not in transient glitter but in a heart aligned with God's justice and righteousness. It prompts us to consider our stewardship of resources and time, urging us to prioritize eternal values and spiritual growth over temporal vanities and superficial pursuits.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might modern society's pervasive emphasis on external appearance and material possessions mirror the vanity condemned in Isaiah 3:23?**
* **How does focusing on inner spiritual qualities, as opposed to outward adornment, fundamentally change one's perspective on self-worth, identity, and purpose?**
* **What practical steps can individuals take to cultivate genuine humility and detach from the seductive allure of materialism and superficiality in their daily lives?**

### FAQ
**Who were the "daughters of Zion" and why were they singled out for judgment?**

Answer: The "daughters of Zion" (Isaiah 3:16) refer to the wealthy, aristocratic, and influential women of Jerusalem during Isaiah's time. They were singled out not because of their gender, but because their behavior—characterized by haughtiness, excessive adornment, a preoccupation with luxury, and a disdain for the poor—was emblematic of the broader spiritual and moral decay within the nation of Judah. Their outward vanity and self-indulgence were symptoms of a deeper inward spiritual emptiness and a blatant disregard for God's covenant and His calls for justice and righteousness. By focusing on them, Isaiah highlights how even those who should have been examples of piety and righteous living had fallen into pride and self-indulgence, symbolizing the nation's deep-seated rebellion against God.

**What is the significance of God stripping away these specific items of clothing and adornment?**

Answer: The act of stripping away these luxurious items (mirrors, fine linen, head-dresses, veils) was a deeply symbolic and culturally resonant act of judgment in the ancient Near East. In that context, clothing and adornments were direct indicators of a person's status, honor, and protection. To be stripped of them publicly meant utter humiliation, disgrace, and vulnerability. Therefore, God's promise to remove these items signifies a complete reversal of their pride and status, leading to public shame, destitution, and the loss of all that they valued. It powerfully illustrates that divine judgment would dismantle not only their material comforts but also their very identity and perceived worth, exposing their spiritual nakedness, as seen in other prophetic judgments like that in [Hosea 2:3](/hosea/2-3 "Hosea 2:3 - Stripping of Adornment and Prosperity").

**Does this passage condemn all forms of adornment or personal care?**

Answer: No, this passage does not condemn all forms of adornment or personal care in general. Instead, it condemns the *excessive*, *prideful*, and *misplaced* focus on outward appearance and material possessions that characterized the "daughters of Zion." The issue was not the items themselves, but the heart attitude behind their use—vanity, haughtiness, self-absorption, and a misplaced sense of identity and security in worldly things rather than in God. The Bible elsewhere affirms the beauty of creation and appropriate adornment (e.g., [Proverbs 31:22](/proverbs/31-22 "Proverbs 31:22 - The Virtuous Woman's Clothing")), but consistently warns against pride, materialism, and prioritizing external show over inner character, as encouraged in [1 Peter 3:3-4](/1_peter/3-3-4 "1 Peter 3:3-4 - Imperishable Beauty of a Gentle and Quiet Spirit"). The emphasis is always on the heart's posture before God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 3:23 vividly portrays God's impending judgment on the superficiality and pride of ancient Judah, its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution are found in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "daughters of Zion" sought their identity, security, and worth in fleeting external adornments and material possessions, but Christ offers a radical and eternal alternative: a kingdom where true beauty is internal, spiritual, and imperishable, not outward and transient. He consistently taught against the accumulation of earthly treasures that are subject to decay and theft, urging His followers instead to lay up treasures in heaven ([Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")). Moreover, Jesus Himself exemplified a life of profound humility, emptying Himself of divine glory to take on human form and become obedient even unto death on a cross ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ bore the judgment for humanity's pride, vanity, and idolatry of worldly things, offering a path to true righteousness that is imputed by grace, not earned through outward display or self-effort. Believers are called to be adorned with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit ([1 Peter 3:3-4](/1_peter/3-3-4 "1 Peter 3:3-4 - Imperishable Beauty of a Gentle and Quiet Spirit")) and, more profoundly, to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" ([Romans 13:14](/romans/13-14 "Romans 13:14 - Put on the Lord Jesus Christ")), finding their true identity, worth, and eternal security in their union with Him. Thus, the judgment foreshadowed in Isaiah 3:23 is ultimately resolved in Christ, who provides the means for genuine spiritual transformation, replacing human pride with divine grace and fleeting vanity with eternal glory.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Song Of Solomon 5:7

The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

Revelation 19:14

And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Ruth 3:15

Also he said, Bring the vail that [thou hast] upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid [it] on her: and she went into the city.

Luke 16:19

¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Genesis 41:42

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Genesis 24:65

For she [had] said unto the servant, What man [is] this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, It [is] my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

Exodus 38:8

And he made the laver [of] brass, and the foot of it [of] brass, of the lookingglasses of [the women] assembling, which assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.