Isaiah 3:24

And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty.

And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell {H1314} there shall be stink {H4716}; and instead of a girdle {H2290} a rent {H5364}; and instead of well set {H4639} hair {H4748} baldness {H7144}; and instead of a stomacher {H6614} a girding {H4228} of sackcloth {H8242}; and burning {H3587} instead of beauty {H3308}.

Then, there will be instead of perfume, a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well-set hair, a shaved scalp; instead of a rich robe, a sackcloth skirt; and a slave-brand instead of beauty.

Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.

And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle, a rope; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.

Context of Isaiah 3:24

Isaiah chapter 3 provides a stark prophecy of divine judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, particularly highlighting the pride, arrogance, and moral decay of its leaders and people. The prophet Isaiah condemns the societal breakdown, where the young rule over the old, and the honorable are brought low. This specific verse, Isaiah 3:24, focuses on the women of Zion, who are singled out in the preceding verses (Isaiah 3:16-23) for their haughtiness, vanity, and excessive ornamentation. The judgment described here is a direct consequence of their rebellion and spiritual emptiness, a complete reversal of their cherished status and appearance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Reversal: The primary theme is God's righteous judgment, which brings about a complete reversal of fortunes. What was once prized and beautiful will become repulsive and shameful. This serves as a powerful warning that outward show cannot mask inner corruption.
  • Consequences of Pride and Vanity: The verse vividly illustrates the severe consequences of human pride, particularly vanity focused on material possessions and external appearance. The judgment directly targets the very things they esteemed, turning their glory into disgrace.
  • Moral and Spiritual Decay: Beyond superficiality, the judgment reflects a deeper moral and spiritual decay within the society. The loss of beauty and luxury symbolizes the loss of God's favor and the descent into chaos and dishonor. This aligns with the broader biblical principle that pride goes before destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text employs vivid contrasts to emphasize the drastic nature of the judgment. Each phrase pits a symbol of luxury or beauty against its humiliating opposite:

  • "Sweet smell" (Hebrew: בֹּשֶׂם, bosem - perfume, fragrance) is replaced by "stink" (Hebrew: מַק, maq - decay, stench). This transformation signifies utter decomposition and spiritual rottenness.
  • "Girdle" (Hebrew: פְּתִיגִיל, pethigil - a fine sash or ornamental garment) is replaced by "rent" (Hebrew: נֶקֶף, neqef - a wound, gash, or diseased mark), suggesting disfigurement or a torn garment indicative of sorrow and shame.
  • "Well set hair" (Hebrew: מִקְשֶׁה, miqsheh - an elaborate, artistic hairstyle) gives way to "baldness" (Hebrew: קָרְחָה, qarḥah - baldness), a sign of deep mourning, humiliation, or even disease in ancient cultures.
  • "Stomacher" (Hebrew: פְּתִיגִיל, pethigil - again, a fine robe or mantle, often worn over the chest) is exchanged for "a girding of sackcloth" (Hebrew: שַׂק, saq - coarse cloth worn as a sign of lamentation, repentance, or extreme distress). This is a common biblical symbol for profound sorrow and humility, as seen in many prophetic books.
  • "Burning" (Hebrew: כִּי, kiy - here implying a brand or a scorch mark, possibly from the sun or a punitive branding iron) replaces "beauty" (Hebrew: יֹפִי, yophi - splendor, comeliness). This suggests a permanent disfigurement instead of radiant appearance.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 3:24 serves as a timeless reminder of spiritual priorities:

  • Humility Over Pride: It underscores the danger of excessive pride and vanity, especially when focused on outward appearance or material possessions. True beauty and lasting value come from within, from a heart devoted to God.
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse vividly illustrates that sin, particularly rebellion against God's ways, has tangible and often humiliating consequences. It reminds us that the wages of sin is death, which can manifest in spiritual decay and societal breakdown.
  • Focus on Inner Character: Rather than chasing fleeting trends or superficial adornments, believers are called to cultivate an inner beauty of character, godliness, and humility, which is of far greater worth in God's sight (see 1 Peter 3:3-4).
  • God's Justice: Ultimately, this passage affirms God's justice. He will not allow unrighteousness and haughtiness to go unpunished indefinitely. It encourages introspection and a turning away from worldly desires towards a life that honors Him.
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.

  • Ezekiel 27:31

    And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart [and] bitter wailing.

  • Lamentations 2:10

    ¶ The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, [and] keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.

  • Micah 1:16

    Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

  • Isaiah 22:12

    And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

  • Isaiah 15:3

    In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

  • Esther 2:12

    Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women;)

  • 1 Peter 3:3

    Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

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