Isaiah 32:11

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Tremble {H2729}, ye women that are at ease {H7600}; be troubled {H7264}, ye careless ones {H982}: strip {H6584} you, and make you bare {H6209}, and gird {H2290} sackcloth upon your loins {H2504}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Tremble, you complacent women! Shudder, you overconfident women! Strip bare, wear sackcloth to cover yourselves.

Berean Standard Bible

Shudder, you ladies of leisure; tremble, you daughters of complacency. Strip yourselves bare and put sackcloth around your waists.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 32:11 delivers a sharp prophetic indictment and urgent command to the complacent and self-assured women of Judah, who represent the nation's elite living in a dangerous state of spiritual ease amidst impending divine judgment. The verse is a stark imperative, demanding a radical and immediate shift from their current indifference to a profound posture of grief, humility, and repentance, vividly symbolized by the act of stripping off their luxurious garments and donning sackcloth. It powerfully underscores the spiritual peril of apathy and the crucial necessity of acknowledging God's impending discipline.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 32:11 is situated within a significant prophetic section (Isaiah 32-33) that starkly contrasts Judah's present spiritual and political disarray with the glorious future establishment of God's righteous kingdom under a just king. More specifically, verses 9-14 of chapter 32 directly address the "women at ease" and "careless ones," detailing the severe desolation that will befall the land and its cities as a direct consequence of their spiritual complacency and lack of discernment. This particular warning serves as an urgent interlude of judgment, designed to awaken the people before the prophet pivots to the future promises of blessing and the outpouring of the Spirit, as seen in [Isaiah 32:15](/isaiah/32-15 "Isaiah 32:15 - The Spirit Poured Out"). The imperative call in verse 11 is a direct summons to abandon their delusion, anticipating the barrenness and ruin described in the verses that follow, such as the pronouncement of desolation for "many days" upon the pleasant land and fruitful vine in [Isaiah 32:10](/isaiah/32-10 "Isaiah 32:10 - Desolation for Many Days").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This prophecy likely originates from the late 8th century BCE, a tumultuous period when the kingdom of Judah faced severe and escalating threats from the formidable Assyrian Empire. Despite the palpable external danger, many within Jerusalem, particularly the wealthy and influential segments of society, continued to live in a state of self-satisfied ease. Their misplaced trust was often in precarious political alliances or their own perceived invulnerability, rather than in the sovereign protection of God. Culturally, the phrase "women at ease" typically referred to the wives and daughters of the elite, who enjoyed lives of luxury and were largely detached from the pressing spiritual and political realities facing the nation. The prescribed actions of "stripping" and "girding sackcloth upon loins" were universally understood customs throughout the ancient Near East, signifying profound mourning, public humiliation, deep repentance, and a desperate plea for divine mercy. This was a highly public display of abject sorrow, frequently in response to national calamity or a prophetic summons to turn from sin, mirroring the public repentance of Nineveh in [Jonah 3:5-8](/jonah/3-5 "Jonah 3:5-8 - Nineveh's Repentance").

* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 32:11 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes pervasive throughout the book of Isaiah. Preeminently, it highlights the **Divine Rebuke of Complacency**, demonstrating God's unwavering intolerance for spiritual apathy and self-indulgence, especially among those in positions of influence who ought to be exemplifying righteousness. It underscores the severe **Consequences of Carelessness**, illustrating that a lack of spiritual vigilance and a failure to trust in God inevitably lead to judgment and desolation. Furthermore, this verse functions as a profound **Call to Repentance and Mourning**, emphasizing that genuine repentance necessitates a radical internal and external transformation, requiring the discarding of false comforts and a humble embrace of sorrow for sin. This urgent call anticipates the later promises of restoration found in Isaiah, which are frequently predicated upon a prior period of humbling and spiritual awakening, as evidenced by the broader prophetic arc of Isaiah, which consistently moves from pronouncements of judgment to eventual redemption, as promised in [Isaiah 40:1-2](/isaiah/40-1 "Isaiah 40:1-2 - Comfort for God's People").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Tremble (Hebrew, _chârad'_):** From H2729, a primitive root meaning "to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)." This word conveys a deep, visceral, and often involuntary reaction of fear or dread, indicating a profound disturbance of one's composure and security. It is not merely a suggestion but a forceful command for a fundamental, unsettling emotional and spiritual response to the impending reality of divine judgment.
* **at ease (Hebrew, _shaʼănân'_):** From H7600, meaning "secure; in a bad sense, haughty; that is at ease, quiet, tumult." This term describes a state of undisturbed tranquility or security, but within this context, it carries a strong negative connotation. It implies a presumptuous, self-satisfied, or even arrogant complacency that dangerously ignores divine warnings and impending peril, rooted in a false sense of invulnerability.
* **strip (Hebrew, _pâshaṭ'_):** From H6584, a primitive root meaning "to spread out (i.e. deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e. unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)." In this specific context, it refers to the decisive act of removing one's garments, particularly fine or luxurious clothing, as a potent symbol of discarding pride, comfort, status, and any outward signs of their former, complacent life. It is a preparatory action for deep mourning and public humiliation, signifying a complete divestment of their previous state.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Tremble, ye women that are at ease":** This is a direct, imperative command addressed to a specific demographic—women living in a state of dangerous, unearned, and often arrogant complacency. The call to "tremble" (Hebrew _chârad_) signifies a deep, internal shuddering, a profound fear or anxiety, intended to shatter their false sense of security and awaken them to the gravity of their spiritual condition and the impending divine judgment.
* **"be troubled, ye careless ones":** This serves as a powerful parallel command, reinforcing the urgency and intensity of the first. "Be troubled" (Hebrew _râgaz_) means to quiver with violent emotion, especially anger or fear, or to be profoundly disquieted. The "careless ones" (Hebrew _bâṭach_) refers to those who are overly confident, placing their trust in their own perceived strength, wealth, or circumstances rather than in the sovereign God. Together, these clauses demand a complete and immediate reversal of their emotional and spiritual state, from apathy and indifference to anguish and spiritual alarm.
* **"strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon [your] loins":** This clause prescribes the outward, physical actions that are meant to symbolize and accompany the internal transformation demanded. "Strip you" (Hebrew _pâshaṭ_) and "make you bare" (Hebrew _ʻârar_) instruct them to remove their outer garments, exposing themselves in a state of vulnerability, humility, and shame. This act was a public display of profound grief and brokenness. The command to "gird sackcloth upon your loins" (Hebrew _chăgôwr_ and _châlâts_) completes the vivid imagery of mourning and repentance. Sackcloth, a coarse, uncomfortable material, was worn as a universally recognized sign of deep sorrow, contrition, and identification with suffering, indicating a readiness to acknowledge sin and appeal to God's mercy.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 32:11 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its urgent and severe message. The most prominent device is the **Imperative Mood**, evident in the series of direct commands: "Tremble," "be troubled," "strip," "make bare," and "gird." This creates an undeniable sense of immediacy, authority, and non-negotiable demand, underscoring the prophet's role as God's authoritative messenger. **Parallelism** is effectively utilized, particularly in the pairing of "women that are at ease" with "careless ones," and "Tremble" with "be troubled." This structural repetition intensifies the warning, broadens its scope to encompass different facets of spiritual apathy, and reinforces the severity of the indictment. **Symbolism** is central to the verse's impact, with the acts of "stripping" and "girding sackcloth" serving as profound visual metaphors for the required spiritual transformation—a casting off of pride, false security, and worldly comforts, and an embracing of humility, repentance, and deep mourning. The stark contrast between their current state of "ease" and the commanded actions of "trembling" and "stripping" creates a powerful **Juxtaposition**, highlighting the radical nature of the required change and the severity of the impending divine judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 32:11 stands as a profound theological statement on divine judgment against spiritual complacency and the absolute necessity of genuine repentance. It vividly reveals God's active and righteous involvement in human affairs, holding His people accountable for their spiritual indifference and misplaced worldly security. The passage unequivocally underscores that true peace and lasting security are not found in material wealth, social status, or political stability, but solely in a right relationship with God, characterized by vigilance, humility, and trust. The call to mourning is not merely an expression of sorrow for impending calamity, but a deeper spiritual posture of contrition for the sins that brought it about, serving as a vital prerequisite for divine mercy and ultimate restoration. This divine rebuke serves as a timeless reminder that spiritual apathy is a grave sin, often leading to a hardening of the heart against God's warnings and, ultimately, to inevitable judgment.

* [Amos 6:1](/amos/6-1 "Amos 6:1 - Woe to Those at Ease in Zion")
* [Joel 2:12-13](/joel/2-12 "Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")
* [James 4:8-10](/james/4-8 "James 4:8-10 - Humble Yourselves Before the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 32:11 serves as a piercing mirror for believers today, challenging us to honestly and rigorously assess our spiritual posture. Are we truly vigilant, discerning the signs of the times and actively seeking God's will, or have we, like the women of Judah, allowed ourselves to become "at ease," lulled into spiritual complacency by worldly comforts, material prosperity, or a superficial, unexamined faith? The prophet's urgent call to "tremble" and "be troubled" is not about a paralyzing fear of punishment, but rather about cultivating a healthy, reverent fear of the Lord that leads to genuine repentance and a sober, realistic assessment of our lives before a holy God. It compels us to examine any areas where we might be trusting in our own resources, achievements, or perceived stability rather than in the sovereign grace and provision of God. The command to "strip" and "gird sackcloth" symbolizes a radical act of humility—a willingness to shed our pride, self-sufficiency, and any outward displays that mask inner spiritual decay. It calls us to a genuine, heartfelt mourning over our sins and the spiritual brokenness of the world, fostering a posture of absolute dependence on God and a readiness for His transformative work within us and through us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be living "at ease" or "carelessly" in a spiritual sense, neglecting vigilance or dependence on God?**
* **What false securities, comforts, or forms of pride might I need to "strip away" to embrace a deeper humility and more complete dependence on God?**
* **How can I cultivate a healthy "trembling" or reverential fear for God that leads to sincere repentance and spiritual growth, rather than despair?**
* **What concrete, specific actions can I take this week to move from any spiritual apathy to more active, intentional engagement with God's will and His kingdom?**

### FAQ
**Who are the "women at ease" and "careless ones" being addressed in this verse?**

Answer: In the immediate historical context, the "women at ease" and "careless ones" primarily refer to the affluent and influential women of Jerusalem and Judah's elite society. These were individuals who, due to their social standing and wealth, were often insulated from the hardships faced by the general populace and were largely oblivious or indifferent to the spiritual decay and impending national crisis. Prophetically, they represent the broader nation's spiritual apathy and false sense of security, particularly among those who should have been leading in righteousness and vigilance. The warning, while specifically addressed to women, carries a universal message about the dangers of spiritual complacency for any individual or community, regardless of gender or status. It highlights how material comfort can blind one to spiritual realities and divine warnings, as seen in other prophetic rebukes against those who are "at ease in Zion" ([Amos 6:1](/amos/6-1 "Amos 6:1 - Woe to Those at Ease in Zion")).

**What is the significance of the command to "strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins"?**

Answer: This command is deeply symbolic and culturally significant in the ancient Near East, conveying a profound message of humility and repentance. "Stripping" and "making bare" meant removing one's fine outer garments, exposing oneself in a state of vulnerability and humiliation. This was a public act of discarding pride, status, and worldly comforts, signifying a complete divestment of one's former self and a public acknowledgment of shame or impending judgment. "Girding sackcloth upon your loins" refers to wearing a coarse, uncomfortable fabric, typically made of goat's hair, as a universally recognized sign of deep mourning, sorrow, and profound contrition. It was a common practice during times of national calamity, personal grief, or as an act of repentance and humility before God. Together, these actions symbolize a radical shift from self-indulgence and false security to profound grief over sin and impending judgment, a humble plea for mercy, and a readiness for spiritual transformation. This imagery is powerfully echoed in other prophetic calls for repentance, such as when the people of Nineveh responded to Jonah's message by [donning sackcloth](/jonah/3-5 "Jonah 3:5 - Nineveh's Repentance") and crying out to God in repentance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 32:11, with its stark and urgent call to abandon false security and embrace a posture of mourning and humility, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the radical demands and transformative power of the Gospel. The "ease" and "carelessness" addressed by Isaiah powerfully foreshadow humanity's inherent spiritual blindness and self-sufficiency apart from God, a fallen state from which only Christ can deliver. Jesus, the true righteous King prophesied to reign in [Isaiah 32:1](/isaiah/32-1 "Isaiah 32:1 - A King Will Reign in Righteousness"), calls His followers not to worldly comfort or self-preservation but to a life of self-denial and cross-bearing (cf. [Matthew 16:24](/matthew/16-24 "Matthew 16:24 - Take Up Your Cross")). The command to "tremble" and "be troubled" resonates deeply with the Beatitude, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" ([Matthew 5:4](/matthew/5-4 "Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are Those Who Mourn")), where spiritual mourning over sin, brokenness, and the world's fallen state is presented as the pathway to true divine comfort, not worldly ease. The symbolic stripping away of fine garments and donning of sackcloth prefigures the spiritual stripping away of self-righteousness and the "filthy rags" of our own works (cf. [Isaiah 64:6](/isaiah/64-6 "Isaiah 64:6 - Our Righteous Acts Are Like Filthy Rags")), to be clothed instead with the perfect, imputed righteousness of Christ (cf. [Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Philippians 3:9 - Righteousness Through Faith in Christ")). In Christ, the true and lasting security is found not in human strength, material possessions, or fleeting worldly comforts, but in His finished work on the cross, offering eternal peace and rest for our weary souls (cf. [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). He is the Lamb of God who ultimately takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), making true spiritual transformation and unwavering security possible for all who believe and humble themselves before Him.

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

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.

James 5:5

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Hosea 2:3

Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

Isaiah 2:21

To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Micah 1:8

¶ Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

Micah 1:11

Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing.

Isaiah 22:4

Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.