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:
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֗ה
Moreover the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
Moreover the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יַ֚עַן
Because
H3282
יַ֚עַן
Because
Strong's:
H3282
Word #:
3 of 17
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
גָֽבְהוּ֙
are haughty
H1361
גָֽבְהוּ֙
are haughty
Strong's:
H1361
Word #:
5 of 17
to soar, i.e., be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty
בְּנ֣וֹת
the daughters
H1323
בְּנ֣וֹת
the daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
6 of 17
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
צִיּ֔וֹן
of Zion
H6726
צִיּ֔וֹן
of Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
7 of 17
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
תֵּלַ֔כְנָה
walking
H1980
תֵּלַ֔כְנָה
walking
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
8 of 17
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
נְטוּוֹ֣ת
with stretched forth
H5186
נְטוּוֹ֣ת
with stretched forth
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
9 of 17
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
עֵינָ֑יִם
eyes
H5869
עֵינָ֑יִם
eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
12 of 17
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
תֵּלַ֔כְנָה
walking
H1980
תֵּלַ֔כְנָה
walking
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
13 of 17
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
תֵּלַ֔כְנָה
walking
H1980
תֵּלַ֔כְנָה
walking
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
15 of 17
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
Isaiah 4:4When 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.Proverbs 30:13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.Matthew 21:5Tell 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.Song of Solomon 3:11Go 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.Isaiah 1:8And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.Isaiah 3:18In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,Isaiah 24:4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Luke 23:28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.Zephaniah 3:11In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
Historical Context
Prosperity under Uzziah and Jotham enabled luxury among Jerusalem's elite. Archaeological finds of jewelry and cosmetics from the period confirm extensive adornment practices.
Questions for Reflection
- How does external adornment sometimes mask or reveal internal spiritual pride?
- In what ways does contemporary culture similarly elevate appearance over godly character?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The indictment against 'daughters of Zion' being 'haughty' with 'stretched forth necks' and 'wanton eyes' critiques prideful seduction and luxury. While some interpret this as condemning women specifically, the broader context suggests corporate judgment on societal vanity. The imagery parallels chapter 2's judgment on male pride (towers, cedars), demonstrating that divine judgment targets arrogance regardless of gender. This anticipates New Testament teaching on modest godliness (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4).