Isaiah 3 · a question people ask

"children shall rule over them" (3:4). Whom does the chapter say these words are about?

In the text

The verse is part of what the LORD says he will do to Jerusalem and Judah (3:1). He takes away "the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet" and the rest (3:2-3), and says, "I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them" (3:4). The next verses say what follows: people oppressed "everyone by another" (3:5), a man asking his brother to rule (3:6), and the brother saying no (3:7). The chapter gives its own reason: "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD" (3:8). Children in 3:4 is ta'alulim, which Brown-Driver-Briggs gives as "wantonness, caprice", and Strong's as "caprice (as a fit coming on), i.e. vexation; concretely a tyrant babe, delusion"; the WEB gives it children here, and delusions in its only other use (66:4) (tap children). Later the chapter says, "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths" (3:12); children there is another word, and the verse says no more of whom it means. The chapter says whom it speaks to and why. These notes apply its words to no ruler, government, nation or anyone else today.

The verses

“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.”
Isaiah 3:12 · World English Bible
“I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.””
Isaiah 66:4 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 3

Isaiah 3: Supply and support

In Hebrew, "takes away" (3:1) and "will take away" (3:18) are one verb, sur; the man who says "I will not be a healer" (3:7) refuses to bind up, the verb of the LORD who "binds up the fracture of his people" (30:26); and 3:24's "instead of" is the word of "a garland for ashes" (61:3).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions