Season 6 Podcast 45, Isaiah 3:16-26, “The Law of Chastity.” Episode

Season 6 Podcast 45, Isaiah 3:16-26, “The Law of Chastity.”

For those who love poetry one of the unique characteristics of Isaiah is his use of concrete language. None are better than Isaiah. Language is astonishingly flexible. It can be abstract or concrete, general or specific. Abstractions often appear in long Latin polysyllabic words. Concrete statements often appear in short one syllable words. General language is the language of opinion, interpretation, elucidation, analysis, or synthesis. Specific language appeals to the senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Specific language requires an interpreter. And that is exactly what we are facing in the remainder of Chapter 3 in Isaiah. Always remember that Isaiah is a visionary, meaning, not only did he observe his own day, but in vision he also saw our day.  He is showing the signs of his time that led to the destruction of the Jews by the Babylonians. He is also warning us to look for those same signs in our day. If they exist, then we must as a nation hearken to the Lord’s warning or suffer the same fate. For Example, 

Isaiah 3:16

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:

Who are the daughters of Zion? They are the daughters of the covenant people, the chosen of the Lord; yet rather than filled with humility, they are filled with pride. They “walk with stretched forth necks.” That is the image of a proud peacock. Rather than chaste looks, they have “wanton eyes.” ‘Wanton eyes’ are eyes filled with lust or desire, suggesting sexual desire. They are like harlots, seducing the sons of Israel. That is in violation of the Law of Chasity, better known as Commandment Seven, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” 

“Walking and mincing as they go” suggests an affected, delicate, or flirtatious walk, intended to draw attention to themselves, again suggesting wanton or immodest behavior, unbecoming of the daughters of Zion. The final image, “making a tinkling with their feet” also suggests drawing attention to themselves. In other words, rather than modesty, they are making a gaudy display of themselves in an attempt to seduce young men. 

Rather than an image of a daughter in Zion, it is the image of a street walker. As harmless as it may appear, especially to a modern society, it is unbecoming of the Lord’s chosen people. Isaiah is not just referring to Jewish women. He is referring to all of his daughters for they are all children of God. In the words of Peter

1 Peter 1:14-15

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.

The Lord reveals to Isaiah the consequences of violating the law of chastity.

Isaiah 3:17

17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.

The haunting image suggests the result of diseases. It is known that STDs are related to infidelity, inflammatory disease, chronic pain, organ damage, cancer, miscarriage, birth defects, depression, sores. That explains the image, “the Lord will discover their secret parts,” meaning that their promiscuity cannot be kept a secret which would cause intense humiliation.

That is the power of poetic language that appeals to the senses. One not only sees the pain it causes, one can almost experience the pain through strong imagery. It is an incredibly unpleasant image in sharp contrast to their former beauty and sexual attraction. In fact, what before gave them confidence now brings them down into fear and humiliation.