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On that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments,
Isaiah 3:18 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, the headbands, the crescent necklaces,
  • KJV In 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,
  • BSB In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;
  • NKJV In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
  • NLT On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful: ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces,

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God announces He will strip away the luxurious finery of Jerusalem's proud women, beginning a detailed list of ornaments to be removed in judgment. It matters because it shows that outward splendor cannot shield a people from the consequences of inner pride and injustice.

Overview

Isaiah continues his indictment of complacent Judah, focusing on the daughters of Zion whose vanity (3:16) symbolized the nation's spiritual condition. The painstaking inventory of jewelry and accessories underscores how thoroughly the coming judgment will undo their false security. The passage warns against trusting in appearance and wealth rather than the Lord, a theme the New Testament echoes in calling believers to adorn themselves with godly character instead (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • Judg 8:21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
  • Judg 8:26The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Isaiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Isaiah 3:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on IsaiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).

How Isaiah 3:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.