Limitless Word
The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; The perfume boxes, the charms,
Isaiah 3:20 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,
  • KJV The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
  • BSB their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes; their perfume bottles and charms;
  • NASB headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets,
  • NLT scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes, perfumes, and charms;

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

The catalogue of finery extends to headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume bottles, and charms. It shows judgment reaching even the smallest tokens of vanity and superstition.

Overview

Some items, such as charms and amulets, hint at the pagan superstition mingled with Judah's pride. Isaiah's exhaustive list communicates that every prop of self-glory and false trust will be stripped away. The point is not that beauty is sinful, but that a heart given to vanity and idolatry stands under God's judgment.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 5

  • Exod 39:28and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
  • Gen 35:4They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
  • Hos 2:13I will visit on her the days of the Baals, to which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgot me,” says Yahweh.
  • Exod 32:2Aaron said to them, “Take off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.”
  • Ezek 16:12I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (8)

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 3:20YouTube · 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 3:20 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.