Isaiah 3

“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,” The line’s distinctive content terms include ancient, judge, mighty. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD , to provoke…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe…” Naming Sodom and Woe keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause…” The line’s distinctive content terms include people, cause, children. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.” The line’s distinctive content terms include standeth, judge, LORD. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include ancients, eaten, enter. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton…” Naming Because and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,” The line’s distinctive content terms include bracelets, chains, mufflers. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,” The line’s distinctive content terms include bonnets, earrings, headbands. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The rings, and nose jewels,” The line’s distinctive content terms include jewels, nose, rings. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,” The line’s distinctive content terms include apparel, changeable, crisping. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fine, glasses, hoods. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.