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The Biblical Illustrator

Isaiah 3:9

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them

Character revealed in the countenance

What is meant is the insolent look which their sinfulness is stamping upon their faces, without the self-condemnation which in others takes the form of dread to commit sin.

(F. Delitzsch.)

“Woe unto their soul”!

1. The condition of sinners is woeful and very deplorable.

2. It is the soul that is damaged and endangered by sin. Sinners may prosper in their outward estates, and yet there may be a woe to their souls.

3. Whatever evil befalls sinners, it is of their own procuring (Jeremiah 2:19). (M. Henry.)

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See also Isaiah 3:9 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Isaiah 3:9. _THE SHOW OF THEIR COUNTENANCE_] Bishop Lowth has it _the_ _steadfastness of their countenance_-they appear to be bent on iniquity, their eyes tell the wickedness of their hearts. T...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE SHOW OF THEIR COUNTENANCE - The word rendered “the show” is probably derived from a word signifying “to know,” or “to recognize,” and here denotes “impudence” or “pride.” Septuagint, ‘The shame of...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 3 Judgments upon the Rulers and the Daughters Of Zion 1. _The judgment against the rulers (Isaiah 3:1)_ 2. _Jerusalem's sad condition (Isaiah 3:8)_ 3. _Jehovah's message (Isaiah 3:10)_ 4. The...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JUDAH TO BE PUNISHED WITH ANARCHY. The date is uncertain. That it was early in the reign of Ahaz is a dubious inference from Isaiah 3:12. The pillars of society will be removed, and control will thus...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SHEW. expression. WITNESS. testify. DECLARE. HIDE IT NOT. have declared. have not hidden. SODOM. See Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 1:10. THEIR SOUL. them (emphatic). Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER THREE 3. THE VENGEANCE UPON DECADENCE Isaiah 3:1 to Isaiah 4:1 a. THE WEALTHY TEXT: Isaiah 3:1-15 1 For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah s...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. THE SHOW OF THEIR C...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:9 brought (i-28) Lit. 'rewarded.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    1. STAY AND THE STAFF] A prophecy of famine: cp. Isaiah 3:7, as the clause following explains. But if the latter clause is a gloss then 'stay and staff' would refer to the classes upon which the stabi...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SHEW OF THEIR COUNTENANCE] i.e. their expression; the meaning being that their character may be read in their face. But RM has, 'Their respecting of persons doth witness,' etc....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS ISAIAH DECLARES HOW GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIVING ISAIAH CHAPTER S 1 TO 9 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 3 DESPAIR IN *JERUSALEM V1 See what the *Lord (commander of...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Proud behaviour (verse 9) causes moral failures in words and deeds. Such failures must affect both personal life and national life. That is God’s law. GOD’S JUDGEMENT V13 As if he were standing in c...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEY DECLARE THEIR SIN AS SODOM. — The comparison is, it should be remembered, of probably an earlier date than that in Isaiah 1:10. In the reign of Ahaz (perhaps the prophet, editing in his old age,...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הַכָּרַ֤ת פְּנֵיהֶם֙ עָ֣נְתָה בָּ֔ם וְ חַטָּאתָ֛ם...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER II THE THREE JERUSALEMS 740-735 B.C. Isaiah 2:1; Isaiah 3:1; Isaiah 4:1 AFTER the general introduction, in chapter 1, to the prophecies of Isaiah, there comes another portion of the book, o...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    AN EXHORTATION TO HUMILITY AND REVERENCE Isaiah 2:12-22; Isaiah 3:1-12 If men will not repent, they must suffer. If they will not voluntarily put away their idols and sorceries, they will be compelle...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The prophet now deals with judgment in greater detail, and shows how it will proceed against the rulers and against the women. The judgment in the case of the rulers is to be the destruction of true g...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    The (h) show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe to their soul! for they have rewarded evil to themselves. (h) When God examin...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Shew, ( agnitio.) "Knowledge." (Worthington) --- Impudence, &c. (Calmet) --- Hacurath (Haydock) occurs no where else. (Calmet) --- From their countenance we may judge that they are proud, &c. (Menoch...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    The prophet plainly shows by these verses, that the sin is universal. All ranks and all orders of the people are involved in the same sin, and consequently the same punishment. It is a melancholy stat...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9._The proof of their countenance will answer in them, _or, _will answer against them _(59) As the Prophet had to do with impudent and brazen-faced hypocrites, who impudently boasted that they were go...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 2, 3, AND 4. Thus re-established, Zion, the mountain of Jehovah, will be the centre of blessing and peace to all the nations (Isaiah 2:1-4). This puts the inv...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE SHEW OF THEIR COUNTENANCE DOTH WITNESS AGAINST THEM,.... The word translated "shew" is only used in this place. Some derive it from נכר, "to know", in the conjugations Piel and Hiphil; and render...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Ver. 9. _The show o...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The show of their countenance_ Their pride, wantonness, and impiety, manifestly show themselves in their very looks and whole behaviour, and will be swift witnesses against them, both before God and...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The show of their countenance, their whole appearance, the boldness expressed in their entire conduct, DOTH WITNESS AGAINST THEM, their vices being imprinted upon their foreheads; AND THEY DECLARE THE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    GOD'S THREAT OF PUNISHMENT...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-9 God was about to deprive Judah of every stay and support. The city and the land were to be made desolate, because their words and works had been rebellious against the Lord; even at his holy temp...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE SHOW OF THEIR COUNTENANCE DOTH WITNESS AGAINST THEM; their pride, and wantonness, and impiety manifestly shows itself in their very looks and carriages, and will be swift witness against them both...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 3:9 look H1971 countenance H6440 them H6030 (H8804) declare H5046 (H8689) sin H2403 Sodom H5467 hide...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    WHAT MEN SOW THEY WILL REAP - A WISDOM SONG (ISAIAH 3:9). Isaiah 3:9 ‘Woe to them themselves, For they have rewarded themselves with evil. Say of the righteous that it is well, For they will eat...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ALL THAT JERUSALEM/JUDAH DEPEND ON IS TO BE TAKEN AWAY SO THAT SOCIETY WILL DISINTEGRATE TOWARDS EVEN MORE EVIL (ISAIAH 3:1 A). Having covered world judgment Isaiah now brings it home to the local sit...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The coming desolations of Jerusalem because of sin and the judgment of sinners. CHARACTERS: God, Isaiah. CONCLUSION: Whatever evil befalls sinners, it is of their own procuring. Those who...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 3:1. _Behold, the Lord doth take away from Jerusalem the whole stay of bread._ This threatening is understood of the Chaldean invasion in the reign of Jechoniah, and after the death of king Jos...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    SHAMELESS SINNERS Isaiah 3:9. _They declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not_. Extremes are generally detestable: equatorial heat, arctic cold; the speaker whom we must strain to hear, the orator...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ISAIAH 3:1 GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON JERUSALEM. The general denunciations against Israel of the two preceding chapters are here turned especially against Jerusalem. God will deprive her of all h...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    For, behold, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty men, and the man of war, the judge...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 15:32; 2 Kings 9:30; Daniel 7:20; Ezekiel 23:16; Genesis 13:

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The shew — Their pride, and wantonness, and impiety m manifestly shews itself in their very looks. They declare — They act it publickly, casting off all fear of God and reverence to men. Rewarded — Pr...

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