Isaiah 3:11

Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. WOE UNTO THE WICKED, (IT SHALL BE) ILL (WITH HIM) - antithesis to "well" (): emphatic ellipsis. The Hebrew is simply "ill!" FOR THE REWARD OF HIS HANDS SHALL BE GIVEN HIM. "Hands," his conduct; hands being the instrument of acts (Ecclesiastes 8:12)....

11._Woe unto the wicked! _It shall be ill with him. He brings forward this clause as a contrast to the former one; from which it may be easily inferred what was the design of the Prophet, namely, to comfort the godly, and to terrify the wicked by the judgment of God. For when an uncommonly severe calamity occurs, which attacks all without discrimination, we doubt whether it be by the providence of God, or, on the contrary, by blind chance, that the world is governed. On this account godly men fear and dread that the same destruction which overtakes the wicked will ruin them also. Others think that it is of no importance whether a man be good or bad, when they see both classes visited by pestilence, war, famine and other calamities. And hence arises the wicked thought, that there is no difference between the rewards of the good and of the bad; and in the midst of these gloomy thoughts car...

10-15 The rule was certain; however there might be national prosperity or trouble, it would be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked. Blessed be God, there is abundant encouragement to the righteous to trust in him, and for sinners to repent and return to him. It was time for the Lord to show his might. He will call men to a strict account for all the wealth and power intrusted to and abused by them. If it is sinful to disregard the necessities of the poor, how odious and wicked a part do they act, who bring men into poverty, and then oppress them!...

Verse Isaiah 3:11. _WO UNTO THE WICKED_] לרשע _lerasha_, the man who is, 1. Evil in his heart. 2. Evil in his purposes. 3. Evil in his life. As he is _wicked_, he does that which is _wicked_; and is influenced by the _wicked one_, of whom he is the _servant_ and the _son_. It shall be _ill_ with him, רע _ra_; in a single word say to him - _evil!_ _Of_ him you can speak no good; and _to_ him you can speak no good - all is _evil, in_ him - _before_ him - _after_ him - _round about_ him - _above_ him - _below_ him. Evil in _time_ - evil through _eternity_! _THE REWARD OF HIS HANDS._] What he has deserved he shall get. He shall be paid that for which he has laboured, and his reward shall be in proportion to his work. O, what a lot is that

WO UNTO THE WICKED - To all the wicked - but here having particular reference to the Jews whom Isaiah was addressing. IT SHALL BE ILL WITH HIM - The word “ill” is the only word here in the original. It is an emphatic mode of speaking - expressing deep abhorrence and suddenness of denunciation. ‘Woe to the impious! Ill!’ FOR THE REWARD OF HIS HANDS - Of his conduct. The hands are the instruments by which we accomplish anything, and hence, they are put for the whole man. SHALL BE GIVEN HIM - That is, shall be repaid to him; or he shall be justly recompensed for his crimes. This is the principle on which God rules the world. It shall be well here and hereafter, with those who obey God; it shall be ill here and forever, with those who disobey him....

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 her superior and more honorable classes (Isaiah 3:1); and will give her "children" for her rulers (Isaiah 3:4). There will be continued oppression, and the rise of an insolent and undutiful spirit (Isaiah 3:5). Those fit to bear rule will refuse to do so (Isaiah 3:6,...

WOE UNTO THE WICKED! [IT SHALL BE] ILL [WITH HIM],.... In time, and to eternity, in times of public calamity, and under all afflictions, and adverse dispensations of Providence; he has no God to go to; all that befalls him is in wrath; at death he is driven away in his wickedness; at judgment he will be bid to depart as cursed, and his portion will be in the lake of fire, with devils and damned spirits for ever. Some l render it, "woe to the wicked, evil"; or who is evil, who is exceedingly bad, a very great sinner, the chief of sinners, such as the Sodomites were, sinners before the Lord exceedingly, Genesis 13:13 to whom these men are compared, Isaiah 3:9. So the Targum, "woe to the ungodly, whose works are evil:'' the Jews, as they distinguish between a good man and a ri

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 worldliness of the daughters of Zion (Isaiah 3:16)_ 5. _Their humiliation in judgment (Isaiah 3:24; Isaiah 4:1)_ This chapter describes the corrupt conditions among the professing people of God in Isaiah's day. A similar corruption and worldliness pr

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 be thrown into the hands of young, inexperienced upstarts. Social distinctions will be swept away, age and rank no longer secure respect. Tired of the anarchy, the people will offer the headship of their district to one whom they imagine equal to it, apparently because he belongs to the old order and has hereditary instincts for administration. But he will refuse, disclaiming the qualification. This impending ruin is due to Judah's rebellious provocation of Yahweh, its respect of persons (_mg.),_ Sodom-like shamelessness in its sin. Blessed is the righteous, woe to the wicked; each shall reap what he has sown. The people is governed by oppressors and usurers, its leaders mislead it....

WOE. Figure of speech _Maledictio._ App-6. THE WICKED, &C.. a lawless evil one (_ra'a',_ App-44.), [it shall not be well]. Hebrew. _rasha'._ HANDS. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), for what is done with them. GIVEN HIM. done to him....