Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 3:16
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Moreover the Lord saith, because the daughters of Zion are haughty, &c.] The wives or daughters of the rulers, princes, or elders; these were “high”, affected to look high and tall, and therefore stretched out their necks, and walked on tiptoes; or “were lifted up” with pride, which is the root and source of all the vanity expressed in their gesture and ornaments. And walk with stretched forth necks or “throats”; looking high, and above others, and upon them with contempt and disdain; this is a sign of pride; (see <197505>Psalm 75:5): and wanton eyes; either winking with their eyes to others to follow them to their houses, as Kimchi interprets it; so Jarchi thinks it is expressive of their looks, as we, of wanton looks; and the Septuagint render it, “with winking of eyes”; so the Syriac and Arabic versions, or painting their eyes; so the Targum, “they walk with their eyes painted,” as Jezebel painted her face, (<120930>2 Kings 9:30 <240430>Jeremiah 4:30) arqys, in the Talmudic language, is usedf64 for vermilion, or red lead, with which they painted their eyes, as they did also with adydx,f65 black lead. Walking and mincing [as] they go: jumping and dancing as children in the streets; or using the like gesture as those who beat upon a drum; or walking in even paces, in a soft and delicate manner; all which senses Kimchif66 observes in the word. The whole is rendered by the Septuagint, “and in the walk of their feet”, or as they walk “together, drawing their coats” upon the ground after them, which makes a noise. The Targum is, “with hair rolled up”, bound up and plaited. And making a tinkling with their feet; having a sort of bells hanging on them, as Kimchi thinks, which made a noise as they went. Of the word here used, and the sense of it, (see Gill on “<230318>Isaiah 3:18”). The Targum renders it, “provoking with their feet”; either the lust of men; or the anger of the Lord, as the Syriac version; the Septuagint and Arabic versions, “playing with the feet”.
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