Isaiah 3:22 — Word Study
WLCהַמַּֽחֲלָצוֹת֙ וְהַמַּ֣עֲטָפ֔וֹת וְהַמִּטְפָּח֖וֹת וְהָחֲרִיטִֽים׃
BSA[their] festive robesmachălâtsâh [changeable, fine, costly apparel, royal garments] capesmaʻăṭâphâh△ [mantles, outer garments] cloaksmiṭpachath [shawls, coverings] and purseschârîyṭ [handbags, satchels]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַמַּֽחֲלָצוֹת֙ | the robes | Particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְהַמַּ֣עֲטָפ֔וֹת | and the over-tunics | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְהַמִּטְפָּח֖וֹת | and the cloaks | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְהָחֲרִיטִֽים׃ | and the purses | Conjunction, particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses; |
| KJV | The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, |
| ASV | the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels; |
| YLT | Of the costly apparel, and of the mantles, And of the coverings, and of the purses, |
| WEB | the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses, |
| BBE | The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags, |
All translations agree on the items listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by a series of coordinated noun phrases, creating a rhythmic listing of items.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 4 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 3:22
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Judgment on Jerusalem's Womengenerated
Isaiah 3:22 describes the luxurious clothing of the women of Jerusalem, emphasizing their ostentatious attire as a sign of their pride and the impending judgment they would face. This verse is part of a larger passage that critiques the social injustices and moral decay present in Jerusalem, particularly among its elite.
Cross References
The Key Word — מַחֲלָצוֹת, maḥalāṣōtgenerated
The word מַחֲלָצוֹת (maḥalāṣōt) refers to robes that are often associated with royalty or formal occasions. It is derived from a root meaning 'to change', suggesting garments that can be easily removed or changed, highlighting their ceremonial nature.
This term emphasizes the distinction between ordinary clothing and garments worn for special occasions, reflecting the social status of the wearer. In this context, it underscores the excessive pride of the women in Jerusalem, as they adorn themselves with fine robes.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the listing of garments in this verse, consistently rendering מַחֲלָצוֹת as 'robes' and including other items such as 'over-tunics', 'cloaks', and 'purses'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse consists of a series of noun phrases coordinated by conjunctions. The main clause lists various items: מַחֲלָצוֹת, מַעֲטָפ֔וֹת, מִטְפָּח֖וֹת, and חֲרִיטִֽים, all of which describe the clothing and accessories.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the garments, creating a rhythmic listing that highlights the opulence of the women's attire.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the term for מַחֲלָצוֹת is rendered as τὰ (ta), indicating a straightforward translation without additional interpretive nuance.
The choice of words in the Septuagint reflects the translators' focus on conveying the literal meaning of the Hebrew terms, maintaining the sense of luxury associated with the clothing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 3:22 lists the luxurious clothing of the women of Jerusalem, including their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses. This verse serves to highlight their pride and the judgment they would face due to their ostentatious display of wealth.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The garments represent the wealth and status of the women of Jerusalem, highlighting their pride and the social issues present in the city.
The clothing serves as a symbol of the moral decay and superficiality of the elite, contrasting with the impending judgment they would face.
This verse is part of a larger critique of social injustice and pride, emphasizing the need for humility and righteousness among God's people.
The description serves as a warning against excessive pride and the dangers of valuing outward appearances over inner character.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see pride reflected in my own life or community?
- How can I cultivate humility in my daily interactions with others?
- What are some examples of how society values outward appearances over inner qualities?
- How does this passage challenge me to reflect on my own values and priorities?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, noting the significance of the garments mentioned and their implications for the women of Jerusalem.
And changes, and cloaks, and coverings. As for 'coverings', the Septuagint translated it as 'clear ethereal garments', signifying the very thin garments with which the bodies of the Spartans,Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 3:22 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe changeable suits of apparel,.... To put on and off upon occasion; Kimchi says they were beautiful garments, and so they stand opposed to filthy ones, Zechariah 3:3 and the mantles: or "cloaks",
Read John Gill on Isaiah 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The changeable suits of apparel. Here begin entire articles of apparel. Those before were single ornaments.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOf silver or gold, either used to curl the hair, or rather fastened and worn in the hair; which custom is not altogether disused at this day.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 3:22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, Ver. 22.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(22) The changeable suits of apparel.—Better, state, or festal, dresses. The word is used in Zechariah 3:4, of the high priest’s garments, “gold and blue, and purple, and fine linen” (Exodus 28:6). The mantles.—Better, tunics. The uppermost of the two garments, commonly richly embroidered. Wimples.—The obsolete English word describes accurately enough the large shawl, like a Scotch plaid, worn over the tunic, as in the “vail” worn by Ruth (Rth 4:15). The crisping pins.—Better, purses (2 Kings 5:23), the small embroidered bags, or reticules, attached to the girdles. The girdle itself was used as a purse by men. This was a refinement of female luxury.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges22. The festal garments (Zechariah 3:4) and the tunics and the shawls (Rth 3:15) and the purses (2 Kings 5:23).
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe articles which are mentioned in the remaining part of this description, are entire articles of apparel; those which had preceded were chiefly single ornaments.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 3 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible22. What is now mentioned consists of entire articles. Hitherto only single ornaments were named. Changeable suits — Put on and off on occasions; holiday dresses. A variety of these indicated wealth.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 3 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;
the fine robes, the capes, the cloaks, the purses,
their festive robes, capes, cloaks, and purses;
festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses,
Tyndale line
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels;
the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels;
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-pins,
The costly apparell and the vailes, and the wimples, and the crisping pinnes,
Strictly literal
the festival-robes, and the tunics, and the mantles, and the wallets;
Of the costly apparel, and of the mantles, And of the coverings, and of the purses,
Of the costly apparel, and of the mantles, || And of the coverings, and of the purses,
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the pockets.
the festive robes, the mantles, the veils, and the handbags;
From the Latin
And changes of apparel, and short cloaks, and fine linen, and crisping pins,
Simplified
festival clothes, gowns, cloaks, handbags,
The feast-day dresses, and the robes, and the wide skirts, and the handbags,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text lists מַחֲלָצוֹת, מַעֲטָפ֔וֹת, מִטְפָּח֖וֹת, and חֲרִיטִֽים in this verse. The Septuagint matches three of the four words, indicating a close alignment between the two texts.
The Dead Sea Scrolls show some words preserved, but others are supplied by an editor, indicating partial agreement with the Masoretic Text.
הַמַּֽחֲלָצוֹת֙ וְהַמַּ֣עֲטָפ֔וֹת וְהַמִּטְפָּח֖וֹת וְהָחֲרִיטִֽים׃
3 of the 4 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[המחלצות] [והמעטפות] והמטפחת [והחריטים]
1 word on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
והמחלצות והמעטפות והחריטים
3 words of the verse are on this fragment. The rest of the verse is not on it.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 3:22
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מַחֲלָצָה (machalatsah) refers to a robe of state, typically associated with formal occasions and set apart from everyday clothing. It is derived from a root meaning to change, suggesting a garment that can be easily removed. The term emphasizes the distinction between ceremonial attire and ordinary wear.
[מַחֲלָצָה] n.f. robe of state (taken off in ordinary life)
base
H4254 מַחֲלָצָה robe of state (taken off in ordinary life)
4254 machalatsah makh-al-aw-tsaw'
from 2502; a mantle (as easily drawn off):--changeable suit
of apparel, change of raiment.
see HEBREW for 02502
מַחֲלָצָה (ma.cha.la.tsah) — robe.
robe of state
Art | N-fp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHTd/Ncfpa
See GARMENTS.
מַעֲטָפָה (ma`ataphah) refers to an overtunic or cloak. It is derived from the root meaning to cover, and its usage is noted in Isaiah 3:22. The entries consistently describe it as a type of garment.
[מַעֲטָפָה] n.f. overtunic;—pl. abs. Is 3:22.
ref
H4595 [מַעֲטָפָה] overtunic
4595 ma`ataphah mah-at-aw-faw'
from 5848; a cloak:--mantle.
see HEBREW for 05848
מַעֲטָפָה (ma.a.ta.phah) — overtunic.
overtunic
Conj | Art | N-fp — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncfpa
The Hebrew word מִטְפַּ֫חַת (*mitpachath*) refers to a wide cloak, particularly associated with women. It is derived from another root, noted as H2946, and is translated as 'vail' or 'wimple' in some contexts. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning as a type of cloak.
מִטְפַּ֫חַת n.f. cloak
base
H4304 מִטְפַּ֫חַת cloak
4304 mitpachath mit-pakh'-ath
from 2946; a wide cloak (for a woman):--vail, wimple.
see HEBREW for 02946
מִטְפַּ֫חַת (mit.pa.chat) — cloak.
cloak
Conj | Art | N-fp — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncfpa
חָרִיט (chariyt) refers to a bag or purse, derived from a root meaning 'cut out' or 'hollow.' The entries consistently define it as a container for carrying items, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[חָרִיט] n.m. bag, purse
base
H2754 [חָרִיט] bag, purse
2754 chariyt khaw-reet'
or charit {khaw-reet'}; from the same as 2747; properly, cut
out (or hollow), i.e. (by implication) a pocket:--bag,
crisping pin.
see HEBREW for 02747
חָרִיט (cha.rit) — purse.
bag, purse
Conj | Art | N-mp — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncmpa