Isaiah 3:23 — Word Study
WLCוְהַגִּלְיֹנִים֙ וְהַסְּדִינִ֔ים וְהַצְּנִיפ֖וֹת וְהָרְדִידִֽים׃
BSAand [their] mirrorsgillâyôwn [hand-mirrors, looking-glasses] linen garmentsçâdîyn [fine linen, lawns] tiarastsânîyph [turbans, head wraps] and shawlsrâdîyd [veils, large pieces of fabric]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְהַגִּלְיֹנִים֙ | and the mirrors | Conjunction, particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| וְהַסְּדִינִ֔ים | and the linen garments | Conjunction, particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| וְהַצְּנִיפ֖וֹת | and the headdresses | Conjunction, particle, noun common feminine plural absolute |
| וְהָרְדִידִֽים׃ | and the shawls | 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 | and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. |
| KJV | The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. |
| ASV | the hand-mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils. |
| YLT | Of the mirrors, and of the linen garments, And of the hoods, and of the vails, |
| WEB | the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls. |
| BBE | The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils. |
The translations agree on the wording of the items listed in this verse.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by a series of noun phrases, creating a list 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 ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 3:23
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 3:23 describes the luxurious items that women in Jerusalem possess, emphasizing their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls as symbols of their vanity. This verse is part of a larger passage that criticizes the pride and superficiality of the people, contrasting their external adornments with the impending judgment they will face. The context reflects a broader theme in Isaiah regarding the consequences of turning away from God and relying on material possessions.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 38:8 | Next he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. |
| 2 | Genesis 41:42 | Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 15:27 | Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 16:10 | I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. |
| 5 | Luke 16:19 | Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הַגִּלְיֹנִים, ve.ha.gil.yo.Nimgenerated
The word הַגִּלְיֹנִים (gilayonim) refers to mirrors, specifically hand-held or flat reflective surfaces. It is derived from a root meaning 'bare', indicating something smooth and polished, like glass. In this verse, it symbolizes the vanity of the women who focus on their appearance.
This term appears in contexts that highlight the contrast between inner character and outward appearance, as seen in other biblical texts. Its use here suggests a critique of the superficial values held by the society.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the wording of this verse, consistently rendering the Hebrew terms into English without significant variation.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, listing items in a series. The main verb is implied, as the verse catalogues the items without a direct action, creating a rhythmic listing of the luxurious garments and accessories.
Each noun phrase stands alone, contributing to a cumulative description of the opulence associated with the women of Jerusalem.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הַגִּלְיֹנִים as τὰ, indicating a straightforward rendering without additional interpretation. This reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew term, maintaining its meaning.
The choice of words in the Septuagint aligns closely with the Hebrew, emphasizing the material aspects of the items listed.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 3:23 lists luxurious items that women in Jerusalem have, including mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls. This verse is part of a larger critique of the people's vanity and pride, contrasting their focus on external beauty with the judgment they will face.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The mirrors symbolize vanity and the focus on outward appearance, reflecting the superficial values of the society.
Linen garments represent purity and elegance, often associated with wealth and status in biblical times.
The passage critiques the pride and superficiality of the people, warning of the judgment that will come as a consequence of their actions.
This verse is part of a broader passage that discusses the consequences of the people's vanity and reliance on material possessions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I might be focusing too much on outward appearances rather than inner character?
- How can I apply the lessons from this verse to my own life regarding material possessions?
- In what ways can I cultivate a sense of humility and authenticity in my interactions with others?
- How does this critique of vanity resonate with contemporary society's values?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, noting the significance of the items listed as symbols of women's adornment and societal values.
And needles, and mirrors, and linen cloths, and ribbons, and shawls. Women have needles, with which the arrangement of their hair is secured so that it does not flow too freely and become scattered.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 3:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe glasses,.... Looking glasses, by which they dressed themselves, see Exodus 38:8 and so Kimchi explains the word; but elsewhere (e) he says it signifies thin garments, so called because the flesh
Read John Gill on Isaiah 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. Glasses - mirrors of polished metal (Exodus 38:8).
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe glasses; the looking-glasses, as we call them, though in truth they were not made of glass, but of bright and burnished brass.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 3:23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. Ver. 23.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 3 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(23) The glasses—i.e., the polished metal mirrors (as in Exodus 38:3; Job 37:18; 1 Corinthians 13:12; James 1:23), which the Eastern lady carried in her hand, that she might adjust her toilet. The LXX. rendering, “Laconian [Spartan] garments,” i.e., indecently transparent, is curious enough to deserve notice, as throwing light on the social life of Alexandria, if not of Israel. The fine linen—i.e., the chemise worn under the tunic next the skin. The Heb. sedξn, like the Greek σίνδων (Mark 14:51), seems to imply a commerce with India; so our muslin (mosul) and calico (calicut) bear record of their origin. In Sanscrit, sindhu is the term for fine linen. The hoods—i.e., the turbans which…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 23. The glasses] The conjunction ו vau, and - AND the glasses, is added here by forty-three of Kennicott's and thirty-four of De Rossi's MSS., and one of my own, ancient, as well as by many editions. And the veils. - "The transparent garments."] ΤαδιαφανηΛακωνικα, Sept. A kind of silken dress, transparent, like gauze; worn only by the most elegant women, and such as dressed themselves elegantius quam necesse esset probis, "more elegantly than modest women should." Such garments are worn to the present day; garments that not only show the shape of every part of the body, but the very colour of the skin. This is evidently the case in some scores of drawings of Asiatic females now before…
Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges23. The mirrors (made of polished metal, see ch. Isaiah 8:1) and the shifts (Judges 14:12 f.) and the turbans and the overalls (a kind of veil, Son 5:7).
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe glasses - There is a great variety of opinion about the expression used here. That ancient Jews had “looking-glasses,” or mirrors, is manifest from the account in Exodus 38:8.
Read Albert Barnes 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
and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.
the hand mirrors, the fine linen garments, the tiaras, and the shawls.
and their mirrors, linen garments, tiaras, and shawls.
garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns.
Tyndale line
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
the hand-mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils.
the hand mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils.
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
And the glasses and the fine linen, and the hoodes, and the launes.
Strictly literal
the mirrors, and the fine linen bodices, and the turbans, and the flowing veils.
Of the mirrors, and of the linen garments, And of the hoods, and of the vails,
Of the mirrors, and of the linen garments, || And of the hoods, and of the veils,
The mirrors, and the chemisettes, and the turbans, and the long vails.
the hand mirrors, the fine linen, the head pieces, and the wraps.
From the Latin
And looking-glasses, and lawns, and headbands, and fine veils.
Simplified
hand mirrors, fine linen underwear, head wraps, and shawls.
The looking-glasses, and the fair linen, and the high head-dresses, and the veils.
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 and the Dead Sea Scrolls agree on the wording of the verse, with all four items listed intact. The Septuagint matches only two of the four words, indicating some divergence in translation but not in the core message.
וְהַגִּלְיֹנִים֙ וְהַסְּדִינִ֔ים וְהַצְּנִיפ֖וֹת וְהָרְדִידִֽים׃
2 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.
והגליונים והסדינים והצניפות והרדידים
4 words on the leather.
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 3:23
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.
גִּלָּיוֹן (gillayown) refers to a tablet or table used for writing, and it can also denote a mirror or a flat shiny surface. The word is derived from a root meaning 'bare' and encompasses meanings related to glass and rolls. Various lexicons consistently emphasize its use as a writing surface.
גִּלָּיוֹן n.m. table, tablet
base
H1549 גִּלָּיוֹן table, tablet
1549 gillayown ghil-law-yone'
or gilyown {ghil-yone'}; from 1540; a tablet for writing (as
bare); by analogy, a mirror (as a plate):--glass, roll.
see HEBREW for 01540
גִּלָּיוֹן (gil.la.von) — tablet.
table, tablet, mirror, flat shiny ornament
Conj | Art | N-mp — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncmpa
סָדִין (sadiyn) refers to a linen wrapper, possibly a foreign term. It is described as a rectangular piece of fine linen, used as an outer garment or for sleeping. The word is derived from a root meaning to envelop, indicating its function as a covering.
סָדִין n.[m.] linen wrapper (perh. foreign word)
base
H5466 סָדִין linen wrapper (perh. foreign word)
5466 cadiyn saw-deen'
from an unused root meaning to envelop; a wrapper, i.e.
shirt:--fine linen, sheet.
סָדִין (sa.din) — linen.
1) linen wrapper
1a) rectangular piece of fine linen worn as outer, or at night, as a sole garment
Conj | Art | N-mp — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncmpa
The chief garments of the Hebrews were the tunic or inner garment, and the mantle or outer garment. These seem to have constituted a "change of Rainment," Jud 14:13 19:1-30 Ac 9:39. The tunic was of linen, and was worn next to the skin, fitting close to the body; it had armholes, and sometimes wide and open sleeves, and reached below the knees; that worn by females reached to the ankles. The tunic was sometimes woven without seam, like that of Jesus, Joh 19:23. The upper garment or mantle was a piece of cloth nearly square, and two or three yards in length and breadth, which was wrapped round the body, or tied over the shoulders. A man without this robe on was sometimes said to be "naked,"
צָנִיף (tsaniyph) refers to a turban or head-dress, indicating a piece of cloth wrapped around the head. It can also denote related terms like diadem, hood, or mitre. The word is derived from a root meaning to wrap, and its feminine form is tsaniyphah. The entries consistently emphasize its use as a headdress.
צָנִיף n.m. turban
base
H6797 צָנִיף turban
6797 tsaniyph tsaw-neef'
or tsanowph {tsaw-nofe'}; or (feminine) tsaniyphah
{tsaw-nee-faw'}; from 6801; a head-dress (i.e. piece of cloth
wrapped around):--diadem, hood, mitre.
see HEBREW for 06801
צָנִיף (tsa.niph) — turban.
turban, headdress
Conj | Art | N-cp — Conjunction · particle · noun common feminine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncfpa
רְדִיד (radiyd) refers to a wide wrapper or large veil, emphasizing its expansive nature. It is derived from a root meaning to spread. The term is consistently defined across sources, with no significant disagreement noted.
[רְדִיד] n.[m.] wide wrapper, or large veil
base
H7289 [רְדִיד] wide wrapper, or large veil
7289 radiyd raw-deed'
from 7286 in the sense of spreading; a veil (as
expanded):--vail, veil.
see HEBREW for 07286
רְדִיד (ra.did) — veil.
something spread, wide wrapper or large veil
Conj | Art | N-mp — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncmpa