Isaiah 4:1

4:1 Seven women will grab hold of

one man at that time.

They will say, “We will provide our own food,

we will provide our own clothes;

but let us belong to you

take away our shame!”

Isaiah 28:19

28:19 Whenever it sweeps by, it will overtake you;

indeed, every morning it will sweep by,

it will come through during the day and the night.”

When this announcement is understood,

it will cause nothing but terror.


tn Or “in that day” (ASV).

tn Heb “eat” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); CEV “buy.”

tn Heb “wear” (so NASB, NRSV); NCV “make.”

tn Heb “only let your name be called over us.” The Hebrew idiom “call the name over” indicates ownership. See 2 Sam 12:28, and BDB 896 s.v. I ָקרָא Niph. 2.d.(4). The language reflects the cultural reality of ancient Israel, where women were legally the property of their husbands.

sn This refers to the humiliation of being unmarried and childless. The women’s words reflect the cultural standards of ancient Israel, where a woman’s primary duties were to be a wife and mother.

tn Or “for” (KJV, ASV, NASB, NRSV).

tn The words “it will come through” are supplied in the translation. The verb “will sweep by” does double duty in the parallel structure.